Who are those masked men on the CD cover and why did they steal our traditional Christmas songs? Actually they are wearing winter scarves over their faces and it is the band members from Mercy Me who have thrown their toques into the festive derby in a bid for top honors with this year's Christmas albums.
Lead vocalist Bart Millard strode into the hallowed halls of sacred hymns earlier this year with a solo debut Bart Millard's Hymned No. 1 that retouched the instrumentals with a Dixieland sound. Mercy Me's Christmas foray demonstrates the same playful attitude by adding their own southern rock flavors to some Christmas favorites.
Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" has been covered by a plethora of artists over the decades since it first hit the airwaves but until now it has seldom been done with the same panache as Lee demonstrated. While preserving the attitude of the songstress Mercy Me has put its own signature vocals and instrumentals to this wonderful Christmas classic. Guitarists Mike Scheuchzer and Barry Graul combine with bass player Nathan Cochran to create a party like atmosphere.
I really like what Mercy Me has done with Vivaldi's "Gloria." Although classical music lovers may shudder at the adaptation I think they have given this old favorite a rebirth. Robby Schaffer's drumbeats permeate the band's rendition and combine with Millard's vocal strokes to bring alive the angels' visitation to the shepherds.
Mercy Me's rendition of the Vince Guaraldi and Lee Mendelson tune "Christmas Time is Here" is one of the prettiest songs that you will listen to this holiday season. Often associated with Charlie Brown's Christmas Mercy Me's reworking of the song creates a quietly reflective ambience.
The medley Winter Wonderland / White Christmas send notice that Bart Millard should definitely be ranked with the top crooners of our day. The use of horns in Winter Wonderland gives the song a fresh Dixie Land appeal.
Traditionalists will delight with Mercy Me's renditions of classics such as "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, "Silent Night," and "O Holy Night."
Bart Millard and Brown Bannister penned the beautiful Joseph's Lullaby the final track of the CD. Any father who has watched lovingly over their child sleeping will quietly reminisce with the words, "Go to sleep my son / Baby close your eyes / Soon enough you'll save the day / But for now dear child of mine / Oh my Jesus sleep tight / ."
Put this CD on your shopping list early before the shelves are bare!
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Jon RiceCCM artists Mercy Me use their signature acoustic guitar infused style and apply it to some wonderful Christmas classics. It's funny; I think Mercy Me absolutely takes their skills and talents to a new level with this holiday project. It's as if they were moved by a passion to bring justice to the spirit of the season. I liked their previous material, I love this material. Lead singer Bart…The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Brian A. SmithVersatility seems to be the goal of MercyMe's The Christmas Sessions. Comprised of ten old songs and two new ones, Bart Millard and company stretch into several different genres, some faring better than others. "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" receives a rock treatment, with the end result sounding like U2 fronted by Steven Curtis Chapman. "Winter Wonderland/White Christmas" proves that some…Similar sounding releases
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