Christmas Memories

Hi Hello

Today is a very exciting day, hence why I am writing a post on a Tuesday and not on Sunday (but don't fret for I will post my playlist on Sunday). Today is special because two of my best friends released their debut Christmas EP entitled, "Christmas Memories" on iTunes. And to just persuade you to pick up a copy (don't be stingy its only $4.99, a steal compared to that One Direction album you just bought) I will be posting a little review of the album, track by track. So let's get started!

The EP starts off with the classic "The First Noel" and the opening instrumental is reminiscent of John's first album, "Awakened" (buy it here) with some celtic influences. But don't worry, if you are not a fan of celtic music, the whole song is not greatly influenced, once Brittany's voice comes in you are taken back to the first time you heard "The First Noel" and you are filled with the warm embrace of Christmas. When John comes in to join it adds to that warm feeling. Both of their voices sound like they were made to sing together. The tone of both of their voices compliment each other perfectly. The arrangement of the voices on this song is beautifully done and flows with the instrumentation that is backing them up.

The next song is a solo by Brittany and it is the modern Christmas classic, "Where Are You Christmas?" made popular by the 2000 movie "How The Grinch Stole Christmas." The Song starts off with a wind effect (nice touch friends) which gives you the feeling that Brittany is singing this while walking through Whoville looking up at the mountain that the Grinch lives on. I don't know if they noticed that, but it is what I imagine. Although the song starts off soft with an angelic sound to Brittany's voice, the song builds in the middle and becomes powerful and slowly decreases back to the soft angelic feeling as in the beginning.

Next comes John's solo entitled "The Light of Christmas Morn" which I feel is a very underrated Christmas song during the Holiday season. This is a song that when I listen to it I imagine John walking through a wooded area in the snow and finding the manger that Jesus was born in and the feeling of the true meaning of Christmas filling his heart. (when I typed that I noticed that I always imagine John in a wooded area with all of his songs...I did that on his full length as well) John's voice on this song is very smooth and actually reminds me of a well established boy band member that went solo...like if a member of Anthem Lights went solo, that would be John's voice on this track. The instrumental is subtle but every little addition is perfectly placed and adds to the overall feeling of this song.

The final song, and probably my favorite song on the EP, is "Angels We Have Heard On High" a very well known Christmas song, but the way that this song is arrange it is nothing like you have heard before. It comes in with a driving drumbeat and an extraordinary fanfare of trumpets with a call and repeat style between the voices and the trumpets. The song is at a fast tempo throughout most of the song but then slows down towards the middle with another celtic influence interlude. Probably my favorite part of the whole song is when they slowed down the famous "gloria excelsis deo" melody of the song to not be as fast as the normal tempo, but slowed it down to create an ending to the song that I've never heard before! Amazing track. Its my favorite on the EP, definitely.

And that is all for their debut EP. Christmas Memories is out now, and its literally a steal on iTunes! I highly suggest this EP to all of you, not because they are my friends and I'm doing a plug for them, but because they are truly talented musicians and this EP is nothing short of that. Wonderfully orchestrated and put together. This is not your typical Christmas EP, my dear readers, this has a new twist and unique sound to each Christmas song but with a traditional sound (if that makes sense). Its a unique take on the songs keeping with the traditional sounds...just go with it and buy it.

You can buy the EP, "Christmas Memories" on iTunes. I will also have the link in my sidebar over there >>>>> so if the link above is not working, you have another option. Please share this with your friends and get them excited for the Holiday seasons!!

See you all again on Sunday with my November Playlist!

Until next time my misfits,
Stefanie