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Home For Christmas by BarlowGirl  | CD Reviews And Information | NewReleaseToday

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Home For Christmas [edit]
by BarlowGirl | Genre: Other | Release Date: September 23, 2008
 

Begin the Christmas season with sisters Rebecca, Alyssa and Lauren Barlow as they recapture their childhood memories through music. Home For Christmas is a timeless Christmas recording of songs perfect for ushering in the Christmas season. The CD features eleven tracks bursting with seamless harmonies and beautiful instrumentation and arrangements of Christmas favorites, along with an original recording!

Track Listing
Click here to add a video. Click to add lyrics if not listed.
01. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
02. Carol Of The Bells/Sing We Now Of Christmas
03. I'll Be Home For Christmas
04. Hallelujah (Light Has Come)
05. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
06. What Child Is This?
07. Panis Angelicus
08. Angelic Proclamation (O Come All Ye Faithful/Angels We Have Heard On High/ Hark! The Herald Angels Sing)
09. Go, Tell It On The Mountain
10. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
11. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Entry last edited by bjburly on 09.23.08

Christian CD Reviews
(14) Total Review(s) | Average NRTeam Rating:
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A Modern Day Classic | Posted September 11, 2009
BarlowGirl has said that it was always a dream of theirs a as a band to one day record a Christmas album together--to not only make for their fans, but also for themselves and for their family to cherish. On the green WOW Christmas album in 2005, fans got a taste of just how BarlowGirl could rock a Christmas tune with their amped up version of ?O Holy Night?. But Don?t be fooled, although this band can rock, unlike fellow band Relient K who took the route of making a rock Christmas album, this time around for this full length LP, the girls decided to take the traditional approach and show just how amazing they can harmonize when they put their interments down as well.

?It?s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year? begins the album on a classical upbeat note while it goes on with one of thee best versions of ?Carol of the Bells? with ?Sing We Now Of Christmas? I have EVER heard. It?s no surprise why this was chosen as one of the best Christmas albums of 2008... ?I?ll Be Home For Christmas? comes from the heart for these sisters while the song that they penned ?Hallelujah (Light Has Come)? will go down as one of their best--Christmas album or not. It?s a tune that you will find yourself listening to year-round.

?O Little Town Of Bethlehem? takes more a quirky jazzy turn while ?What Child Is This?, sung by Rebecca Barlow (in her first EVER time singing lead for a song in the group) takes this song to a blues-esq mood, very slow and full of soul. ?Panis Angelicus?, a Latin Christmas song is sung seamlessly Alyssa Barlow while ?Angelic Proclamation? and ?Go Tell It On The Mountain? bring this album back to the upbeat swing of things. ?O Come, O Come Emmanuel? is one of the most chilling on the album, with a haunting string section and flooring harmonies. The album comes to a close with the classic piano driven ?Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas?.

Not only is this one of the best Christmas albums of 2008, it?s one of the best that I own. Fan of the band or not, you?ll find it hard to not like this one. Many fans have stated that while they like this album they hope the band will take the Relient K route one day and make a Christmas rock album?I think that this will be the first in many Christmas albums by the band and rock or traditional, if they are anything like ?Home For Christmas?, I will keep buying and listening to them time and time again.

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PEPPY POP AND CLASSY ARRANGEMENTS EDGE OUT USUAL ROCK MOTIF | Posted October 07, 2008
On BarlowGirl’s first-ever Christmas album, the Chicago-bred trio highlights some of its previous strengths while concurrently exploring an entirely new stylistic interest pool. The most immediate point of familiarity is the group’s tight knit harmonies (which are once again on target), though there’s a certain softening of the threesome’s rock edge in favor of more peppy pop and classy arrangements. Though that may turn off fans who only prefer these young ladies’ aggressive material, it really wouldn’t be appropriate to crank up the amplifiers during “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” or “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” both of which are tastefully tailored to a more peaceful motif.

Though not necessarily the group’s future direction, this specialty project soars with a jazzy rendition of “What Child Is This?” and the vocal pop glow of the combined “Carol of the Bells/Sing We Now of Christmas.” Outside all these covers, the collection also features the original ballad “Hallelujah (Light Has Come),” which also displays radiance in orchestrated ballad contexts, even if it lacks the instant infectiousness of the group’s previous radio singles. In that regard, the project would’ve benefited from at least another original tune or two. Even with those omissions, Home For Christmas has a lot of surprising but impressive elements, likely to put longtime and even brand-new listeners in the spirit of the season. –Andy Argyrakis

This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from CCMMagazine.com. Click here to visit CCMMagazine.com today!

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Beanie17 (52)


Wonderful | Posted June 10, 2012
This Christmas CD contains songs loved by all with Barlowgirl style. The album has a wonderful use of harmony to make this CD a joy to listen to. It also has several songs which were written by the band. My favorite songs are "I'll be home for Christmas" and "Carol of the Bells."

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Jackie (39)


Loved it!! | Posted December 01, 2009
Oh My Goodness! I just bought this album about a week ago. They are amazing!! I love Becca, Alyssa, and Lauren So Sooo much! They are so talented! I really loved their song Hallelujah (Light Has Come). That song is so pretty!

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Good Christmas Music...Finally! | Posted September 02, 2009
I got this album last Christmas from the Family Christian bookstore and I was very pleased with it. Most of the time when you get Christmas music, it's the same old same old. But Barlowgirl put a modern twist on some classics and came up with some of thier own. Definitely a holiday album I would recommend.

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patpc36 (58)


Great Christmas CD | Posted September 02, 2009
This is a gret cd to listen to during the holidays. The vocal range that the Barlow Girls have are amazing. We played this CD a lot this past holiday season and I am sure that we will play it again this year. I like the different versions and the way they play Christmas music.

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Love it!! | Posted December 13, 2008
I really enjoy this CD. I think they done great on the albumn. It really puts me in the christmas spirit when I listen to it!! They all have beautiful voices!

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More than a Season | Posted November 11, 2008
Every year when October comes, the Christmas music begins. Sometimes it even starts as early as September. For the most part, I try to wait until October to listen to Christmas music, but some artists' CDs play in my CD player year-round. I knew the first time that I heard BarlowGirl's "Home for Christmas" that I was hooked. The Barlow sisters mix together a wonderful blend of harmonies, combining various styles of music into one album. Their love for the holiday and the celebration of the Savior's birth is undeniably apparent.
Although most of the songs on the album are recreated versions of our Christmas favorites, BarlowGirl treats us to an amazing new song: "Hallelujah (Light has Come)." This song is incredibly beautiful, coming from Mary's point of view where she is humbled before God and amazed that He would choose her to hold His Son. We need to have that amazement that God entrusted us with His Word that we might spread His message to others. This song touched my heart as soon as the melody reached my ears, and I am confident that it will inspire all listeners.
I encourage everyone to check out this new album by BarlowGirl. It will become a holiday favorite, and possibly an all-around favorite as it has for me. It you're looking for a gift for someone this Christmas, be sure to check this out. You won't regret it.


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A M A Z I N G * | Posted October 27, 2008
I absolutely love this cd! It has an awesomely unique and timeless sound to it! I will deffinately be listening to it YEAR ROUND!! A few of my favorite tracks are their original Hallelujah (Light Has Come), Carol of the Bells/Sing We Now of Christmas, O Come O Come Emmanuel, and Becca's first lead song What Child is This! All the songs are amazing and beautiful! This is a must buy for everyone who love Christmas!!

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beautiful and classic. | Posted October 26, 2008
This album was different then I expected but in alot of ways its better then I expected. The girls really show off their vocal abilities on Home for Christmas and its impressive. Alyssa Barlow especially shines vocally on the album and I was very happy to finally hear Becca Barlow's beautiful voice on "what child is this?"
My favorite song on the entire album has to be (Halelujah) light has come. Its no surprise to me that the one song they wrote on the album is my favorite song. They are incredible song writers and this song makes that even more evident to put it simply it is a gorgeous song. you have to listen to it to understand how moving and beautiful it is. I'm very proud of my favorite band on this project. They did a wonderful job infusing the true spirt of christmas into this album making it both classic and even timeless.

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Beautiful to Ring in the Season | Posted October 02, 2008
Perhaps on of the Most Beautiful Holiday ablums ever! Compared to the Whimsically seasonal sounds of Point of Grace's extraordinary Christmas Style, however with the all inclusive Barlow twist. It Kicks off brillaintly with Alyssa ringing in ever childhood mememory in The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Almost makes me want to break out into Christmas Shopping. It twists into the amazing Carol of the Bells/Sing We Now of Christmas and into the oustanding opera voice of Alyssa, the middle sister. The Background vocals ease into the beauty comforted by the Prague Orchestra, simply beautiful. It begins to take your senses beyond the bustle of the season, into the true meaning. Lauren, who happened to brillaintly, and ironically be on vocal rest, Warmly brings back the sense of family and hearth in I'll be Home for Christmas. It edges into a Jazzy twist, with prominent Bass Guitar and wound tightly with strings, followed by a sense of a reminicent style of the unbeatable classic Christmas Music style. Perhaps one of the most amazing tracks is Hallelujah(Light has Come), written by the girls. Written through the eyes of Mary, the spectacular lyrics, almost place you in Mary's place. With Building crecendos, and the Overwhelming Bridge that knocks you into the moment-Praise to God on High, He has Heard our Cry". Beyond words, this song is almost as worthy of being in a Christmas hymn book, Also along with Angelic Proclimation, O Little Town of Bethlehem Also takes a Jazzy turn, sculpted well with the strings, What makes it SO unique is the unexpected guitar break that catches the listener unaware. One of my personal favorites is What Child is This? sung by the bands usual Guitarist Becca who avoids lead vocals at all costs. Apparently, she was convinced to sing here, and does a darn good job of it. It has a sense of an Amy Grant classic. In terms of Panis Angelicus...It sounds like an opera.Enough said on that one. Go Tell it on the Mountain Has a total jazzy, gospel feel to it, a diffrent twist on the hole thing. My Absolute favorite on this ablum, and from childhood, is O Come, O Come, Emmanuel It still retains that hauntingly beautiful, almost uncomfortable feel of mystery and wonder. I'm Glad lauren, hols vocals on this, it would have lost the magic through an opera sense. If not the singing, the music itself is goregous and the vibraphone is a brillaint idea with the fade, mixed in with the piano. Beautiful beyond everything, EVER. The CD wraps itself up with, Alyssa hitting home with Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. It makes yu feel nostalgic,and feels like Christmas will be gone for the year. Stunning vocals and BGV's, make the season last forever. A CD worthy of an all years Listen.

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