Instrumental albums have been a new discovery for me. For a long time, I put all instrumental music in the realm of classical music. Though I thought classical music was soothing, I would much rather listen to something with words. Not all instrumental albums can be labeled as classical music as I found, and there is a world of music that I was missing by straying from voiceless albums.
So naturally, before this revelation of mine, I believed that Chris Rice's movement into instrumental music was a big mistake. "What could be better than Smell the Color 9?" I thought. Well, I will admit that none of the songs that Rice features on his Christmas album top the title track from that album, but the Living Room Sessions are not to be overlooked.
Chris Rice stays true to the original Christmas tunes with few exceptions. Not only does he host well known Christmas songs, but he also doesn't change the sound to the oh-so-familiar tunes. It's nice to have a faithful follower to the carols every now and then, and you definitely don't want to overtly change the song so that it is annoying, so Rice made a smart move in that department.
His collection of songs is well thought out; it's obvious he didn't just slap some songs on there without any thought. Some of the highlights are, "Joy to the World," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." These simple songs with a powerful melody create a great atmosphere for Christmas, and are great for background music around the house. Of course he included the powerful "O Holy Night," which is stirring every time I hear it. A newer song that I have only encountered a few times is "Welcome to Our World," which adds diversity to the album.
Every song is strictly piano, which is another reason why it is good for background music. Rice is great on the piano, so the songs do not get old, despite how it may seem bland with only a piano. However, Rice is definitely dealing with extreme limitations with his purely-piano theme, so if you are not into this take on instrumental music, this album is not for you.
Christmas music has always been special to Chris Rice, as he states, "'God and sinners reconciled!' What a concept! Phrases like this in some of the traditional Christmas carols have chased and wrestled with me since childhood..." This excerpt from his message in the album-insert brought me to more of a realization of how powerful the lyrics of these songs are. Even though the words aren't in the songs, it gives you a chance to soak in the music of Christmas, which is a rare treat in the hustle and bustle of the holidays.
Mark's Score: 3/5
More from Chris Rice
2004Short Term Memories
2005Snapshots: Live and Fan Favorites
2003Run the Earth, Watch the Sky
2000Smell the Color 9
1998Past the Edges
2001The Living Room Sessions
