Description

When I heard Casting Crowns was releasing a Christmas CD, I couldn't wait. I love their music for taking the familiar and making me look at it in a fresh way. So when I got this CD I was a little disappointed with the play list. It is mostly familiar carols. But once I started listening to it, that feeling went away.

Yes, the familiar carols are here and are plentiful. Yet they sound beautiful. There are gorgeous harmonies on "O Come All Ye Faithful." The guitar is fun on "Joy to the World." "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" gets a new melody. With a string background, it sounds like a lullabymore…. And the instrumental version of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is absolutely breathtaking. It is written for violin but the interplay between it and the piano (and to a lesser extent the orchestra) is haunting.

Only one song on here is truly new. "Christmas Offering" is a praise song, and I truly enjoy it. I've only heard "God is with Us" recorded one other place, by Amy Grant on the Gloria project. This version doesn't stray far away from the original. In fact, it is sung entirely by one of the female members of the group.

And that brings us to "While You Were Sleeping." When I first heard them sing it on LIFESONG, I thought it sounded like a Christmas song. Apparently, it originally was. The only change here is the second verse. Instead of going to Jerusalem, it focuses on the hardships of Mary and the baby that first night. The song sounds the same. And it includes the third verse that focuses on America. I'm still not a fan of that verse, but I have softened to it some over the years.

But I've saved the best for last. The disc opens with a new melody for "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," including a new chorus sung by a boy's choir. It really makes the song come alive in a new way.

I wish they had taken the time to write a few more original tracks for this disc. But what is here is certainly enjoyable. I know I will listen to this CD for many years to come.

Tracks

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Info:

Category:

Music > Albums

Case Type:

CD

Release Type:

Retail

Comments:

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Cover Info:

Title:

Casting Crowns - Peace on Earth (2008) Retail CD

Part:

Front

Dimensions:

1200 x 1200 px

Size:

330 KB

Downloads:

176 (0 today)

Uploaded:

Report a Problem Wrong Cover Duplicate Image Bad Quality Wrong Info

07/12/09 by ai5924677

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