Fast becoming a significant name in worship music, Citizens are back with more music, and following in the footsteps of fellow Mars Hill group King’s Kaleidoscope, this time it’s in the form of Christmas carols! On this track, the indie rock group have added their modern flair to the classic carol ‘Joy To The World‘ which opens their Christmas EP “Repeat The Sounding Joy“.
Lyrics: Joy to the World , the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Glory to God in the highest! Let heaven and nature sing! Glory to God in the highest! Repeat the sounding joy! Glory to God in the highest! Repeat the sounding joy! Glory to God in the highest!
The Oh Hellos are back and this time it’s with a festive release! Titled ‘The Oh Hellos’ Family Christmas Album’ this 4 track/25 minute musical epic takes the listener on a journey through the advent story by weaving together a number of well known carols in to a perfectly crafted medley. Often chopping and changing choruses from one carol to another, switching chord progressions, and then bursting back into a song they covered 5 minutes ago. Just in this track alone you’ll hear parts of “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks”, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”, “The First Noel” and “O Come All Ye Faithful”. This album really has a little something for everyone and will no doubt be making it’s return year after year to the Christmas music selection.
Lyrics: while shepherds watched their flocks by night all seated on the ground the angel of the Lord came down and glory shone around “fear not,” said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled minds “glad tidings of great joy I bring, to you and all mankind!”
o tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy o tidings of comfort and joy
“to you in David’s town this day is born of David’s line the Savior, who is Christ the Lord, and this shall be the sign: the Heavenly Babe you there shall find to human view displayed and meanly wrapped in swathing bands and in a manger laid”
o tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy o tidings of comfort and joy
Noel! Noel! Noel! Noel! born is the King of Israel!
o come, let us adore Him! o come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
“all glory be to God on high, and to the earth be peace! good will henceforth from God to man: begin and never cease!”
The band that exists for Christmas are back with some new music! Folk Angel, a four-piece group take traditional Christmas songs and for lack of a better term ‘folkify’ them. This version of the classic carol ‘Hark The Herald Angels Sing’ is from their latest release ‘All The Earth Rejoice’.
This song is taken from Future of Forestry’s second Christmas album, Advent Christmas EP, Vol 2. Eric Owyoung, the man behind FoF enjoys his Christmas songs and most years does a special Advent tour. This is his slightly less traditional cover of Joy To The World, starting in an experimental, electronica style and progressively becoming more traditional building up to the climax, where the song transitions into the hymn All Creatures Of Our God And King. Owyoung then wonderfully merges the hymns a second time and finishes this wonderful cover by reprising the original carol, what a musical journey!
Genre: Pop, Singer/Songwriter, Acoustic, Christmas, Carol
This song is taken from Josiah James Christmas album, Heaven Came Down EP.
On this song, Josiah James is joined by the lead singer of Golden Youth, Stephanie Lauren, for a cover of the english carol, The First Noel. The teaming of vocals works really well on this song, and the harmonies sound absolutely beautiful on the chorus. The Christmassy sound is there, but it’s balanced and not overdone. Overall this is a brilliant piece of Christmas pop music, sure to find its way into your Christmas playlist!
Genre: Acoustic, Singer/Songwriter, Christmas, Carol
This song is taken from Jadon Lavik’s seasonal album, Christmas.
Jadon Lavik adds his acoustic flair to this classic carol and yet he maintains that wonderful Christmas vibe throughout the entire album. This is a song that makes me wish I was curled up in front of the fire, mulled wine in hand and singing along. Hopefully it makes you feel the same too, and if you love this version be sure to check out the rest of the album as it is filled with similarly wonderful covers of other Christmas classics!
Paper Route are an indie rock band from Tennessee, USA. The band is comprised of J.T. Daly, Chad Howat, and Gavin McDonald. This cover of the classic Christmas Carol ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’ is taken from their free Christmas EP Thank God The Year Is Finally Over. A wonderful little addition to any Christmas playlist, you’ll find yourself humming along to the violin riff almost immediately. Well worth grabbing the rest of the EP.
This song is taken from Slospeak Christmas, Vol. 1.
Eazy Tiger is the name used by Joshua Brian to perform under, he is currently signed to Slospeak records. This track, along with Josiah James’ cover of The First Noel are both available for free download from Noisetrade.com. Since downloading these tracks, I’ve found myself starting my Christmas playlist more and more often with this beautiful carol. I love about this track for the perfect blend of modern style soft background synths and slightly autotuned harmonies (similiar to the style of the most recent Bon Iver album) mixed with the church choir sound. It’s very contemporary whilst at the same time remaining very classical, and for this carol Eazy Tiger’s style works brilliantly. Joshua Brian has also added to the end of the song by singing the chorus of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, and truly created a delightful Christmas/worship song.
This song is taken from King’s Kaleidoscope Christmas EP, Joy Has Dawned, released today (27th November 2012) King’s Kaleidoscope are signed to the Mars Hill Music Label and are a worship band at one of the many Mars Hill churches in America.
Since I heard that King’s Kaleidoscope were working on a Christmas EP, I have been counting down the days for this release in pure childlike excitement. This is a cover of the classic Christmas Carol/Hymn O Come All Ye Faithful, and again, the horns and strings section of King’s Kaleidoscope do a fantastic job of adding atmosphere to the song, and in the case of this carol they add a real festive sound too. It’s also great to see that bands are still able to produce that Christmas sounding vibe without just adding quiet jingle bells in the background! The other highlights on this EP for me is the rendition of O Holy Night, and the modern hymn All Glory Be To Christ, written by fellow Mars Hill Worship leader Dustin Kensrue (Lead singer of Thrice & The Modern Post).
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