At Christmas
Label: RCA Nashville
Release Date: November 17th 2014 (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- At Christmas
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- The Twelve Days of Christmas ( Olivia & Audrey)
- Silent Night
- Winter Wonderland
- O Holy Night
- Run Rudolph Run
- I’ll Be Home For Christmas
- Go Tell It On the Mountain
- O Come All Ye Faithful
Initial thoughts: Sara Evans has been a mainstay in Country music since the 1990s. Her first Christmas album dropped in 2016, and at just a ‘standard’ 10 tracks, this album is for any Sara enthusiast, or for anyone who wants to listen to carols/holiday songs (plus one original) with a distinct 1990s music flavour.
Reason to listen: Because of Sara’s powerful voice alone. Because of the no. of carols/Biblically centred Christmas songs on this 10 track album. With songs like ‘Silent Night’, ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, ‘Go Tell It On the Mountain’ and ‘O Holy Night’ all reminding us all of the reason for why we celebrate in this December silly season; Sara’s vocal pipes shine through especially on these songs. Never have I listened to a full length Sara Evans album until this Christmas album. After listening, maybe that’ll change very soon!
Reason to buy: Um…I dunno. I really don’t. I guess only if you’re a tremendous fan of Sara’s music, you’d consider. But anyone else who’s a casual listener of Sara’s music (like me), you’d stream it on Spotify first, right?
Reason to skip: Maybe, because her vocals sound eerily similar that of other 1990s country artists like Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood, Jo Dee Messina, and Terri Clark, it may seem as though this album could get ‘lost in the shuffle’ amongst all other Christmas album releases from said artists. Or maybe because you’re more of a fan of Martina or Faith or Trisha, that you’d bypass Sara, irrespective of how ‘good’ Sara’s Christmas album is.
No. of carols/holiday songs: 9
No. of originals/covers: 1
No. of obscure songs: None
No of guest artists: None
Does it have heart?: Tremendously. Sara powerfully declares from her diaphragm these vocals with such power, authority and enthusiasm as she delivers some of the most emotive and angelic renditions of these songs have heard in quite some time.
Does it have a Christmas-y atmosphere?: Yes it does. 100 fold. There’s biblically sound Christmas songs. There’s holiday songs like the ever-covered ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ and ‘Run Rudolph Run’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’ to name a few. This is an album to cosy up to in front of the tree, and sing together with friends and family.
Uniqueness?: Not really. Aside from the country music atmosphere, there’s not a lot- just because there’s only one original song, and the track list only stands at 10 tracks. Maybe an extra 5, and a few more originally written tracks and it’ll be more unique.
Christmas message: With 4 songs being based upon the birth of Christ Jesus our Lord; the Christmas message is ringing, loud and clear. While we as listeners may not know the personal views of Sara when it comes to Jesus and what she believes, I reckon that is irrelevant when it comes to delivering these songs with intentionality and fervent energetic passion and unbridled enthusiasm.
Closing thoughts: If you’re a fan of Sara, then check this album out. If you’re a fan of 1990s Country, then check this album out too. If you’re a fan of all things Christmas, then this album is for you, too. The drawback (and it could be major to some people) is that it only stands at 10 tracks (with one original only) and sounds similar (musically and vocally) to Christmas albums from Faith Hill and Martina McBride.
3 songs to listen to: At Christmas, O Holy Night, O Come All Ye Faithful
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Yes/no; why/why not?: Yes, because it’s 1990s country, in 2014. Because Sara’s vocals are sublime. Because of the sheer amount of Biblically sound Christmas songs (when compared to other Christmas albums by country/pop mainstream artists). Because of ‘O Holy Night’ and ‘Silent Night’ alone. Just…because? Check the album out (albeit a short one). You’ll thank me later.