These classic Christmas songs have been performed so many times down through the years that it's difficult to hear them with any kind of fresh ears, but that's exactly what the performers on this delightful Christmas compilation have done, instilling these songs with new and ever expanding contemporary arrangements that make them sound brand new without sacrificing any of their comfortable familiarity. That's not an easy thing to do, and that tracks here -- like
Rebecca St. James' hushed re-imagining of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,"
Nichole Nordeman's gently building take on "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and
Bethany Dillon's jazzy and visionary restructuring of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" -- come off so well is a testament not only to the singers but to the songs themselves, which have proved so durable because they exhibit superb melodies and time-tested internal construction. Hearing these songs so freshly imagined is an unexpected gift indeed. ~ Steve Leggett