MercyMe “MercyMe, It’s Christmas!” Album Review

Prime Cuts: Newborn, Our Lullaby, O Come, O Come

It's a challenge for one to get forty winks while listening to MercyMe's latest festive release MercyMe, It's Christmas.  On their first Christmas album in a decade, MercyMe has creatively enmeshed a cacophony of sounds to make this one of their most engaging records to date.  Regardless of whether you are a pundit of pop or rock or rock n'roll or country or just a mere aficionado of seasonal music, there's something on this record that will appeal to you.  Moreover, MercyMe is extremely mindful of striking a balance between their own originals and the sonic chestnuts of the season.  Thus, if you like a Christmas record to singalong as you decorate the house for the season, this album will be your perfect karaoke vehicle.  But there are also enough originals as well as creative re-imaginations of the familiar for us to ruminate as we enjoy fresh insights into the meaning of our celebrations.

MercyMe, It's Christmas is produced by Brown Bannister (Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith) and it's the follow-up to their 2005 "The Christmas Sessions."  Fans of this multiple Dove Award winner know that their last Christmas album, The Christmas Sessions, has been heralded as an instant classic. It has spawned innumerable hits such as "Joseph's Lullaby" and "O Holy Night." This year MercyMe returns to pick up where The Christmas Sessions left off.  "Newborn," the first track to open this new record, is a perfect foretaste of what's to come.  Starting off with the pull of grandiose sounding strings leading into a Jim Steinman-style of theatrical pop, "Newborn" is an epic song that merges the sounds of rock, pop, and the pulling sentimentality of Christmas altogether.  It's quite a stellar masterpiece where chords from "Away in a Manger" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" are weaved together with newly written threads. 

Though Nat King Cole is name dropped in "Christmastime Again," it's in fact more Elvis than Nat.  Featuring a rock n' roll underpinning with lots of electric guitar japs, "Christmastime Again" and "Hold on Christmas" both showcase the band's ability to dabble in some frock licking fun.  They do get serious with "I'll be Home for Christmas."  Opening with the voice of a radio DJ wishing those who are away from home a happy Christmas, there's a plaintive ring when the boys sing.  The static fuzzy gloss of "Sleigh Ride" really enhance the nostalgia of the song.  "O Come O Come," which often suffers from a draggy interpretation, is in good hands. Re-writing segments of the melodic structure and augmenting the song with their layered harmonies, "O Come O Come" has a livelier feel giving more pungency to the first and second comings of Jesus.

Those who love a more folk/country flavour to their Christmas musical enjoyment will adore "Our Lullaby."  Just as the titular suggests there's a relaxing ambiance to this gorgeous crafted guitar-folk ballad.  In short, if you are looking for a Christmas that covers all the full gamut of genres from silky pop to Grundy rock to folky country, look no farther than MercyMe, It's Christmas. 

 

 

Tags : Mercyme mercyme it's christmas mercyme christmas album mercyme christmas mercyme news mercyme new album