Home Free – Any Kind Of Christmas | 365 Days Of Inspiring Media

Independent

Release Date: November 1st 2024

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Home Free– Any Kind Of Christmas (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

Somewhere In My Memory (Intro)
Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town
O Come, All Ye Faithful
The Thanksgiving Song
Let Me Come Home
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
You’re A Mean One, Mr Grinch
Any Kind Of Christmas
The Christmas Song
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Where Are You Christmas?
The Greatest Gifts Of All
Somewhere In My Memory (feat. Straight No Chaser)

So, it’s the few days before Christmas, 2024. We’ve been faced with yet another rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, and the shopping centre has indeed started to play Michael Buble’s Christmas album on repeat! We’re all just a tad ‘tired’ of hearing the same old carols, despite how impacting and inspiring they are in isolation and in small doses; while we’re itching to hear something new and creative. Presents have been wrapped, people are dreading the inevitable moment of conversing with their friends and family about taboo topics at the Christmas dinner/lunch table. Unfortunately, we’re all still unkind to our neighbours and we’re all so mean to each other. The littlest things divide us, and everywhere you look, families are being torn apart; quite frankly because of the polarising topics of religion, politics, abortion, gender, cancel culture and much, much more, that we actually ‘aren’t allowed’ to talk about at the dinner table, but do anyway. Our big mouths have in effect caused the downfall of many healthy strong friendships and relationships; and if we all were slower to speak and quicker to listen, then I’d say that the world would be in a much better place. And though it may take a while for all of us to be on the same page again, and for all of us to have a healthy dialogue and discourse; I firmly believe that music is going to play a part in us having unity and friendship and harmony again. Not that we didn’t have that before; but I reckon that because music is the universal language, it can break down barriers, and help us forge and strengthen common bonds. Especially during Christmas time, one album that I have found recently that can promote unity and peace amongst us, is Home Free’s latest Christmas album Any Kind Of Christmas.

I doubt anyone would know who Home Free is. For the uneducated, they’re an acapella group that is… mildly successful. You can read about them on their website and Wikipedia page, but think about them as a slightly less successful version of Pentatonix. If Pentatonix was the cool, impressive and popular older brother, and up and coming Youtuber Peter Hollens (another acapella artist) is like the independent middle child who is slightly misunderstood but loved anyway; then Home Free (comprising of Adam Bell-Bastien, Rob Lundquist, Adam Rupp, Tim Foust, and Adam Chance) could be compared to the maybe underappreciated little brother- in terms of acapella music. The one that nobody even looks at, the one that gets ‘forgotten’ about. I think I myself would have never listened to Home Free had it not been for I think Peter Hollens promoting their work on one video way back in the day. And so, when the group revealed their latest Christmas album Any Kind Of Christmas in September for November release, I was intrigued. Sure, it was a holiday album full of festive melodies, worshipful carols, and original tunes. Sure, there’s probably many renditions of some of the songs present here. However, there’s still something about Any Kind Of Christmas that brings a smile to my face, and if I can be inspired and encouraged by this acapella project about Jesus’ birth, then I’m sure you all will be too.

With 7 songs of the 13 being holiday classics, Home Free have undoubtedly placed their unique acapella spin and twist on these songs, and have enhanced many tracks to make them their own. With the opening track and the closing track being the Home Alone theme song “Somewhere In My Memory” (the first track is the intro and the final track is the song in full), the powerful and impacting rendition tugs at my emotions and reminds us all of the specialness of the season and the importance of friends and family throughout this time of thankfulness and reflection. “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” is a snazzy, updated version of an already joyful and cheerful track (with the melody being from the Bruce Springsteen Version), while “You’re A Mean One, Mr Grinch”, “The Christmas Song” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” are all staples in many shopping centres and playlists around the world, with Home Free delivering in spades for these songs- each melody being enhanced greatly by the quintet’s ability to sing perfectly in harmony. “Where Are You Christmas?” though, is the final of the ‘holiday’ representatives, and is an album standout. Originally recorded by Faith Hill, and from the soundtrack to the 2000 film The Grinch Home Free undoubtedly brings us joy, hope and holiday cheer, as well as a smile to all of our faces.

With “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” being the lone worshipful carol representatives (and each being recorded with brilliance and excellence!), and “The Thanksgiving Song” being a competent and powerful Ben Rector cover; it is the originals that showcase Home Free and their talents the most. “Let Me Come Home” is an emotional and melancholy ballad similar in style and theme to “The Christmas Shoes”, and in this song the persona longs to be home for Christmas with his family and friends (but feels as if he can’t and is unworthy of being loved and accepted). The title track is a bouncy and soothing track about spending time with the ones you love this Christmas (complete with name-dropping the names of some carols to make it sound like a ‘fancy’ song!); while the ballad “The Greatest Gifts Of All” outline the fact that sometimes the greatest gifts this Christmas aren’t presents, but the presence of our friends and family with us during the holidays.

Any Kind Of Christmas is epically awesome. For those not familiar with Home Free, there’s Land Of The Free (their patriotic album!), and also a couple of cover albums in Crazy(er) Life and As Seen On TV. There’s an original album in So Long Dixie; and as someone who lives in Australia, I have listened to many albums- inclusive of this Christmas album and a number of songs have resonated with me. Maybe it’s because I love acapella music. Maybe it’s because there are some covers which are skilfully and powerfully recorded. But there’s something about Home Free that tugs at my heart and at my emotions, no matter what they are singing about. And so, should you listen to this project, even if you’re over saturated in Christmas songs? I don’t know, this album might not be for everyone, especially for those who don’t love acapella. But I’d say, give it a go. I reckon you might find something special here. If not today, then possibly over the next few days, weeks, and months.