X Christmas: A Review

GENRE: HOLIDAY

LABEL: BEC RECORDS/TOOTH & NAIL

RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 28, 2008

RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5

Nutshell Version:

BEC Record’s “X Christmas” is definitely a mixed bag. It has something for everyone. That will be the album’s greatest asset and it’s greatest liability. Different styles collide in a cacophony of Christmas cheer—ranging from hard rock to modern rock to melodic rock to rap. Overall, this is a good project. The pros and cons will ultimately come down to a matter of taste. What I liked and didn’t like may be wholly different than what someone else likes or dislikes. I’m okay with that. Either way, “X Christmas” is definitely a project worth checking out.

Full Version:

BEC Record’s “X Christmas” is definitely a mixed bag. It has something for everyone. That will be the album’s greatest asset and it’s greatest liability. Different styles collide in a cacophony of Christmas cheer—ranging from hard rock to modern rock to melodic rock to rap. A bevy of BEC and Tooth & Nail (and a few other major label friends) gather together to offer up their renditions of Christmas standards for a new generation of listeners. Baby boomers beware! Your silent night is about to meet the rock of ages. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

Kutless starts things out with a whole new arrangement of Jingle Bell Rock. It suits their style and will likely have teens moshing around the Christmas tree. Hawk Nelson does well on “Gloria,” changing the lyrics around for their own purposes. The song is pretty funny if you listen to the lyrics. The Almost offers their version of “The Little Drummer Boy” and stick pretty much to the traditional setting of the song, but definitely use the number to play up their drummer’s position in the band. Switchfoot sings an original song called “Evergreen.” This number is a bit slower and the most acoustic driven of the bunch. Per usual, though, Jon Foreman is powerful, thoughtful, and engaging as he sings out, “Holiday end/I’m here once again/And I’m left alone on the bus with my head on the ground/In hopes that I’m found by you this time around.” The always fun David Crowder Band joins the fun and offers their rendition of “Feliz Navidad,” though this number has been available since last year as a Christmas single. August Burns Bright changes pace by playing an instrumental version of “Carol Of The Bells” and it just works in the hard rock format. It’s strong and powerful, carrying with it the weight it was always meant to communicate.

There are, however, few misses. For instance, Project 86’s “This Time Of Year” is…weird. It’s definitely in their vein of music, but it’s a bit dissonant and militant for my tastes. I’m not for happy, light music…but Christmas merits it and this seems more suited for Halloween…or never. When they sing “Santa Claus is on his way/With loads of toys on his sleigh…” I felt as if I ought to be cowering under my bed in fear hoping to Jesus that Jolly St. Nick never arrives. While I’m all for rap versions of Christmas songs, KJ-52’s “It’s Christmas Time” just doesn’t fit this project. With everything else being some form of rock, the rap just throws things off. It’s not a bad song, it’s just a square peg in a round hole. It feels forced. Corey Crowder’s traditional setting of “Angels We Have Heard On High” closes out the album and, again we have a good track, but it seems to suffer from not fitting the mold of the rawkish vibe set by most of the other artists on the project.

Overall, this is a good project. The pros and cons will ultimately come down to a matter of taste. As I stated, there’s something for everyone. What I liked and didn’t like may be wholly different than what someone else likes or dislikes. I’m okay with that. Either way, “X Christmas” is definitely a project worth checking out.

Track Listing

1.     Jingle Bell Rock – Thousand Foot Krutch

2.     Gloria – Hawk Nelson

3.     Little Drummer Boy – The Almost

4.     Evergreen – Switchfoot

5.     Feliz Navidad – David Crowder Band

6.     Christmas, Please Baby Come Home – Anberlin

7.     Mary Did You Know – Kutless

8.     Christmas Shoes – FM Static

9.     Love Came Down At Christmas – Jars of Clay

10.  This Time Of Year – Project 86

11.  Do You Hear What I Hear – Seventh Day Slumber

12.  Silent Night – Sanctus Real

13.  Carol Of The Bells – August Burns Bright

14.  It’s Christmas Time – KJ-52

15.  His Favorite Christmas Story – Capital Lights

16.  Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Jaymes Reunion

17.  Angels We Have Heard On High – Corey Crowder