Customer Reviews

Winter Songs

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A well-made but slightly dour collection, "Winter Songs" is not recommended if you're hosting a party and want some light holiday music in the background. Rather, what we have here is a set of songs where the mood is more reflective. This is demonstrated in the first song, a beautiful, melancholy track that sets the tone for the rest of the album. The album title is misleading, as only about a little more than half of the songs here have anything to do with Christmas or the winter season. The first single, "Stay", a cover of the Sugarland song, deals with a love triangle, and for some reason, the Carpenters song, "I Won't Last A Day Without You," closes out the album.
So why am I giving this five stars? Because it's simply a beautiful and at times, haunting, album. While all the songs are good, the absolute standout track is "Little Drummer Boy." For this song, Keating and producer Stephen Lipson give it an almost ethereal feel, while featuring a stunning guest vocal by the late Stephen Gately. Other noteworthy songs include the Keating original "It's Only Christmas," and the Joni Mitchell classic "River." Overall, this is the type of holiday release best enjoyed when you have some quiet time to listen, with the snow falling softly outside.

I got this one last fall. I still listened to it from time to time. Ronan Keating has nice voice, sings good; but never great. This album was a brave choice. It was that kind of "odd, but just works" thing - so bleak, and so beautiful. He finally grew up from a boy to a gentleman.

Ronan's voice is as great as ever. His interpretations are always great. The choice of songs is a bit weird for a Winter album. Some songs I will listen to over and over again; some I will never listen to. Worth the money if you realize it is not a greatest hits CD.

It's a warm summer evening as I write this, and I have goose bumps from Ronan's wonderfully expressive vocals. I didn't know about this CD last winter when it was released, but I'm so glad that I purchased it and have it to listen to now. Yes there are some Christmas songs, but there are also many others that are perfect listening year round. "I Won't Last A Day Without You" composed by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols, and made famous by The Carpenters pays homage to the production style of Richard Carpenter, and does it masterfully. Winter Songs and Scars and two of the album's highlights. "Winter Songs" is one of Ronan's finest releases.

This album has a lot of music that is really from the heart and one of his beat. Little Drummer Boy (Stephen Gately is doing backgroung voicals) is one of the best songs on the album.

Love how RK voice suites to all the songs! Definitely wants to listen when you feel you are angry or burst into hatred.