Short But Sweet
Posted October 14, 2010
By SarahFine_NRT, Staff Reviewer
The term ‘whirlwind year’, while it might sound cliché, basically describes what 2010 has been for the Newsboys. After a successful run on January’s Winter Jam tour, a 13 week #1 stint at radio, an album (‘Born Again’) hitting #4 on the Billboard charts, having the most added radio single of the year, and a series of packed out Summer shows, you’d think these guys would just want to take the rest of the year and relax… you’d think wrong. Accompanied by a Winter tour, “Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday” is the first Christmas effort the band has ever done, and while it’s not a full length album, this EP of 5 songs is sure to whet the appetite of Newsboys fans, and Christmas music lovers alike.
The album starts off with the unlikely but fun cover of the Mariah Carry track ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’. Picking up the speed once more is the boys take on ‘Jingle Bell Rock’. I love their version of this song, tack the beloved quirky lyrics onto Newsboys signature crunchy grooves and you have what is definitely one of my versions of this song . A soothing version of ‘O Holy Night’ (with an undertone 80’s vibe) follows right after, and leads into a playful rendition of ‘Winter Wonderland’. The most surprising aspect of the album is the last track, ‘The Christmas Song’, which isn’t something the band worked on together, but a track Michael Tait cut years back on his last solo effort. I am VERY happy they added this onto the EP, it highlights Tait’s powerhouse voice, and it showcases an amazing version of this song which was rather underappreciated back when it was released. It brings the album to a warm conclusion and sets the tone for a wonderful Winter season.
I really enjoy this EP, it captures the warmth and fun of what Christmas music should be. I only wish it could have been a full length album, but with all the hype this EP is going to get, I’m sure it will eventually come. This is great mood setter for driving around to start your shopping, and it’s something I can see many families enjoying together around the holiday season. Short but sweet, it is sure to put a smile on your face, and most of all, remind you why we celebrate the season. View All Music And Book Reviews By SarahFine_NRT | View SarahFine_NRT's Profile
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