4 comments about Gloria.

1. Rocketown has quickly become my favorite label because it's home of some of my favorite artists. When I first heard about this CD, I was excited because it would combine some of my favorite artists with my favorite genre, Christmas music. And, based on the Christmas themed songs they'd already written, this would be a great project.
   
   Then I bought it. The first time I heard it, I was highly disappointed. Probably the biggest problem I had with it is the high level of involvement of Charlie Peacock. While many think he's great, I'm not especially found of most of his work. While I still think it could have been better, it continues to grow on me.
   
   There are some great songs on here. "God is With Us," sung by Amy Grant, is great. In fact, it's better then her last Christmas CD. Wayne Kirkpatrick does a good cover of "Welcome to Our World." (In fact, that's another flaw with the disc. Where's Chris Rice?) And the covers of traditional carols are great, especially the haunting version of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."
   
   Probably my biggest complaints are a couple of the original songs. "Prepare a Place" featuring Michael W. Smith and Christine Dente falls flat lyrically. Musically, it's beautiful, however. When I heard Taylor Sorensen and Alathea were teaming up for a song, I knew it would be interesting. And I was right. "Love Came Just in Time" looks at Christmas from the perspective of Simeon and Anna. While an interesting take and fun tune, it doesn't quite live up to it's potential, either.
   
   Not all the original songs are bad, however. "Sing Gloria" is a great song of overflowing praise. Although I must ask what the deal with one line is. ("Like you're living in a house that has no ceiling?") And "Christmas Kind of Feeling" is a great celebration of the fun of the season.
   
   All told, this CD is worth getting. I'm just a little disappointed that it didn't live up to what I thought it could have been.



2. I ordered this cd for two reasons: 1. I love Christmas music. 2. I really love Christine Dente (Out of the Grey). The cd is really nice, but song #5, "Prepare a Place" is GORGEOUS! I play it over and over and over...you get the drift. Christine sings a duet with Michael W. Smith and WOW! Do they blend well! If you can sing, add the third part harmony and turn it up. It will give you goose-bumps to hear the "trio"! I say buy the cd if only for "Prepare a Place". It is worth the whole price!



3. if you are tired of all the typical christmas music, i recommend this cd. the more you listen to it, the more it grows on you. the 2nd track is so beautiful, and that's coming from someone who is not really a big amy grant fan.



4. Well, as I had expected when I first listened to the tracks, I was once again surprised and delighted by the professional and inspiring artistry on this record. Every single song on this project reflects the personality and talent of each artist. And when all these talents are combined with a clear Christ-centered message of salvation, how could you not like it? A shame that we must often wait Christmas season to savor such inspiring projects. This is what our generation needs today: more music centered on the person and salvation of Jesus Christ. We don't need much "hits", the world has enough of it, but we need to proclame the Gospel to as many people possible, leading them to consider how important it is to be reconcilied with their Creator. And what better than great Christian music can lead them to stop a while and think about eternity?
   This being said, it's hard for me to say which song is my favorite, as each one has its own style, but to mention a few: "God is with us" (Amy Grant), "Love came just in time" (Sorensen Taylor) and "O come o come Emmanuel" (Christy Nockels) are defo the top ones. I highly recommend this record to anyone who gives as much importance to great music genre and intelligent lyrics. God bless you all!

No comments about Holiday Songs For All Occasions.

4 comments about A Child's Hanukkah.

1. Nice sounding renditions of the traditional holiday favorites. Some songs are in english and some in hebrew or yiddish. There is a bit of patter with brief hoiday explainations which would make this a good CD for non-jews but I found the patter annoying after a bit. My kids (4 and 9) enjoyed trying to mimic the accents. I liked Just In Time For Chanukah (Margie Rosenthal and Ilene Safyan) better.



2. We bought this on the recommendation of a friend and my daughter loves it. We got it when she was 3, but her interest in it has definitely grown over the past couple of years. She listens to it year round, and I like it too!!



3. A friend sent us this CD and all of us (children were 3 and 6 years old last year) love it. Musically beautiful, and fun for the children, too.



4. What a mechayah! This CD is a great mix of old and new Hanukkah songs, in the form of a family home celebration that is not some tedious preachy trip. The kids joke around with each other, explain a lot of things to the adults, and vice versa, in normal conversation.
   
   As for the songs, there's a nice rendition of the Dreydel song with FIVE VERSES (in English) that explain the meaning of each letter in the game. Plus you can learn to count to 8 in Ladio with "Ocho Candelitas." Other songs are in Hebrew and Yiddish, while their original new song, "Hanukkah at Home" is in English with an Israeli-sounding tune.
   
   Among the other new songs are "In the Darkest Days," which tells how we light the candles in that long nights of the winter solstice, at the dark of the moon. Think about it -- Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev, so Rosh Chodesh (New Moon) of the month of Tevet always falls in the middle of the holiday. Even if you live in the Southern Hemisphere (where it is summer at Hanukkah time) you still light the menorah at the dark of the moon. I'd never even thought about that until I heard this song. What a great insight!
   
   Another winter song on this CD is "In The Window," which tells how Jews in the villages of Europe (and also today) lit thier menorahs on the windowsill. The song goes through lighting the eight candles of Hanukkah and how they reflect onto the newly-fallen snow in a mellow, reflective tune that is very catchy. It's another counting-to-8 song, too.
   
   Not all the songs are so serious. There's plenty of fun and some silliness here, too. The "Hanukkah Waltz" is "lighter than latkes and smoother than schmaltz," and you can "kiss the maydl with the ladle" (Mom in the kitchen?) before you do "The Hanukkah Hop." If you are a gullible little kid who falls for the tale of the "Dance of the Leftover Latkes" your older siblings tell you, then at least "We've Gotta Lotta Latkes."
   
   The last number on this CD, "Hanukkah Remembered," is an instrumental medley of all the old favorites -- enjoyed by the parents after the kids have fallen asleep at last. All in all, it's a wonderful CD -- highly recommended!

No comments about It's Christmas Again at Longwood Gardens.

1 comments about Performs the Music of Sting.

1. I thought that The London Symphony Orchestra did a FANTASTIC job! I hope that they decide to do more of The Police and Sting's music. I hope someone of authority sees this and recommends that this be put on a CD because it would be so much easier to listen to it in my car. If it were a CD I would give it 5 stars, but it is an old fashioned audio cassette so BOO..4 stars..:)

2 comments about Martha Stewart Living: Home for the Holidays.

1. I just got this cd the other day and have already listened to it several times. I like the variety of the tracks and can picture this as background music for wrapping presents, baking (which I dont do) or for Christmas gatherings. I especially like the Nicolette Larson singing One Bright Star. I personally would have added the O Holy Night from Jewel- but Martha didnt ask me.



2. OK, so you think Martha Stewart is evil and you certainly wouldn't want anyone to know you bought a Martha Stewart Living CD. Throw away the covers and use your Sharpie to cover up her name on the CD, but listen to the music. Whoever at Rhino is putting together these compilations for Martha knows what he or she is doing. These are excellent compilations -- top artists -- terrific recordings -- really. Think of it this way -- you're contributing to the Martha Stewart Defense Fund and getting some great music in the bargain.

4 comments about Opening Windows.

1. Best music I've heard in years



2. This is a wonderful, uplifting CD filled with praise to our Father. Thanks Oak Hills church of Christ & Max Lucado



3. If you would like to be uplifted and give glory to our God, this album is it. The duet on "You Are Here" is heavenly.



4. This is some great music & a wonderful worship experience from the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. Great music, great vocals, great message, what a joy!

2 comments about Claymation Christmas Celebration.

1. THis is a great album, but be warned, don't let other sellers make you think it is a rare album and sucker you into buying it for $100! You can still get this album at Target for around $15.



2. This is the soundtrack to the Claymation Christmas special. The music is pretty good, but I have to point out that the California Raisins version of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" is a note for note copy of the Temptations version of that song. Of course, if you haven't heard the Temptations version, that won't make any difference to you. Anyway, if you enjoyed the special, you will probably also enjoy the album.

1 comments about Drew's Famous Ultimate Halloween Party.

1. I was bummed with this CD. I was expecting the orginal artist to perform the songs, e.g., Thriller - Michael Jackson, etc. Actually, it's not the original artist, but someone who they tried to make it sound like the orginal artist.

5 comments about One Family: A Christmas Album.

1. Let me start by saying that I love Kelly Price's voice and music. Unfortunately, this CD was full of one lackluster performance after another. I'm sure that she enjoyed putting these works together. The CD lacks the professional polish that it should have, however. The thing that really put it over the top as a CD that I will not keep was her performance of "Ave Maria". I simply cannot overlook the repeated and overtly mispronounced words in the song. I also don't feel that there are many songs on the CD that use all of the great qualities of her voice to it's best advantage. If you're a big Kelly Price fan, buy it used and keep it on the shelf.



2. Clearly the worse she has ever came out with! Only one good song on entire CD....



3. Kelly Price, with this Christmas album, showed once again that she can sing over any track given to her. Unfortunately, the same CANNOT be said for her guest stars. Though Mary Mary and Winona Judd turn in great performances on "Mary's Song" and "In Love At Christmas" respectively, her family on the title track show that they aren't the best singers in the world. This is especially true when Kelly's kids sing on "If I Lose Christmas", which made me lose my appetite. A rule of thumb: If your kids can't really sing, don't put them on the album!

   But I still can't front on the great performances that Kelly turns in, and as with most R&B singers, she sounds better singing gospel like on "Christmas Medley", "Go Tell It on the Mountain" and "Ave Maria". If you love Kelly's voice and can't stand her singing about people not accepting her weight size or about heartache, then this album is a good escape from her usual fare.




4. This is a CD that I feel will be worth playing for more Christmases to come. Every song is touching and very moving. The soul stirring Silent Night all the way to Ave Maria. Wonderful Kelly keep singing and you will always get my money.



5. This CD is absolutely Amazing! I purchased the CD a few years ago and have enjoyed every track, especially Ava Maria. I played my CD constantly and finally it just skipped Xmas 07...so here I am buying another one for Xmas 08! In short - I love this CD!!!