I'm not much of a Christmas music fan. For that measure, I'm not much of a "Christian music" fan, (which I think is largely a ghetto for untalented musicians to take their cruddy mushy songs about their girlfriends and sing them about Jesus). But anyway, there are notable exceptions to both. As Christmas nears, I start dumping these albums into my playlist.
Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas
A set of Christmas songs and just great hymns. The selections range from silly to nostalgic to moving. This album is simply beautiful. A work of art.
Andrew Peterson - Behold the Lamb of God
Two years ago, we caught the live performance of "Behold the Lamb of God" in Dallas. Peterson tells the Christmas story in a fresh way: as part of the story of redemption, from Moses to the cross. The must is great, especially "Gather Round" and "It Came to Pass." I appreciate "Labor of Love" that doesn't idealize the birth of Christ as a "silent night" but as bloody and hard as any pregnancy...why do we rob Mary of her honor by thinking it was an easy happy affair?
Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas
Who doesn't love this album?
1 comment:
OH MY WORD!!! Fantastic description of so-called "Christian Music"!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sooo dumb I still haven't acquired this Sufjan album - that will change this weekend...
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