Joy To The World
Label: Warner Brothers Nashville
Release Date: September 30th 2008 (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Joy To The World
- What Child Is This?
- Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town
- Little Drummer Boy
- O Come, All Ye Faithful
- Holly Jolly Christmas
- Away In A Manger
- O Holy Night
- Winter Wonderland
- Silent Night
- A Baby Changes Everything
Initial thoughts: Like we’ve been transported back to the 90’s, and hearing a near-flawless Christmas country album at its finest!
Reason to listen: For Faith’s exemplary, exquisite and powerful vocals. And for some of the most inspiring, poignant and impacting Christmas carols I’ve heard in recent memory.
Reason to buy: Well… for Faith’s exemplary, exquisite and powerful vocals. And for some of the most inspiring, poignant and impacting Christmas carols I’ve heard in recent memory. And yes, I did indeed repeat by ‘reason to listen’ statement verbatim. Simply because it’s true, and there’s something magical and out-of-this-world in a crazy good way, about this Holy Spirit anointed and God breathed holiday album!
Reason to skip: Why would you skip this underrated project by one of the most underrated yet talented artists ever? Seriously, why would you?
No. of carols: 10
No. of originals: 1- the album closer- and what an original it is! One of my favourite Christmas original songs ever!
No of guest artists: None. But with Faith’s vibrant, beautiful and powerful vocals, who’d want to guest with her? She’d totally out-sing the other person 10 times out of 10!
Does it have heart?: To the max! Passion galore also, as Faith powerfully gives it her all, and delivers a holiday album for the ages, which is lyrically profound, biblically sound, and full of emotion, vulnerability and poignancy!
Does it have a Christmas-y atmosphere?: Not as much of a Christmas atmosphere as Christmas albums from Peter Hollens or Michael Bublé or Josh Groban. But with 7 of the 10 carols being worshipful melodies, I guess it’d be accurate to say that this album has a slight Christmas atmosphere (not too many songs with bells, or whistles or chimes or any presence of a children’s choir!) but a massive worshipful atmosphere!
Uniqueness?: Not really. It doesn’t have enough going for it musically to stand out from the many, many Christmas albums that release every year. But Faith’s… well, faith in Jesus (no pun intended!) as well as honesty and lyrical authenticity, propel Joy To The World to somewhere near the top of the list for one of my favourite Christmas albums of all time!
Christmas message: in abundance. 8 of the 11 tracks praise Jesus’ name! What more would you want when celebrating Jesus’ birth?
Closing thoughts: Buy the album. Either on Apple music or Amazon or in stores. Just go and buy it. That’s all!
3 songs to listen to: What Child Is This?, O Holy Night, A Baby Changes Everything
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Yes/no; why/why not?: Joy To The World is extremely underrated. But I’d say it need not be underrated this year any more! You all should buy the album, and then thank me later! So in case I wasn’t being clear enough- go buy this album and be immersed in some powerful Christmas and all-year-round truths!