Customer Reviews

Joy To The World (CD & DVD)

5 star:		(64)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Seems like Christmas starts earlier and earlier every year, and this year the new albums have already started coming out. "Country" and "Christmas" have always gone hand in hand, and this is Faith Hill's very first album of Christmas music.

There are ten traditional carols, plus the single "A Baby Changes Everything", and the album has a big band sound that will remind you of those old black and white holiday movies that they dig out every single year.

"A Baby Changes Everything" puts the Christmas story in a modern light, beginning:
"Teenage girl, much too young / Unprepared for what's to come / A baby changes everything"
and ending:
"My whole life is turned around / I was lost and now I'm found / A baby changes everything"

I found that on a couple of the tracks Faith out-sang the backing orchestra, but the following songs are the ones to put on your playlist this season:

Joy to the World
What Child is This?
Little Drummer Boy
Away in a Manger
O Holy Night
Winter Wonderland
A Baby Changes Everything

Thanks Faith, for not changing up the traditional carols and making them unrecognizable, and although the big band sound isn't my thing, this is a warm and fuzzy album to add to your playlist. Recommended for fans of old movies, big bands, and traditional carols.

Rated: 4.5 stars




Amanda Richards, October 1, 2008

This is the most amazing christmas album I have ever head. seriously, this is a must for the Holidays! form the booming orchestra in the title track Joy to the world to the soulfullness of O Holy Night to the beautifull story in A Baby Changes everything about the Virgin Mary.

If you like powerful alto vocals, Faith Hill is your girl. The album is full of very traditional arrangements of Christmas carols. If you are looking for something that breaks new ground, is trendy, or somehow different from all the other Christmas albums, this is not your album.

If you are looking for an album of very impressive vocals, minimal accompaniment, and traditional arrangements, this is one of the best.

Her version of O Holy Night! is one of the only versions I have ever heard that can stand next to Celine Dion's classic rendition. Faith has the voice to carry off this song, something few singers can accomplish.

I usually have Christmas carols playing throughout my house for most of December (yes, I know- sick). There are well over 100 albums that randomly rotate. This is one of the few albums (along with Brian Setzer's) that visitors have regularly asked about.

Glad I bought it

I have now listened to this album over 10 times and each time it gets better. She wraps her incredible voice around 10 Christmas classics, many of my favorites, plus one absolutely beautiful new song that reminds us what Christmas is all about. The background orchestra and choir give the album a robust and big band era sound that is very nostalgic for me as I'm sure it will be for others. This is a wonderful, joyous, and joyful album by a very talented vocalist. I hope others enjoy it as much as I do.

It was a long wait. But after listening to it, I found myself in the spirit of Christmas, even if it is a few months early. Each song is special. I have every single Faith Hill album; and once again, I am not disappointed. Faith has a fabulous voice. If she sang the ingredients list on a box of cookies, I would enjoy it. For those of you who do not have any Faith Hill albums because, perhaps, you are not a country music fan, why not give this a listen? You can listen to the samples right here on Amazon.

I wasn't even aware that Faith had a Christmas album for release this year until I read an interview with her in a women's magazine at my hair salon. I'm not a diehard fan of Faith's, but I do enjoy some of her music.

First, to address some of the reviews That mention that Faith does not sound like herself or doesn't sound very good: in the interview I read Faith talked about her first Christmas album and said that this album was an experiment for her. She loves Christmas music and was very excited to put out her own album.

Faith also mentioned that she is an emotional singer and not a technical singer so some of the songs sung on this album are a stretch from her usual range or comfort zone. She enjoyed the challenge and wanted to put her own touch to some of these traditional songs. That said, I think she sounds lovely on all of these.

My favorites are Joy To The World, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, Holly Jolly Christmas, and Winter Wonderland - for her vocals on these, but also for the arrangements. These favorite four of mine, with the exception of Joy To The World, have a slight musical "twist" to them. I really like these four the best.

My least favorite is Away in a Manger. I don't like this song as much as others as I don't "feel" anything from that. I think she sings a little emotionless on this one (compared to others). I also don't particularly like the country sound to this one.

All in all, I think this is a good Christmas album.

Although I adore Christmas music, there are few cds that have moved me enough to purchase them simply because there is such a variety on the radio that I just tend to keep that going around the holidays.

After hearing this cd at a friend's house, however, I made the exception. There is something about Faith Hill's amazing voice coupled with such moving songs that make this one you just won't grow tired of, in my opinion. Better yet, it bridges the age gaps of who will enjoy hearing it. My 6 year old niece loved it as much as my "senior parents" and as much as my 27 year old friend who bought it does too! It's just such a strong mix of music and vocals.

That said, our family has a personal joke that says as much about Faith Hill's personal beauty aside from her musical beauty. My father owns a restaurant at a resort location. He was working the front one day when someone quite striking came in and, after her group had eaten and she came up to pay her bill, he made some comment along the lines of "I'm sure you get told often how strikingly beautiful you are. You could be on t.v." She simply smiled and said "thank you" as she paid her check. As she left the employees said "Did you know that was Faith Hill?" Which was confirmed in the paper the next day...
...He did not... (and that alone cracks me up since he has several of her c.d.s)

To this day we joke that dad tried to hit on Faith Hill without realizing it. However, I commend her charm in saying "thank you", paying her bill, and not saying "do you know who I am?" or "I am on t.v. all the time! I'm Faith Hill!" It's made me like her even more since that happened. Because they also get plenty that do say exactly who they are at bill paying time in there! :-)

But that still does not bias my opinion musically...there is no bias needed. Faith Hill hits the mark on great music on this one... How she sings, afterall, has little to do with how she acts. Fortunately, both are sweet.

While I like Faith Hill, this is the first CD I have purchased. Wow!! The songs are sung in a traditional chord, not all tanged up Country beat. I have been looking for simple Christmas Carols that my kids can learn from (seeings how all the PC BS has kept the public schools from singing Away in a Manger) and Voila have found it........Faith does an excellent job of singing so that everyone can sing along!!

If you like traditional Christmas music and you like Faith Hill's voice then consider this a 5 star album. I gave it 4 stars comparing it to Christina Aguilera's jazzed-up, highly-personalized Christmas album. I think there is yet a lot more we can get from Faith Hill artistically on the Christmas theme. 'A Baby Changes Everything' is a great start to a more creative approach. As For Faith's vocals, still as sweet and strong as ever.

As usual Faith delivers a cd chocked full of beautiful songs. What a voice...what a star. Amazing. WHat took her so long to do a Christmas cd?