Christmastime
Artist: Michael W Smith
Label: Reunion (US) Word (UK)
Time: 45.13 / 12 tracks
Come and join me as Michael W. Smith leads us on a trip down memory lane—at least that's the feeling of the first track on Smith's second project this year. Opening the album with two tracks from the late 60's (Myles Rudge and Ted Dicks's "The Happiest Christmas" and Kay Thompson's "Jingle Bells"), gives the album a "soundtrack to a Hollywood Christmas movie" feel. The performances sound authentic and Smith's vocals work well on these songs. Among the newer tracks there's a good bit of variation. After the poppy third track there is a move towards the more classical, and by track six we've been treated to an orchestral interlude and a boy's choir, both of which are fairly well put together in a meditative kind of way. The album then moves back to a lounge-swing area.
Although occasionally a little over the top, overall this is fairly predictable but well put together Christmas music. If your looking for a nostalgic Christmas album with a few twists, this is a good release for you. Smitty may not be pushing any boundaries, yet this is probably the best mainstream CCM Christmas album I've heard in a few years.
James Stewart (11/6/98)
