5 comments about All the Joy in the World.

1. Jump5 consists of 5 teenagers:Brittany and Brandon Hargest,Libby Hodges,Chris Fedun,and Lesley Moore.
   So far,Jump5 has had two hit albums:the self titled album "Jump5",and the bubblegum pop album "All the time in The World".
   Now,with 2002`s "All The Joy In The World",the five Christians put in a new taste of holiday music on their first Christmas album.
   In my opinion,"All The Joy In The World" is a album you can`t stop listening to.Even if it`s not Christmastime.
   From the pop dance version of the classic song "Joy To The World" to the slow but sure "A Strange Way To Save The World",this CD is sure to please anyone who is a fan of Jump5 and their talent.
   This album is totally reccomended noy only for the Holiday season,but for any time of the year.
   Other Great Jump5 Cd`s:
   All The Time In The World
   Jump5(Self-Titled)
   Accelerate
   Mix It Up(Remixes)
   Dreaming In Color
   The Very Best Of Jump5(Greatest Hits)
   Shining Star(Remakes)
   Rock This Christmas(Not Sold In Stores)(Christmas)



2. Jump5 is my favorite band!!!! I totally love them!!!! They rock!!!!!!!! Here are my ratings for the songs:
   
   Joy to the World 4/5 This song is so good! This is a much more rockin' song, and it is awesome!!!!!
   
   Santa Claus is Coming to Town 5/5 Just awesome!!!!! This is a really good song!!!
   
   Sleigh Ride 5/5 This song totally rocks! They sing it very well.
   
   Wonderful Christmastime 3.5/5 Not my favorite, but still good!
   
   Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree/Jingle Bell Rock 5/5 This song is so good!!! I especially like Jingle Bell Rock!
   
   Strange Way to Save the World 1000/5 This is my favorite on the CD!!!!! It is so pretty and good!
   
   Remixes- Just as good, if not better!
   
   Overall, this cd is the bomb! Although I think that there should have been more songs on it than just six and then two remixes! But I still love it!



3. Jump5 is my FAVORITE band I love all of their cd's. There Christmas cd, All The Joy In The World gives you all your favorite christmas songs, and they take them and make something new and today.It's really hard ( for me ) To find a good christian Christmas cd, but this one i will enjoy always.
   this is one cd you can listen to any time of year and it still sounds awesome! Keep rockin' Brittney,Brandon,Chris,Lesley,and Libby!!!!!!



4. Jump 5 is my most favourite band in the whole world it is nice to see they have released a christmas albulm. My favourite song on it is the remake of the classic song Sleigh Ride.
   
   Why did Liiby leave the band ?



5. Wow! I could not find this album on iTunes, but Amazon came to rescue. Purchase and download of this mp3 album was VERY fast, effortless and at a great price! I am one satisfied customer. As far as this album....It's 'uppety' and 'poppish'. Something suited for a child to teen age category. Myself....I'll stick with Celine Dion's "These Are Special Times". Album will be perfect for my 2nd-grader's class Christmas party.

4 comments about The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree.

1. The VeggieTales gang is getting ready to put on a Christmas spectacular - a singing Christmas tree. They just need to decide who gets to be the star on top. While Bob will make the ultimate decision, he wants the help of some judges - Archibald, Madame Blueberry, and Mr. Lunt, who wants to be the snarly judge everyone loves to despise. Everyone wants the job, including Miss Achmetha, who is still hung up on puppies; the Boyz in the Sink; and Blind Lemon Lincoln. And, in the funniest song on here, the Peas and the Pirates fight over who should sing "We Three Kings."
   
   I was a bit concerned since I just loved their first Christmas CD if this would live up to it. I'm happy to report it's just as silly and fun as the first one. The second half stays more on the series side with the focus on familiar Christmas songs. There are lots of new songs or song parodies as well, including three new outstanding songs, "Was He a Boy Like Me?" "What My Father Did on Christmas Eve," and "It's About Love."
   
   This is another Christmas CD that kids and parents will love because it is truly funny. It might be a fight to see who can wear this one out first.



2. The Incredible Singing Tree is the latest release from BigIdea's Veggie Tales. As the first song "O Christmas Tree" gets underway, the plot of this Christmas tale becomes evident. The Veggies are looking for a Christmas "Star" to be the top of their singing Christmas Tree for the Christmas Eve production. The judge, Bob, has three "consultants" Madame Blueberry, Mr. Lunt, and Archibald Asparagus. The following eight songs are sung by various contestants in this "star search." `Puppy Love' is sung by Miss Achmetha--previously known for singing `Lost Puppies' in Esther. `The Friendly Beasts' are sung by "mixed vegetables." `Jingle Ka-Ching' is a commercial interruption sung by Mr. Lunt and Mr. Nezzer--paid for by the Nezzer toy company of course. `The Battling Kings' shows the rivalry between three French peas and three pirates who have decided to do something--sing "We Three Kings" for the production. `Silent Night' is sung by Petunia. `Christmas Sizzle Boy' is sung by the Boyz in the Sink. `Candy Line Blues' is sung by a blind lemon. With the end of that song, however, the mood shifts from finding the "star" of the play to working together to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Junior Asparagus' song `Was He A Boy Like Me?' brings our judges to tears as they realize they should not be fighting over who is best. `What My Father Did On Christmas Eve' is sung by Merche.
   
   The remaining five songs are mostly medleys of traditional Christmas songs: Here We Come A-Caroling/ Ding Dong Merrily on High, What Child Is This/ The First Noel, Hark the Harold Angels Sing/ Angels We Have Heard On High, Joy To The World, and For Unto Us A Child Is Born. The final song, a bonus song, is It's About Love is sung by Wynonna.
   
   The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree is great because it's fun and entertaining. If you like Veggies, you'll like hearing the Veggies sing Christmas songs. True, not all Veggies sing with perfect pitch--especially Miss Achmetha--but you can't beat their exuberance!



3. As another reviewer indicated, this CD is great fun. We loaded it into our iPod on a whim and it fast became our favorite Christmas record last year. There's a good mix of traditional Christmas music, new songs, and laugh-out-loud Veggie banter. The "telephone game" exchange which brings about the fall of a Christmas tree is hysterical. "Keep rocking; don't stop!"



4. My kids love this CD. It is February and they still want to listen to Christmas music! A must for veggie tale fans.

5 comments about Alligator Stomp, Vol. 4: Cajun Christmas.

1. I love this CD of upbeat Cajun sung christmas music. I play loud and often. It is a nice change to the season of elevator music. My 21 month old son loves to dance around the room while this CD is playing.



2. This is a MUST for anyone who can get a little cranky around the holidays from stress. I haven't played it for anyone whose feet and hands could remain still as they listened. This will be a "first grab" out of my CD collection for many years to come.



3. Wow! If you want Christmas music that will lift your spirits and put a smile on your face, get this CD! Upbeat Cajun arrangements of standards such as "Joy to the World" sit alongside similar arrangements of contemporary classics such as "Jingle Bell Rock". Then, add a few originals, most notably "Christmas Bayou" (which is like a Cajun "Home for the Holidays" with its vivid imagery of home and family, except it's much more upbeat) and you've got a musical Christmas gumbo! If Christmas music sung in French and backed by an accordian doesn't sound like your idea of a good time, think again! If you like Cajun music, and if you love Christmas, then this will probably become one of your favorite CDs!



4. This CD features Cajun musicians performing Christmas songs. About half the songs are instrumentals, with the other half being sung in either English or Cajun French. This is happy, fun music, featuring an emphasis on accordions and fiddles. All the music here is great. My personal favorite is Belton Richard's "Please Come Home For Christmas", sung in Cajun French, which is the best version of that song that I have ever heard. This CD is sure to make any Christmas party swing.



5. Great buy!!! One of two hard to find items. This fun CD bought back lots of memories of fun Christmases with family and friends back in the Bayou Country of Louisiana.

2 comments about My Fayre Lady: Tudor Songs and Chant.

1. Quite simply the finest recording of this material in recent memory. The performance of 'Blow thy horne hunter' has become the benchmark to which all others will be compared. Jeffery Johnson's solos are hauntingly beautiful. It is clear that the men of Linoheart have a passion for this material. This recording, like their more recent album, Paris 1200, reveals the group's extraordiany vocal talents as well as their scholarly mastery of the music of the middle ages. If you can't hear them live, you must have this disc. If you've heard them live, you already own it.



2. Both haunting and beautiful, the singers of Lionheart transport you to another time when courtly love and Marian worship were the norm. Their pure vocal tones seem to emphasize the purity of the lyrics. My favorite piece is Up Y Arose sung in both English and Latin. I fervently recommend the purchase of this cd. Sed fugit interea, fugit inreparabile tempus!

4 comments about Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker · Offenbach - Le Papillon.

1. When I picked up this CD for the bargain price of $, I wasn't sure if it would be what I was looking for. I was pleasantly surprised when it blew me away in almost every respect. Bonynge gets a rich, powerful sound out of the National Philharmonic Orchestra. The strings are precise and are never smothered by the brass (as is usually the case in several spots, particularly in the "Coda"--in the Coda on this disc, the strings impressively hold their own). The brass, for their part, are warm and rich, lending an almost percussive punctuation to this energetic music. In fact, the playing in general can be summed up by noting its two most prominent characteristics: its absolute precision and its truly Russian energy and vivacity. This is truly a Nutcracker where the players are enjoying themselves. In addition, Bonynge avoids the tendency to rush the music (a problem that plagues so many other Nutcracker recordings), keeping his tempi fast enough to be energetic but still restrained enough so that the intricacy and beauty of the music can shine through. There are a couple spots where I wish the playing had been slightly more dramatic (particularly in the lack of a ritardando at the end of "Waltz of the Flowers"), but overall this is one of the best "Nutcracker" recordings I've ever heard. As for "Le Papillon"... never having heard it before, I have no basis for comparison, but the aforementioned playing characteristics (precision, energy and well-chosen tempi) apply to it as well. It makes a fine addition to a 2-disc set that already contains an extremely worthy "Nutcracker." It's possible you could do slightly better than this if you're a true Nutcracker enthusiast, but for less than ten dollars, there's no way you could go wrong with these 2 CDs. I'm extremely proud to have them in my collection.



2. My Granddaughter sings with the St. Louis Children's Concert Choir. This choir tours the world. After hearing her choir sing with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra this past Christmas,"Waltz Of The Snowflakes," I wanted to keep the magic of that night going.
   
   So I hunted through Amazon's Nutcracker CDs, looking for one backed up by a children's choir. This CD delivered the goods and is a lovely "Nutcracker." But as a proud grandmother, of course I think the St. Louis Children's Choir sounded better.



3. Tchaikovsky is justly popular for his piano and violin concertos, Pathetique Symphony, and many other outstanding compositions. But his greatest compositions were his three ballets: Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and Nutcracker each of which is a masterpiece. The Nutcracker was the last ballet Tchaikovsky composed and it is perhaps the most perfect ballet that he -- or anyone -- ever composed; it's music is gorgeous from beginning to end. Many people are familiar with the Nutracker Suite, but have never heard the complete Nutcracker and thereby have missed a lot of beautiful music. Every Tchaikovsky lover should have the complete Nutcracker and there is no finer performance of it than this one conducted by Richard Bonynge, a specialist in ballet and program music of the Romantic era. As a bonus, this 2-CD set contains a rarely-heard but quite beautiful short ballet, Le Papillon, by Offenbach. Highly recommended.



4. I adore Svetlanov's outrageously grandiose account of Nutcracker (Melodiya 2CD, another Nutcracker Must) or Mravinsky's deeply felt live recordings (sadly not complete), but this truly great and heart-felt recording by Bonynge is the one I always come back to, for its magical atmosphere and other-worldly beauty.
   
   Each time I listen to this music, it never fails to move me with a sense of happy sadness. Maybe because Tchaikovsky wrote this music to the memory of his lost sister and his affection for her is haunting every piece? Or because Tchaikovsky unconciously described the world beyond death, while Symphony Pathetique depicts death itself? Anyway, Bonynge captures that haunting beauty and the sense of other-worldliness better than anyone else.
   
   While so many conductors spoil this inspired music by wrong choice of tempo (Gergiev & Rodzinsky notably), Bonynge manages to judge tempo perfectly in each movement, and his treatment of tempo is never mechanical, but always flexible and subtle. The famous Pas de deux, for example, is played very slowly, but not too slow. After the music reaches climax, tempo is slightly faster to intensify the emotion. The overall effect is deeply moving. Pine Forest scene and Snowflakes scene with children's chorus are most magical and dreamy.
   
   Another remarkable thing about this recording is that the orchestra plays with real feeling and intense emotion, like Russian orchestras do. Unlike Rodzinsky who sacrifices musicality for technical precision, Bonynge puts emotional and musical expression before technical perfection. As a result the music sounds so vivid and alive.

No comments about String Quartet Tribute to Valentine's Day.

5 comments about My Christmas Prayer.

1. You can FEEL BeBe Winans praying FOR THE WORLD on 'My Christmas Prayer'! What incredibly moving lyrics!! BeBe sings with such passion and intensity, he just blows me away. All the tunes included on this CD are truly CLASSIC, while still being fresh and exciting to listen to. The orchestration and vocals - including the background singers! - are so rich and lush, any of these songs would be perfect movie soundtracks, they are so deliciously recorded. IMHO, not only are these amazing classics better than the standard versions everyone is used to, but FAR BETTER! I adore The First Noel, O Holy Night, Silent Night -- oh, I can't pick my favorite, because I love them all equally! What a treat to have a CD with ALL GREAT SONGS and not just one or two (if that). This CD will be in my player not just through this holiday season, but into 2004. I know me, and once I am lucky enough to come across a CD that is PACKED with great tunes, I don't stop playing it for a long time, and though these are 'holiday' tunes, they are so wonderfully full of energy that it'll be my pleasure to listen to them throughout the New Year!! Buy it now - you'll be glad you did!



2. Although we have a basket full of holiday CD's, all we are listening to this year is My Christmas Prayer,interrupted only by Bebe and Cece's FIRST CHRISTMAS.Since we received it a few days ago it has played almost constantly in the background.The duet with Rob Thomas is the perfect blend of heart, soul and faith.Every arrangement is touching and original. It instantly become my favorite Christmas album the first time I played it.But-truth be told-I am such a devoted fan of Bebe's that there was very little chance I wouldn't adore this CD as well.



3. Bebe has always been the undisputed man in my book. His work with Cece was great, but his solo career has really bloomed. His solo debut was fantastic.

   As for the Christmas albums, the older one w/Cece has always been my all time favorite holiday cd. The arrangments are fresh and beautiful.

   However, Bebe's newest beats all. Buy this cd. You won't be disappointed. Bebe Winans is the premier gospel artist of our time.




4. I must echo the sentiments of nearly everyone else who has written reviews so far about this album.

   BeBe's singing is both impressive from a technical standpoint (he hits those notes!) and forcefully passionate from an emotional standpoint. I've often felt him to be under-appreciated from a mass market perspective because he operates mostly within the gospel market. But he is truly one of the most soulful male vocalists of modern times.

   The production is lush and the songs are well-chosen. The new title track is strong, in both versions, with Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 and with Mom Delores Winans. And I love the adaptation of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord".

   If I have one quibble, it's that the pacing of this CD is a bit on the slow side. I DO like slow holiday songs best - and I'd rather have this than a bunch of 'Frosty The Snowman' renditions.

   But the wall-to-wall emphasis on slow songs - delivered with heavy orchestral production and intensely sung vocals - does make this CD feel extra serious. The album is beautiful and spiritual - but doesn't have much of that holiday 'fun'. Definitely makes it the ideal album for reflecting upon the meaning of the Christmas season (but not the CD I'd play for the office party with the spiked eggnog).

   Buy it anyway - because it IS great, as long as you understand what you are getting.




5. The Winans Family have consistantly put out some of the best music I've ever bought and this one is not exception..His renditions are solid, well produced pieces of music and just the added change from the "cookie cutter" productions of Christmasses past...I especially enjoy the new "My Christmas Prayer" with Rob Thomas and mother Deloris..I recently had the opportunity to see BeBe in person and he did not disappoint then and you will not be disappointed with this purchase..I also recommend purchasing (if you haven't already) "First Christmas" where he is joined by sister CeCe and CeCe's own Christmas CD, "His Gift"..

No comments about Absolutely Ultimate Family Christmas DVD.

2 comments about Oh Santa! New & Used Christmas Classics.

1. I expected it to be spotty, and it is. I wouldn't say I was disappointed, but perhaps I'm just getting too old for hipster Xmas albums. Los Straitjackets, Jason Ringenberg and Reverend Horton Heat drew me to this one, which might give you an idea of where I'm coming from. But I found only one truly great song (the bluegrass title track), a couple pretty good ones ("Holiday Mood," "New York Is a Christmas Kind of Town") and then a serious drop-off in quality. RHH's "Santa on the Roof" isn't bad, but Los Straitjackets' contribution will disappoint anybody who loves their terrific Christmas album. (They sing. 'Nuff said.) The rest of the album is the usual indie-band holiday stuff...either jaundiced or tritely "ironic," and let's face it, both approaches are pretty stale by now. Songs range from OK (Cities channelling XTC's Three Wise Men) to just plain lousy (Jason's scorch-free "Lovely Christmas"). At least there's a little something for everyone here, but the more hip you consider yourself to be, the better you'll probably like it. If you just want to annoy visiting relatives, get Mojo Nixon's "Horny Holidays" or Mr. Hanky's set instead -- both are a lot more fun. If you want something a bit different, try "James Brown's Funky Christmas," or a couple classics from Rhino, "Alligator Stomp vol. 4: Cajun Christmas" or "Bummed Out Christmas!" If you can get "Oh Santa!" cheap, it's worth picking up...2.5 stars.



2. I was drawn to this collection initially because of th'Legendary Shack Shakers. Their version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is an amazing blend of both traditional and contemporary. Infused with a clangy, bluesy charm, and blended with Colonel JD Wilkes wailing Hohner harp, they make the song their own without taking away from the original.
   
   Other favorites of mine include Jason Ringenberg(feat. Kristi Rose) doing "Lovely Christmas", with the latter performing a gentle tune, interuppted, at points at Jason's railing against modern holiday conditions. "Santa Gave To You What You Gave To Me" by Jake Brennan & the Confidence Men is naughty Christmas all the way, and a fun tune. Marah's "New York Is A Christmas Kind of Town" and Chatham County Line's "O! Santa" are more traditonal and folksy and remind of a more innocent kind of Christmas tune.
   
   Reverend Horton Heat "Santa On the Roof" is a fine balancing act of modern performance with a traditional Christmas concept, and should please both Heat and Christmas fans alike. Also, "Your Christmas Whiskey" by Minus 5 is an excellent song.
   
   The only song I felt that was inferior was The Moaners "Something Funny In Santa's Lap". Without even bothering to interpret the lyrics, the song is simply not that interesting.
   
   For those looking for a blend of humorous, traditional and experimental type of Christmas songs, this is worth a shot.
   
   Swampblood Believe

5 comments about 12 Songs of Christmas.

1. This is for Etta James' real fans, the ones who have listened to her through her career and still want to hear more from her, even realizing that she is past her prime. Her voice still has that warm quality and she still has the style that gives one the feeling that she is singing particularly for the individual listener.

   Of course, this is of the jazz genre. But Etta is so respectful of both the secular and the serious Christmas music. Her opening number, "Christmas Wonderland", is very inviting, and features great work from bass, piano, guitar, and trumpet. This is one of Etta's charms, the way she gives plenty of space to the jazz musicians working with her.

   "Merry Christmas, Baby" is given a properly bluesy interpretation and besides her wonderful interpretation of the song, features solos from Red Halloway on Tenor Saxophone and Cedar Walton on piano.

   She gives lots of spirit to "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", helped again by Cedar Walton's piano and also George Bohanon's trombone. This is followed with a transition...possibly the two greatest sentimental secular Christmas songs, before she goes into the more serious "The Little Drummer Boy", and then the traditional carols.

   Her "Silent Night" is indeed very moving and while there's a little improvisation in her performance and performances by Sametto James on Electric Bass and Red Halloway on Tenor Saxophone, there is respectful reverence here.

   The greatest surprise to me, and the song that I needed to listen to several times in order to appreciate the unusual presentation, was her slow paced rendition of "Joy To The World". I like to think that she was expressing an idea to us, that the type of joy experienced during these holidays need not be the wild, loud, hilarious kind, but rather a very deep inner joy which expresses itself in a soulful way. Again, great accompaniment maintaining the quiet yet joyful mood from Cedar Walton's Piano and Red Holloway's tenor sax.

   And then the effective closing cut is "O Holy Night". If you have any appreciation for jazz, I believe you will experience , while listening to this CD, how jazz can be used when in the hands of sincere artists to create a loving Christmas atmosphere.




2. I purchased this album several years ago, but not being much of a "reviewer" it has taken me a bit to write this down.
   Simply said, this album is a pleasure to hear come the holiday season. Always tasteful, the arrangements never come off as "Kenny-G" jazz. This is an album aimed for the traditional jazz fan and probably should be passed over by anyone looking for a "smooth jazz" angle.
   Indeed, the phrasings are classic Etta (although the other reviewers are not incorrect for noting that in her in her 60's Etta is losing her range, but still a wonderful, full-bodied singer.)
   If I was to single a track out, it would be "The Little Drummer Boy." It always seemed odd that the drummers quintessential tune was never given its proper due. While still lacking an all out solo, Etta sings around the drums so as to give it room to explore. The song closes with a wonderful solo which gives way to the finale of two Christmas classics.
   This album will never be considered a Jazz Xmas classic in the way that Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack to the Penuts Christmas cartoon. Yet, its essential to note that Etta's goal wasn't to rewrite the rules of Christmas albums. The goal was to take a set of Christmas standards and to give them that classic jazz feel. In this way, Etta passes with without question.
   An excellent Christmas gift for that Jazz fan in your family. What an album. Highly recommended.



3. Etta James is the Queen of Sass... I truly enjoyed this CD this past holiday season... a good one to have in the collection; and to share with family and friends @ the X-mas party!



4. No real surprises on the song choices but a nice addition to my Christmas CDs.



5. I've purchased this cd after listening to one of the tracks on some internet radio. Now I can say that all of the songs are great and it was a good decision to get this album. If you like good jazz, if you like Christmas time and songs - even in the summer - then you should definitely buy it!