Various Songs 4 Worship: Christmas Integrity Music Christmas 10-02-2001

SCORE 79%

From the creators of the strangely popular Songs4Worship series comes a 2-disc collection of Christmas music by a cross section of popular radio artists. The 22 song project mixes traditional Christmas carols and hymns (“O Come All Ye Faithful,” “O Holy Night,” and “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”) with more contemporary favorites (“Emmanuel Has Come,” “Bethlehem’s Treasure,” and “You Are Emmanuel”).

There’s not a lot of inventiveness here; it’s more of a background holiday album. About half of the tracks are standard holiday fare, not especially notable. The others on the first disc include a heavily orchestrated, pulsating “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” from MercyMe, Sara Groves’ delicate, sensitively delivered “Breath of Heaven,” and the surprising big band, big choir take on “Good Christian Gentlemen” from Bob Fitts. The disc’s standout track has to be “Tidings,” from Israel & New Breed. Quietly mesmerizing choir work makes the song as cozy and soothing as a cup of hot chocolate.

The second disc is slightly less fruitful, but covers Darlene Zschech and Hillsong’s rocking “Angels We Have Heard on High,” a quietly soulful “He Made A Way” from Candi Pearson Shelton, and NewSong’s nuanced, ambient “Little Drummer Boy.” Standout track is another surprise, the highly funkified “Joy to the World,” featuring the wonderfully fat vocals of the Integrity Worship Singers.  If the Songs4Worship series is your cup of tea, you will get much satisfaction from Christmas Joy.