If you enjoy good music and you enjoy music done well, then I have a little treat for you. Although my opinion may not mean too much to you, I have picked a couple Christmas albums that I have found to be my favorites for the season. In hindsight I should have posted this at the beginning of the month, but I had to spend some time listening to a few different albums to let them sink in. With that said, I’m sure you have noticed this blog is cutting it a little close to Christmas, but I am so filled with excitement to finally let you know what albums have sunk in the most with me.
If you enjoy chill Christmas music, sweet guitar licks, stringed instruments, beautiful horns, harmonious voices lulling you away into your dreams, and having your heart melt inside of you, then go no further than Future of Forestry’s Advent Christmas EP. If I had to pick one song off of the album that could sing me to sleep every night, without a doubt I would pick “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” I guess being in band in middle school gave me an appreciation for the brass section. They just make everything sound so legit. Although I must say I am little biased because the music I tend to listen to most usually includes some part of the orchestra. Whether it be the string section, the brass, or even the occasional woodwind, my heart and cannot resist the sweet rhythms and melodies that resonate deep within as a result of such beauty. Even now, I am listening to “What Child Is This” and sounds of the piano and strings are molding together to make my soul want to cry out in excitement for the coming of the Lord. It’s that kind of music. It’s the kind of music that pulls at your emotions. Sometimes, and very rarely, but sometimes, a song can be so good you just want to cry. You may think I am exaggerating, but if you know anything about me, you know that things are all or nothing. Music isn’t usually just “okay”, but rather “the most musically talented thing I’ve ever heard”, or “merely what everyone else is doing”. I’ve digressed. If you want a Christmas album that will transport you to a time of shepherds in pastures, angels in skies, wise men with gifts of great, and a time of when the savior of mankind made his way into this world by the most humble means, well … I’d have to tell you this is the album you want to invest in.
Now, if you are looking for something more crunk, something more up-beat, something that you can really tap your foot to, something that can get you to really boogie down, I’d have to recommend, without hesitation, Family Force 5’s Christmas Pageant. This CD has probably played more this season than any other CD I own. Between sweet auto-tuning, head bobbing beats, great pop, and it’s ability to stay true to the Family Force 5 style, the album has encompassed the greatness of Christmas by making songs that are so unbelievably cool I can’t even stand to think of any Christmas party this season without these songs on the music playlist. My mind is tormented in debate as to which song is the best on the album. The best part is that I am writing this blog and I don’t have to pick just one song to be my favorite. With that said, “Carol of the Bells”, “The Baby”, “Little Drummer Boy” and “It’s Christmas Day” all tie for number one. Each song is so different and so filled with unimaginable genius. Every song brings something completely new and completely different to the table. I guess what I’m trying to say is that lead singer Solomon Olds (a.k.a. Soul Glow Activatur) and Joe Baldridge (produced music for Beck, Toby Mac, John Reuben and many others) make a brilliant producing team. What I’m trying to get at is this; if you want the hottest Christmas album, you better grab a copy of Christmas Pageant and you better do it fast.
There have been a lot of really great Christmas albums this year, but these are the cream of the crop, well, for me at least. I hope you feel the same.
A Blog By Elisha Guido
Jeff Says:
I think I might play it all year