My Favorite Christmas Album of 2007!

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.