By Dan Harmeson
GENRE: HOLIDAY
LABEL: INO RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 6, 2009
RATING: 3 OUT OF 5
It’s that time of year again- when our favorite artists release Christmas albums that touch our hearts and prepare our souls to celebrate the birth of our King. What Christmas Means by gospel artist Anthony Evans reminded me of the meaning of Christmas. So much so, that to write this review I decided to drive to my nearest Starbucks, complete with its trademark red cups and seasonal decorations.
I have to say, before picking up this album I hadn’t heard of Antony Evans. I was pleasantly surprised by his silky vocals evident through most of the tracks on What Christmas Means. While lacking originality, Anthony gives us soulful renditions of our favorite Christmas jingles, both spiritual and secular.
What Christmas Means is a dynamic album. The title track is lots of fun. Complete with jingling bells, wintry lyrics, and a complete band ensemble, you can’t help but get into the Christmas spirit. Anthony Evans really excels at these up-tempo beats paired with great instrumentation.
“Immanuel,” the only original song on the album, is a soft piano based composition with profound meaning. It helps us answer the question: “what does Christmas mean?” While showing off the quality, range, and tone we would expect from any gospel singer, the lyrics of this song are what touched me the most. It reminded me that Jesus’ virgin birth ended a long period of silence, and that God does not forget us. This is what Christmas is all about, a time to celebrate our new born King and the fulfillment of God’s promise of a savior.
What Christmas Means covers modern Christmas classics such as “This Christmas” and “Grown up Christmas List.” The inclusion of these tracks brought me to the familiar feelings of joy, peace, and celebration. I feel these songs help bring a complementary dynamic to the album as a whole, although some listeners may not be as interested because they are unoriginal and have been done in numerous ways by other artists.
What Christmas Means is not just the album title but a deep question the listener has to ponder. In the end, it’s something we all have to answer for ourselves. If you’re searching for the true meaning of Christmas, stoke up your fireplace and turn on the tree lights because What Christmas Means will help answer the most important question of this coming season.
