There has been so much good Christmas music come out this year that I can't hold it in any longer and am writing a blog to share the releases that I've enjoyed most and hopefully can recommend to you in good faith.
I'll start off first with Mars Hill Music's Citzens and their new release Repeat the Sounding Joy.
Citizens - Repeat The Sounding Joy
Repeat the Sounding Joy starts off sunny and major-key. It takes the trademark sound of the Seattle worship group's pseudo-disco-esque synth indie pop rock and add some eclecticism in the form of unconventional rock instruments like trumpets and throwback synthesizer and drum machine noises like the 80's are alive and forever. I'm not the largest fan of Citizens, but have an appreciation for the creativity they display with reckless abandon. Anthemic, poppy, 80'sy, Citizens take timeless hymns and transpose them to the timeliness of modern music. None is this so clear as in "Come and Stand Amazed", probably the standout track on the album. It is bookended with "Silent Night", which is the most contemporary arrangement on the album and allows the ears some respite from the rest of the decidedly polarizing album.Pick up their album from iTunes or stream on Spotify, and learn more about them here: http://marshill.com/music/albums/repeat-the-sounding-joy
Page CXVI - Advent To Christmas
Next on the list is one part of a project I've been looking forward to eagerly since it was announced. Colorado Spring's Page CXVI started an indiegogo and raised money to create three albums, based on the liturgical calendar. First is Advent to Christmas, then they'll do an album on Lent, Palm Sunday, and Maundy Thursday, and then they will do a Good Friday and Easter album.Page CXVI is another one of those criminally unknown and underrated "Christian" indie bands with good sounds. Starting off as the side project of the same members who play in The Autumn Film, Page CXVI states their mission to "make hymns known again". What makes them unique is their sole focus on hymns, old and new, and generally keeping the melody of the song while working creative music around that melody. While this is becoming standard fare for many admittedly good and creative groups, this can easily fall flat on the scale of interesting arrangement of old/ancient songs. However, Page CXVI has been able to release four albums loaded with hymns, a remix album by Noisetrade founder Derek Webb, and even a lullaby album for the children. There is nothing this side of liturgical indie piano rock that Page CXVI seemingly cannot do.
What makes this go beyond any other group's attempts to contextualize the music in hymns is the perceived delicacy of almost all aspects of the music. Latifah Phillips' voice, a very strong and powerful asset to the band, shrinks back and marches forward as the music calls for it. Page CXVI uses a very rare balance needed to make virtually every part of their songs interesting, necessary, joyful (even when the music is not necessarily expressing happiness). Expect nothing less from Advent to Christmas.
The album is a slow-rocker, with piano, wispy vocals, ethereal guitar effects, drumming, and a penchant for interesting minor chord transitions. While the music may be particularly different from what the old Baptist churches and organs would sound out, the melody is still there, making it easy to listen to and to sing along with. With the exception of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel", most of the melodies in the most popular hymns are preserved. Possibly my favorite track (though this is not an easy decision!) is "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" just for the beauty and swooning of the guitar and bass, the syncopated drum beat, and arpeggiated piano. That being said, the entire album should probably be listened to, on repeat, for hours and hours on end. It is cohesive and coherent, and has the most beauty when you listen to it as a whole.
Advent to Christmas can be previewed here:
Page CXVI and their amazing music can be found online at http://pagecxvi.com/
Future of Forestry: Advent EP, Vol. 3
Next on the list is another indie rock band, known for their fuzzy rock anthems, veterans to the almighty Christmas EP. Future of Forestry's Advent EP, Vol. 3 turns up the funky, polyrhthymic Christmas music dial to 11, and does so unapologetically, all the while preserving the wonder of Advent hymns and the signature FOF tone that fans of the older EPs will be familiar with and happy to know that FOF hasn't softened through the years in providing music that inspires aesthetically and hearkens lyrically back to the honor of the old hymns.
Future of Forestry have always had a progressive, clean, expository style for playing their renditions of hymns. While Page CXVI and Citizens could be (unfairly) accused of 'playing it safe' with the accessibility of their music, naysayers should be pleasantly surprised by the musical scales of FOF, especially on "Carol of the Bells". Ultimately, there's nothing I can say that could speak to the musicianship found in this small five-track affair, but fans of FOF know what to expect. It's the logical continuation of their first two Advent EPs, and that is, by no means, a bad thing. If anthemic Christmas music is your itch, this album will scratch very nicely for you.
Oh Come All Ye Faithful, the first single, is available for free here:
The album is also available on iTunes, or in their online store: http://store.futureofforestry.com/product/advent-christmas-ep-vol-3-physical-cd-immediate-digital-download
The Brilliance - Advent Vol. 1, 2, and B Sides
Ever heard of Gungor? If you saw him on tour a couple years ago, you may have seen him accompanied by another small group full of good talent. Enter The Brilliance. Michael Gungor's younger brother David Gungor may not have the charisma of his big bro, but that doesn't stop his music from flowing through his inventive veins into the medium of guitar and voice. If you ask me, my vote actually goes in favor of the Brilliance, for what I think is a more honest attempt at musical innovation.
The Brilliance is David Gungor and John Arndt, two musicians hailing from Phoenix, AZ. David plays the guitar. John plays the piano. They tend to bring a five string quartet with them when on tour, and a drummer, and backup vocalist or three. They self-style themselves as experimental liturgical post rock, and generally promise to "slow-rock your face off". What this means is hard to put into words, but let's just say you're in for a treat if you dedicate the time to listen to what they have to offer (or, even better, see them perform live).
Their latest offering is Advent B Sides, which should by no means be considered an indicator of the quality of the music ("Joyful Joyful" is an exercise of surprise and beauty musically speaking), though in truth, I believe that their first two Advent volumes probably deserve some more attention (I know that breaks the rules).
Advent B-Sides is available right now for streaming on Spotify:
Also available online at bandcamp for purchase or preview: http://thebrilliancemusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-brilliance-advent-b-sides
Advent Vol 1. is also available for streaming on Spotify:
Advent Vol 2. is available at Amazon MP3 and iTunes (no preview available, unfortunately).
The Oh Hello's - Family Christmas Album
Last major portion will probably be my favorite for this year. Hailing from the great state of Texas, The Oh Hello's has always been a strange bird in way of genrefication though most groups I've mentioned are likely just as problematic. I like to call this album a gloriously progressive indie pop folk Christmas hymn medley in four movements. They literally dropped the album at 10PM PDT December 9, and I've listened to it once and a half. But it is already my favorite.
Fans of their full-length debut may recall the small medley of "Come Thou Fount" that was found at the end of the record. Though it was not a full song by any means, it was like a taste of what was to come. Or what could be. Come Tuesday, they've released their Christmas EP upon an unsuspecting internet, in the form of The Oh Hello's Family Christmas Album.
It is a small four-piece wonder that takes you through the minor-key beginnings of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel", to the end of the fields of experimental folk, a 5/4 exposition of "Joy To The World", the most moving rendition of the song I've ever come across. Things come full circle at the end of the last song, making a repeat play feel like the only option. Most striking about the entire work is that it works as a medley, meaning the songs really are movements, and flow from song to song. Even within the same track, you will hear a hymn, then another, then another, and then possibly another. This may take some getting used to, but ends up being the most interesting, and, in my opinion, best rendition of Christmas/Advent indie music this year has seen.
In typical Oh Hello's fashion, the album happens to coherently sing of the ideals of reconciliation, pain, suffering, hope, fulfillment, grace and forgiveness, all strung in the hymns of Advent, and somehow place this against the backdrop of bouncy, proggy, poppy folk. Polyrhthyms, instrumental and lyrical meter, abound in this album. It ends as elegantly as it starts, and is justifiably repeatable on whatever you plan on listening to it with.
The Oh Hello's Family Christmas Album can be found, downloaded, and donated to from here:
Thanks for reading!
Nick
