Believe

Christian music star Natalie Grant has incredible pipes, a voice so flexible and explosive that she blows off the roof on Believe, a rock-solid holiday release with a double personality. On the one hand, this album is fabulous for those who favor robust gospel/pop with a big-band production feel; the first three tracks will have you hopping! "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is especially lively, with Grant contributing some cute asides. On the other hand, those you prefer more introspective, slower-paced numbers will love cuts like "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and the "Silver Bells/Savior Came for Me/O Holy Night (Medley)." Believe genuinely has something for everyone!

The album's ten pieces nicely blend the old and new. The title track "I Believe" is Grant's own creation, a precious piece with limited accompaniment, starkly beautiful in its simplicity and heartfelt message. The "Silver Bells/Savior Came for Me/O Holy Night (Medley)" is a fascinating and seamless mix of the secular and the sacred, and Grant pulls it off with artistic aplomb. The offering ends on a terrific note with a talented chamber choir providing support for Grant's emotive gospel presentation on "Sweet Litt...

Christian music star Natalie Grant has incredible pipes, a voice so flexible and explosive that she blows off the roof on Believe, a rock-solid holiday release with a double personality. On the one hand, this album is fabulous for those who favor robust gospel/pop with a big-band production feel; the first three tracks will have you hopping! "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is especially lively, with Grant contributing some cute asides. On the other hand, those you prefer more introspective, slower-paced numbers will love cuts like "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and the "Silver Bells/Savior Came for Me/O Holy Night (Medley)." Believe genuinely has something for everyone! The album's ten pieces nicely blend the old and new. The title track "I Believe" is Grant's own creation, a precious piece with limited accompaniment, starkly beautiful in its simplicity and heartfelt message. The "Silver Bells/Savior Came for Me/O Holy Night (Medley)" is a fascinating and seamless mix of the secular and the sacred, and Grant pulls it off with artistic aplomb. The offering ends on a terrific note with a talented chamber choir providing support for Grant's emotive gospel presentation on "Sweet Little Jesus Boy." Believe may make believers of you this holiday season. Thank you, Natalie Grant, for a vocal dynamic that is sweet dynamite! http://www.christmasreviews.com/wnataliegrant.shtml

Have you ever heard an album that just left you speechless? This is one of those albums. "Believe" includes a variety of styles by Natalie Grant, a multi-Dove Award winning female artist. The album starts out with choirs accompanying Natalie (who show up throughout the rest of the cd as well) in a dramatic Christmas favorite. The album picks up the beat with songs 3 and 7... with a sound like that of the young Michael Jackson. On songs 4 and 9, Natalie mixes up the album by including her own songs. 'Believe,' the title track of the album, captures the heart of Christmas in less than four minutes. I sang this song at my church this very morning and was met by many teary-eyed people. In fact, during the second service I found myself crying while I sang. This song speaks of how Jesus came to Earth and was born in a manger - and how this is the story we have been told since we were little. But that it is more than a story! So much more... she continues to sing of how 2000 years later the story is still alive; God sent down His Son to die for us... this Gospel message is absent in many Christmas albums, but Natalie captures it in this song. This allows listeners to...

Have you ever heard an album that just left you speechless? This is one of those albums. "Believe" includes a variety of styles by Natalie Grant, a multi-Dove Award winning female artist. The album starts out with choirs accompanying Natalie (who show up throughout the rest of the cd as well) in a dramatic Christmas favorite. The album picks up the beat with songs 3 and 7... with a sound like that of the young Michael Jackson. On songs 4 and 9, Natalie mixes up the album by including her own songs. 'Believe,' the title track of the album, captures the heart of Christmas in less than four minutes. I sang this song at my church this very morning and was met by many teary-eyed people. In fact, during the second service I found myself crying while I sang. This song speaks of how Jesus came to Earth and was born in a manger - and how this is the story we have been told since we were little. But that it is more than a story! So much more... she continues to sing of how 2000 years later the story is still alive; God sent down His Son to die for us... this Gospel message is absent in many Christmas albums, but Natalie captures it in this song. This allows listeners to stay focused on the real meaning of Christmas - Christmas lives in us.

I believe...this is a fantastic cd that is going to impact the lives of many people. Take a listen and see for yourself.

It was last year (2006) when I bought this CD. It was the first week in January when all the stores are having their after-Christmas sales. I went to Family Christian and they were having sales on all their Christmas music. I decided to pick this up, and got it for like $6. Since it already January, I believe I only listened to it once last year before putting it back on the shelf with my other 15 Christmas CDs. So this year, I got to give it a good listen. LEt me start off by saying-I am not a big Natalie Grant fan. I like her songs on the radio and stuff, but I've never bought one of her CDs. This CD alone made me a NG fan for life. I already have "Relentless" pre-oredered.
Anyway, back to the album. Natalie does such a great job putting new, fresh spins on classic songs. Nearly every song on here has a back-up choir, with the exception of "One Child" and "I Believe," which really adds to its sound. This album has a perfect mix of big band, Christmas standards, (Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Let It Snow) beautifully orchestrated songs, (O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silver Bells Medley) original ballads, (I Believe, One Ch...

It was last year (2006) when I bought this CD. It was the first week in January when all the stores are having their after-Christmas sales. I went to Family Christian and they were having sales on all their Christmas music. I decided to pick this up, and got it for like $6. Since it already January, I believe I only listened to it once last year before putting it back on the shelf with my other 15 Christmas CDs. So this year, I got to give it a good listen. LEt me start off by saying-I am not a big Natalie Grant fan. I like her songs on the radio and stuff, but I've never bought one of her CDs. This CD alone made me a NG fan for life. I already have "Relentless" pre-oredered.
Anyway, back to the album. Natalie does such a great job putting new, fresh spins on classic songs. Nearly every song on here has a back-up choir, with the exception of "One Child" and "I Believe," which really adds to its sound. This album has a perfect mix of big band, Christmas standards, (Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Let It Snow) beautifully orchestrated songs, (O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silver Bells Medley) original ballads, (I Believe, One Child) a jazzy tune (What Christmas Means), a gospel-fueled song (Joy To The World), and an acapella (Sweet Little Jesus Boy).
"O Come All Ye Faithful" is easily a highlight, with its powerful, fully orchestrated sound. "Joy To The World" is one of the best versions of this song ever, and I absolutely love that climactic key change in the middle. "What Christmas Means To Me" is funky and upbeat. "I Believe" is a catchy, beautiful ballad. The 8-and-a-half-minute medley starts off with 2 minutes of "Silver Bells", and a 20-second tune called "Savior Came." The entire song is just Natalie and the piano until the climax of "O Holy Night," which is done beautifully. The a cappella take on "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" is amazing. The only weak point on the album is the song, "One Child." Natalie originally recorded this back in like 1999, but re-recorded it here. I loved that version, but this version slows the tempo down and just doesn't measure up to its original.