Customer Reviews

Wow Christmas: Green

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

 

 

What sets "WOW Christmas" apart from others in the "WOW" series is 15 new recordings. That's enough new songs to fill one of the two discs.

It's the new recordings that stand out. They sound fresher and more interesting than the songs gleaned from previous releases. One of my favorites is "O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Steven Curtis Chapman. This beautiful, acoustic rendition is from his new Christmas recording. It makes me want to hear his new release.

Chris Tomlin's acoustic version of "Angels We Have Heard On High" is a pleasant surprise. I had expected a modern worship sound.

With so many artists, the music styles are diverse. Rebecca St. James gives "Hark the Herald Angels Sings" a modern Euro-pop/rock sound. Third Day does an excellent rock version of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." Surprisingly, BarlowGirl rock the hardest with "O Holy Night." Bethany Dillon combines light jazz with alternative country on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." It sounds a little like Norah Jones. "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" by Matthew West is a likeable straightforward rendition that could appeal to anyone.

One of the biggest surprises was FFH's "Do You Hear What I Hear." The stanzas are punctuated by music that sounds like the Grateful Dead. The music is creative and energetic. They have never sounded so good.

Though the new songs stand out, there are some fine older recordings like "Welcome To Our World" by Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant's "A Christmas To Remember." The Newsong classic "The Christmas Shoes" is also included.

My wife loves Christmas but I used to work in a mall so listening to traditional Christmas music still, to some degree, makes me cringe. In my attempt to find something we can both enjoy I picked up the new WOW Christmas 2005. This album is all about modern music. If you're looking for traditional sounding music you might be disappointed in this (leaving room for error based upon the fact that while this has a modern sound it's done very well). There are 15 new songs and 15 'traditional' songs so this album has something for everyone. While I mentioned above that the songs are done in 'modern' sounds, keep in mind that the genre of modern changes. Natalie Grant offers "Joy To The World" for example while has a modern gospel sound to it. Rebecca St. James' "Hark the Herlad Angels Sing" is done in a modern rock sound. Steven Curtis Chapman's "O Little Town of Bethlehem" has a traditional sound to it while the very next track is "O Come All Ye Faithful" by Toby Mac which can be called hip hop. As you can see there's truly something for everyone. It's very different and yet it all blends together - isn't that part of what Christmas is about? The Christmas season brings many different people with many different backgrounds together and this is truly celebrated with this offering.

The first disc remakes most of the songs you've known from childhood, but they make you prefer the traditional tune. HOWEVER, the second disc is incredible, which includes a surprisingly sultry rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by young talent Bethany Dillon and a tearjerking Mary Did You Know by Clay Aiken.
FFH's track 24 gets annoyingly squeaky at spots.
Overall, worth the bucks!

I was looking for a more traditional versions of the songs....

However, I have purchased many WOW CD products and love the CDs.

Although the talent of the artists is without question, superb..the modern arrangments of the old time christmas songs,is not what I expected.

I love these CDs. I drag them out every Christmas and this year is no exception. As reviewers have already said, there is something for everyone. A prime example of this: Amazon Editorial review says "As for those overbaked cookies--FFH's close-but-no-cigar reworking of "Do You Hear What I Hear" or Jump 5's beat-silly "Sleigh Ride" will still be on the plate when Santa splits town." These happen to be in my top 10 favorites from this 30 song collection.

What I will tell you is that you probably won't like more than 85% of this CD due to the very diverse styles. Which of those that you will enjoy is impossible for me to tell you in a review because each song has it's own distinct style.

In any case, I would definitely buy this CD again. It was worth the $15 bucks.

I was expecting traditional christmas songs and that's why I got the cd. But the songs are done in a modern style and they only slightly resemble the old good traditional christmas songs we all know and love.

I was very dissapointed.

I purchased this CD expecting a modern interpretation of classic Christmas songs. Unfortunately, the CD falls flat. The best way to describe the music is "Lounge singers performing in an ABC Christmas special". An example is "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Bethany Dillon. It sounds as if a Marilyn Monroe impressionist is performing the song. And when you think it can not get any worse, David Crowder sings "Feliz Navidad", a rendition that is so bad it deserves to be on Saturday Night Live as a comedy sketch.

Not every song is a flop. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" by Third Day is a surprising standout. It is creative, innovative, and offers a modern sound to a traditional hymn. The Natalie Grant interpretation of "Joy to the Word" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" by Rebbecca St. James also deserve honorable mention.

But the other 27 songs could be used by the US military to torture enemy combatants.

Worth every penny. Great songs by Clay Aiken, Mark Schultz, Amy Grant, Michael Smith, etc. I love it. The WOW Christmas 2005 might be slightly better.

CD arrived safely and in good condition. Recipient seems happy with the purchase.