Snow Angels

Over the Rhine | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 2, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Great Speckled Dog
• ASIN: B000V5EY4M
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,802 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Finally, the perfect CD for music lovers who appreciate a great song, and are burnt out on typical holiday fare. Over The Rhine's Snow Angels is unlike any holiday record you've ever heard. This collection of ten, brand new, original songs, many of which feel destined to become modern Christmas classics, conjures the Joni Mitchell's "The River" or John Lennon's "The War is Over," and yet the recordings embodied in Snow Angels have a unique groove all their own.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars.... Long awaited second Christmas album from OtR is worth the wait, October 19, 2007

By 

Paul Allaer (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Snow Angels (Audio CD)

In 1996, Over the Rhine released a Christmas album called "The Darkest Night of the Year" that consisted mostly of originals and a few reworked Christmas traditionals, and the album was an immediate 'hit' with OtR fans. The album was a strong reason for the very successful annual Christmas tour the band continues to make to this day, and over the years the band introduced several Christmas originals at those shows, prompting the question "when can we expect a new collection of Christmas songs?". Well, that question has finally been answered.

"Snow Angels" (12 tracks; 43 min.) starts off with one those concert classics, "All I Ever Get for Christmas Is Blue", a fabulous song and it's nice to finally get the studio version. "Darling (Christmas Is Coming") and "White Horse" are in the same vein (also also concert staples). "Goodbye Charles" is a piano-jazzy instrumental. "Snowed In With You" is a prime example of why this album works s well: a light, jazzy tone, with an irresistable winter/Christmas undertone. This album contains nothing but originals, and works terrific from start to finish. How many contemporary artists can bring a Christmas album without any covers, and actually pull it off? Well OtR has on "Snow Angels". Karin Bergquist's lead vocals sounds as warm as ever, and the perfect voice for a Christmas album as you settle in for the night in front of the open fire.

In all, "Snow Angels" is a terrific, if long delayed, follow-up to "The Darkest Night of the Year", and in fact may even have topped it. Please note that the band actually self-released this album in November, 2006, and now this is getting a much-deserved national release. This year's OtR traditional homecoming Christmas show at the Taft Theatre in Cincinnati is set for December 15, and you can bet that I will be there, as I have been for many years. I just hope it won't take another 10 years before OtR releases another Christmas album (although the band has hinted that might exactly be the case). This album is highly recommended. BUY IT! You won't be disappointed.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas Winner, October 27, 2007

By 

jti105 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snow Angels (Audio CD)

I've never written a review but Amazon emailed me with the opportunity and this is a terrific cd, so here goes. I'm a Christmas Rock nut, have made several Christmas mixes (120 minutes each), and have everything from Stevie Nix's "Silent Night" to Mary Karlzen's "Run Rudolph Run" to Wall of Voodoo's "Shouldn't Have Given Him a Gun for Christmas", etc. While it's crazy to call anything the best, this may well be the best individual artist Christmas cd made. I've been a kinda-fan of Over the Rhine for a long time, and "All I Need is Everything" is one of my favorite songs. But this Christmas CD is spectacular, especially considering the album is nearly all original songs. The rare covers ("Little Town" and "One Olive Jingle) and are remade with clever and unique arrangements. The CD is rock, blues and a pinch of jazz, and offers a fine variety of songs, all the way from the splendid "All I ever get for Christmas is Blue" to the pop, catchy and fun "Darlin' (Christmas is Coming)" to the sad and wistful title track. I highly recommend Snow Angels.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Haunting, November 19, 2007

By 

Whitney - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snow Angels (Audio CD)

I rarely enjoy Christmas albums, but this is one I'm going to treasure for a long time to come. The first two tracks are probably my favorite, especially the more upbeat "Darlin' (Christmas Is Coming)". This entire album invokes feelings of sitting by the window with hot cider and watching the snow fall as there's a fire crackling somewhere behind you. Waiting, waiting for your love to come home. I definitely recommend this album to anyone who enjoys good music, and I guess to anyone who enjoys Christmas music as well, haha. I'll still be listening to this come June and July though.