With Christmas approaching, I am already (much to my husband's chagrin) pulling out the Christmas music, my favourite part of the holiday.
I really need some recommendations, though! I only have a small number of Christmas CDs, and only a couple that I really enjoy. I have the hardest time finding good Christmas albums.
I cannot stand when artists take traditional Christmas songs, change the rhythm a bit, and think they've somehow improved it. You haven't. You've wrecked it. Thanks a lot.
Nor do I like Christmas albums where the traditional tunes are left alone, but sung about three octaves higher than the average person would sing. It grates after about, oh, five minutes.
I have these exact same problems with finding hymn compilations that I like. Leave the rhythm alone, come down a few octaves, and just sing the hymns! They are beautiful as they are.
So - help! Do you have a favourite Christmas album (preference on avoiding Santa-related tunes)? What about hymns - any favourite albums there?
As for my favourites? Dawn of Grace by Sixpence None the Richer and Christmas by Alabama are two that I have listened to over and over and over again. Both of them are beautiful Christmas albums.
Now I'd just like a bit more variety!
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteI have some really good Christmas CDs which I invariantly listen to every December.
Both the jazzy variety and from the Nordic countries (Sweden? Norway?):
Nils Landgren - Christmas with my friends (first CD instrumental, second CD with woman singing).
Bugge Wesseltoft - It's snowing on my piano.
I hope you enjoy them!
Greetings from Belgium,
Marion
I can't tell from this post if we have the same taste in music or not, so these suggestions may or may not be helpful; at least you can check them out on Amazon.
ReplyDeleteVince Guaraldi- A Charlie Brown Christmas
Time Life Classic Christmas Album
Bela Fleck Christmas Album (this may be too changed for your taste though it's one of our family's favorites and I can't help mentioning it).
My favorite CD is Mitch Miller and the Gang. Don't ask! We listened to it growing up and it has stuck with me. I think I like it b/c it has a sing-along quality to it.
ReplyDeleteI also really like Amy Grant's album. I don't know if she has any newer ones out, but the one I am talking about is from the 90's.
Thanks for all the suggestions! Those are some great ones. I really enjoyed listening to samples of each of them on Amazon. Now I just have to narrow it down to one or two of them...
ReplyDelete