SPOTLIGHT CD REVIEWS: BFA CHRISTMAS- BRIAN FREE & ASSURANCE & A WINTER'S CAROL- THE NELO
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS:
CD REVIEW:
BFA CHRISTMAS- BRIAN FREE & ASSURANCE
GROUP MEMBERS: BRIAN FREE (TENOR), BILL SHIVERS (LEAD), AND MIKE ROGERS (BARITONE)
RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 23, 2018
PRODUCER: RICKY FREE
LABEL: DAYWIND RECORDS
SONG LIST:
It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
O Come All Ye Faithful
The First Noel
Gloria
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
THOUGHTS:
BRIAN FREE & ASSURANCE ARE HERE TO BRING GOOD CHEER TO LISTENERS WITH THEIR LATEST EP ENTITLED BFA CHRISTMAS. THIS FIVE SONG RECORDING FEATURES CLASSIC CHRISTMAS STANDARDS DONE IN THE PROGRESSIVE AND MODERN STYLE THAT FANS HAVE COME TO EXPECT FROM THE GROUP. THE GROUP’S HARD-HITTING GROOVE TRANSLATES WELL TO “IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR,” AND “O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL,” FEATURING BILL SHIVERS AND MIKE ROGERS RESPECTIVELY. “THE FIRST NOEL,” FEATURES BRIAN FREE AND IS THE MOST STYLISTICALLY SIMILAR TO THE CLASSIC ARRANGEMENT. “GLORIA,” IS A STANDOUT TRACK THAT TAKES THE FAMILIAR “ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH,” AND ADDS A NEW MELODY AS WELL AS A NEW BRIDGE. tHE EP CLOSES WITH A FUN, UPBEAT TAKE ON “IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR.”
OVERALL, THIS EP IS DEFINITELY WORTH ADDING TO YOUR COLLECTION. GREAT SONG CHOICES, UNIQUE ARRANGEMENTS, INCREDIBLE HARMONIES, AND TOP NOTCH PRODUCTION QUALITY. I WISH THIS WAS A FULL TEN TRACK RECORDING, BUT THE FIVE SONGS HERE ARE FANTASTIC.
4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.brianfreeandassurance.com
A WINTER’S CAROL- THE NELONS
GROUPS MEMBERS: KELLY NELON CLARK, JASON CLARK, AMBER NELON THOMPSON, AND AUTUMN CLARK
LABEL: DAYWIND RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 23, 2018
PRODUCER: JASON CLARK
SONG LIST:
Winter Wonderland
The Wexford Carol
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Let It Go
The Christmas Song
Hallelujah
What To Expect
Where Are You Christmas?
Unspeakable Joy
Come December
Heaven Sent Help
Christmas In Heaven
THOUGHTS:
A WINTER’S CAROL IS PURE CHRISTMAS MAGIC! THIS NEW HOLIDAY ALBUM FROM THE NELONS IS SURE TO WARM THE SPIRIT AND DELIGHT LISTENERS EVERYWHERE. THIS TWELVE SONG RECORDING SHOWCASES THE BEST OF THIS LEGENDARY GROUP: INTRICATE, BEAUTIFUL HARMONIES AND CLASSIC SONGS. THE ALBUM FEATURES A MIX OF CLASSIC CHRISTMAS STANDARDS, SOME SECULAR FAVORITES, AND A FEW NEW HOLIDAY TRACKS. A TRADITIONAL RENDITION OF “WINTER WONDERLAND,” KICKS OFF THE RECORDING STRONG. “THE WEXFORD CAROL,” IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE TRACKS ON THE ALBUM. THIS CELTIC INSPIRED TRACK FEATURES INCREDIBLE VOCALS BY ALL FOUR MEMBERS OF THIS TALENTED FAMILY. KELLY NELON CLARK TAKES THE LEAD ON THE CLASSIC “HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS,” WHICH FITS HER VOICE PERFECTLY AND STAYS TRUE TO THE TRADITIONAL ARRANGEMENT. A SELF-PROCLAIMED DISNEY FANATIC, AMBER NELON THOMPSON COVERS THE BOMBASTIC “LET IT GO,” FROM THE POPULAR DISNEY ANIMATED FILM FROZEN. THOMPSON NAILS THIS SONG AND ULTIMATELY I PREFER HER VERSION TO THE ORIGINAL. “THE CHRISTMAS SONG,” IS GIVEN THE TRADITIONAL TREATMENT AS WELL WITH A LITTLE COUNTRY TWANG. NEXT,THE GROUP COVERS THE LEONARD COHEN CLASSIC “HALLELUJAH.” THE SONG WAS REWORKED SLIGHTLY SO AS TO KEEP THE MESSAGE CLEAN FOR THEIR AUDIENCE. AMBER NELON THOMPSON AND JASON CLARK ARE STELLAR ON THIS TRACK AS WERE THE HARMONIES. “WHAT TO EXPECT,” IS A NEW SONG THAT TAKES INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF THE SAME TITLE. THE BOOK’S PREMISE FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS IS APPLIED TO MARY IN THIS TENDER BALLAD FEATURING AMBER. “WHERE ARE YOU CHRISTMAS,” IS ANOTHER STELLAR COVER THAT SHOWCASES THE GROUP’S INCREDIBLE HARMONIES. NEXT, BILL AND GLORIA GAITHER’S “UNSPEAKABLE JOY,” IS GIVEN THE NELONS TREATMENT TO GREAT EFFECT. THIS SONG, FEATURING KELLY, PRAISES JESUS FOR THE JOY THAT HE GIVES! HE IS THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL! JASON AND AMBER ARE FEATURED ONCE AGAIN ON THE TENDER HEARTED COUNTRY STYLE “COME DECEMBER,” WHICH TELLS OF A SOLDIER COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. “HEAVEN SENT HELP,” IS SURE TO BE A HIT A CONCERTS. THIS DRIVING COUNTRY STYLE TRACK TELLS OF THE GIFT OF JESUS AND HIS BIRTH. HE WAS BORN TO SAVE US! THIS GROOVY SONG FEELS LIKE SOMETHING THAT THE MARTINS WOULD RECORD. THIS GREAT ALBUM CLOSES WITH A MOVING COVER OF THE POPULAR SCOTTY MCCREERY TUNE “CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN,” FEATURING AUTUMN CLARK.
OVERALL, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE ALBUM FEATURING STELLAR VOCALS, TOP NOTCH HARMONIES, AND EXCELLENT PRODUCTION QUALITY. THIS IS MUST BUY FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS COLLECTION. NOT ONLY IS THIS A GREAT HOLIDAY ALBUM, IT IS A GREAT ALBUM PERIOD.
5 out 5 stars!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.kellynelon.com