Product Description

Jars of Clay , one of the most widely respected groups in Christian rock, present a thoughtful and elegant set of Yuletide tunes with 2007's CHRISTMAS SONGS. Mixing originals withfamiliar favorites, the Illinois band particularly shines on spare, resonant versions of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"and "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", tracks that are carried by frontman Dan Haseltine's beautifully hushed vocals.

Track Listing

1. Gift Of St. Cecilia
2. Wonderful Christmas Time
3. Love Came Down At Christmas
4. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
5. Hibernation Day
6. Winter Skin
7. Peace Is Here
8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
9. Evergreen
10. Christmastime Is Here
11. Drummer Boy
12. Gabriel's Message
13. In the Bleak Midwinter
14. I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52516 in Music
• Released on: 2007-10-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Customer Reviews

Rocky and Contemplative Christmas
Jars of Clay has finally released a Christmas CD! Fans (or this one at least) have long awaited one. While it isn't the instant Christmas project I love, there is lots of great stuff here.

The disc features lots of rare and original songs. For example, the group wrote two instrumental songs, "The Gift of St. Cecilia" and "Evergreen." There are also three original songs. While "Winter Skin" and "Hibernation Day" celebrate winter and the fun it can bring, "Peace is Here" celebrates the peace that Jesus can bring.

In my Christmas music collection, I had no copies of Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime." I can't compare it to anything else, but I like their alt rock take on it. I was also unfamiliar with "Love Came Down at Christmas" which is based on a Christina Rossetti poem. I really like it. I especially enjoy the reference to a kids folk song at the end.

Then there are the classics. "O Little Town of Bethlehem" gets a makeover with a new melody. It makes the song very haunting. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is likewise slow and haunting. And yes, they include "Drummer Boy." This is a different version then their single released years ago, but it does sound very similar. "Christmastime is Here" is part jazz and part rock. It sort of works, but I still prefer the original.

And that's the only real problem with the disc. Some artists can pull off a mix of their signature sound on a Christmas release. Jars of Clay comes close, but they don't quite do it. The CD is fine, but I think it will be several years before I consider it a true Christmas project. I will definitely pull it out in mid-December when I am ready for something different. But it won't be the first thing I get out the day after Thanksgiving.

Don't misunderstand. This isn't a bad release. It is quite enjoyable for something different. And it will please Jars of Clay's many fans.