Gotee Records
Release Date: October 11th 2024
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Cochren & Co.– The Company Christmas Album (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
- This Christmas
- Ribbons And Bows
- Christmas With You
- Christmas (What The World Needs)
- That Spirit Of Christmas
- Please Come Home For Christmas
- Caroling, Caroling
- Labor Of Love
- (Hope Is) Here To Stay
Signed to Gotee Records around about 4 years ago or thereabouts, Cochren & Co. (fronted by Michael Cochren) joined the label home with labelmates like Jon Reddick, Ryan Stevenson and Terrian, and former labelmates such as Relient K, Aaron Cole, Courtnie Ramirez, Finding Favour, Jamie Grace, Capital Kings, and Morgan Harper Nichols, to name a few. To tell you the truth I wasn’t really a fan of Cochren & Co. when their first song “Church (Take Me Back)” released a while ago (as I was presented with Sidewalk Prophets and Micah Tyler vibes- and both those artists are only so-so, and not outstanding, in my own opinion!)… but now in 2024, I’ve come to appreciate Michael and his band. With Don’t Lose Hope the debut album releasing in 2021, we reviewed the project and have come to realise just how powerful and genuine and inspiring Michael is as a singer and as a songwriter. As singer songwriters are now a rare breed (either the artist writes the songs but doesn’t sing them, giving the song to someone else; or they do write songs and sing them, but they are of a lesser quality, because frankly, many of the popular artists currently aren’t really great songwriters!); Michael joins another group entirely- the singer who is actually a great songwriter as well. “Church” (the lead single from Don’t Lose Hope) has grown on me immensely since its inception until now… and I’d say that the sophomore album from Michael titled Running Home, which released in February 2023, is even more poignant and heartfelt. Simply because like the first album, it’s full of encouragement, heart and inspiration- and don’t you reckon we all need hope and encouragement these days, on the back of some of the most harrowing of days in 2024? As Michael Cochren displays his vocal chops greatly, on quite possibly the most underrated CCM label; let me remind you all that Running Home isn’t flash nor it is punchy out of the gate, however these 10 songs poignant, compelling and powerful. That’s more than you could hope for, as Michael is changing people’s lives and pointing people to the true meaning and purpose of life- and that is to live a life that points to Jesus Christ as being the answer to every question.
But as we can now read the review of Running Home in full, let’s dive into Michael’s attempt at Christmas music, shall we, seeing as we’re still in the Christmas season! “(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays”, a 50’s classic holiday anthem made famous by Perry Como, speaks about the magical feeling you have when being at home or in your hometown during the holiday season- and Michael beautifully records this version to aplomb and professionalism; while “This Christmas” is another hopeful and inspirational classic which Michael and co have exquisitely recorded as well. “Ribbons And Bows”, the album’s first original, is a piano ballad that speaks about the hurt and pain some of us may be feeling this Christmas for one reason or another, as Michael cries out to Jesus as asks Him to provide to him hope and reassurance this Christmas of His presence. While “Christmas With You”, another original, is a welcome reminder to spend the holidays with those you love and be reminded of the true reason for the season; and “Christmas (What The World Needs)” highlights the fact that Christmas (celebrated in its truest and most authentic nature- which is indeed celebrating Jesus’ birth) is really what the whole world needs right now.
“That Spirit Of Christmas”, made popular and famous by Ray Charles, is recorded to sheer brilliance and perfection here (and to me is on par with other versions from Lady A, Zach Williams, The Katinas and Sidewalk Prophets!); and “Please Come Home For Christmas” is a haunting, mysterious and hard-hitting classic that Michael once again enhances with his sturdy and resonating vocals. “Caroling, Caroling” is an obscure carol that I haven’t really heard before, but Michael records a rock song and delivers in spades on this version; while Andrew Peterson’s hopeful, soothing and calm original “Labour Of Love” (also brilliantly covered by Point Of Grace and Marc Martel) is wonderfully recorded by Cochren & Co. here, as we are reminded that ‘…it was a labor of pain, it was a cold sky above, but for the girl on the ground in the dark, every beat of her beautiful heart was a labor of love…’– a sentiment that sums up the heart of what Christmas actually is all about! The Company Christmas Album then ends with the prayerful and hopeful “(Hope Is) Here To Stay”, co-written with Hannah Kerr, where Michael powerfully and fervently proclaims that ‘…the baby in the stable is the only one who’s able to bring comfort and peace that’s never gonna leave, there is hope for every season and Jesus is the reason, Love came down on Christmas day, now my Hope is here to stay…’.
There you have it…Cochren & Co.’s first full length holiday album. all songs are pleasant and nice and delving deep into the Christmas story of Jesus. There certainly are no weak spots here; and the album as a whole offers up confronting messages that we all ought to take to heart in the upcoming weeks ahead. In a label that is sadly not as vibrant as it once was, Gotee Records are sure to be on the up, with the signing of Cochren & Co. Easily one of my favourite Christmas release surprises of the last few weeks; this is a must-have if you enjoy similar artists like Sidewalk Prophets, JJ Weeks Band, and Micah Tyler. Congrats to TobyMac for signing Michael and his band, here’s hoping that Cochren & Co. will have a long, long future, which will be just as exhilarating and impacting as this impressive Christmas project!
3 songs to listen to: That Spirit Of Christmas, Labor Of Love, (Hope Is) Here To Stay
Score: 4.5/5
RIYL: Finding Favour, MercyMe, Matthew West, JJ Weeks Band, Micah Tyler, Sidewalk Prophets