Bethlehem Skyline

When a new Christmas album is released, one question always comes to mind-new songs or old classics?  Here we have a good mix.  Of the eleven songs, six are older classics.  "Mary Did You Know?" is included, which has become a modern classic.  Additionally, three new songs and a Pierce Pettis cover round out the set list.  There is enough familiarity with these songs to enable a festive singalong, but the new songs add variety and imagination.

Downhere brings two new songs to the table.  The first, "How Many Kings" is written from the point of view of the Magi.  The speaker brings to light how very unique Jesus was.  Who would've imagined that the King of the Universe would've decided to come as a baby?  This track gets at the heart of the mystery of Christmas all the while helping the listener to be newly appreciative of everything God gave up in order to bring us the salvation that we so desperately need.  The band's second offering is "Glory to God in the Highest".  This song was born out of an overseas trip and actually observing shepherds.  The realization dawned up them that angels came to those whom the world would call "nobodies".  Yet they met angels singing God's praise.

Circleslide contributes a guitar driven version of the traditional favorite "Joy to the World".  This song goes well with their second addition, an original named "Jesus is Born."  This song states the point of Christmas so succinctly and simply: Jesus is born.  That is why we celebrate.  That is why the world can now have joy-because Jesus is born.

Jaime Jamgochian brings two classics to life.  This version of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is simply beautiful.  You can hear the longing of expectation in Jaime's voice on the verses, and the chorus becomes more alive as she sings, "Rejoice, rejoice Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"  "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" is her other offering and stands as perhaps the best song on the album.  Featuring piano, the artist's voice is again very intentional in every word and syllable.  This intentionality allows the listener to hear the message of the song as if one has never heard it before.  Phrases like "Born a child, yet a king" take on new life.  While both tracks are old hymns, Jamgochian does an amazing job of breathing new life into them, allowing us to actually hear their words and message once again.

Newcomer Jason Gray steps up with his rendition of the modern classic "Mary Did You Know?"  Gray does a great job of taking this song and making it his own.  It is very guitar based, with a solid beat that is sure to have you tapping your toes and singing along.  The artist also serves up a cover of Pierce Pettis' "Miriam".  Both of these songs cause the listener to ponder what it would have been like to be Mary.  What an amazing woman!  How mysterious and beautiful, that God would choose to use a young woman to enter the world.

Daniel Kirkley brings two more classics to the collection, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "What Child Is This".  Kirkley takes an interesting musical turn with "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"-most of the percussion on the song is either cymbals or bells.  Immediately this brings the classic sound of Christmas to the memory.  He also excels at making "What Child Is This" his own.  The time signature is changed and there is a bit of different harmonizing on the chords, which brings the same message with a new twist on the music.

Lastly, all the artists join together on "Oh Come All Ye Faithful".  With the soloists trading off on the verses, it's all for one on the chorus.  This in itself brings new life to the song.  The song is a call for us all to come together and worship God-and that happens on the chorus when everyone joins in.

It's hard to remember the last time I bought a Christmas album where every song was a ‘must listen.'  Yet, Bethlehem Skyline is just that.  If you only get one Christmas album this year, this must be it.

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