Following up on two previous posts about the best albums of the year and the best versions of “O Holy Night,” today I will focus on the best renditions of the other Christmas Carols I enjoy. A carol is traditionally a song of praise and that’s what these songs are.
I’ve listened to over 1000 Christmas songs (proof) over the past few weeks and have been keeping notes, both mentally and using Sticky Notes, which is just on of the great new features in Windows 7. When I envisioned this idea, I thought it was going to be just one post, but after I started writing about the best Christmas albums of the year, I realized it would be way too long for one post. So now I”m doing a post a day through Christmas. You may ask, “What’s left after this post?” Well, you’re gonna have to wait (and see and read).
Music upfront & descriptions to follow. Feel free to stream this as you do other things.
¶Angels We Have Heard On High
This was a tough choice since I’m love the drawn out syllables of the chorus and a lot of the version I generally like otherwise change the chorus, as evidenced by Hillsong’s version. Truth Bomb has a pretty good version too.
South Carolina’s own Corey Crowder has a great version that appears on X Christmas from BEC Records. It’s a pretty mellow & straight-forward version that heavily features a shaker.
I found Joe Monto’s video on youtube. You can watch it above in the video player.
I did come across this almost unique version set to the music “Crash” by the Dave Matthews Band.
¶Away In A Manger
»Bright Eyes »Relient K »Mannheim Steamroller
Though not very theologically sound (or logically sound, for that matter), this is a carol that has been around for a long time. I guess it’s a good thing I found out it wasn’t really written by Martin Luther.
Bright Eyes’s version is from their Christmas album aptly titled “A Christmas Album.” It has grown on me tremendously since my first listen. It’s a slow, droning version with some weird percussion, a creaking barn door (or an electric shaver or tesla coil), and some animals.
That’s where Mannheim Steamroller comes in. They’re instrumental version is simply beautiful. It’s appears on the “Christmas Extraordinaire.” Several instruments take turn in playing the lead melody. A video of a live performance is available in the player above.
I love Relient K’s medley of “Silent Night/Away In A Manger” that transitions perfectly into one of all-time favorite Christmas songs, “I Celebrate the Day.”
¶Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
»Sufjan Stevens »Jenny Gullen & Derri Daughtery
Sufjan brings a minimalist approach to the song and it works well. You’ll need to turn up your speakers.
I don’t know much about Jenny & Derri. This was on an album from called “Noel.” The shared duties of vocals and the strings makes this a great track.
This is an undersung classic. Jeanette and Isabella are two maidens who go to their stable to milk their cows only to find the newborn Christ. They go and tell the world. It does speak a lot to the humanity of Jesus.
¶Carol of the Bells
I originally wasn’t even going to include this song since I don’t like it all that much. Usually when I hear the song I am reminded of the Burger King commercial and Peter Griffin from Family Guy. Someone had the great idea of combining the two and putting in on youtube. <–you might not want to click that, you may never hear the song the same again.
But then I heard EDDY’s and the Sleeping Kings of Iona’s version. Then I heard the one by and I had to add them.
EDDY’s version appears on “Ode To Christmas – Volume 1,” which you can download along with Volume 2 & 3 here.
The Sleeping Kings of Iona (every time I type that I want to type “Leon”) is mostly instrumental. The only exception is Esther’s voice as a wordless instrument.
¶Do You Hear What I Hear
Hands down this is the best version of the song. Relevant thinks too.
“Guitars + Electronica bleeps and bloops + AutoTune = Copeland’s take on a famous carol.”
I can’t put my finger on exactly who Merry Ellen Kirk reminds me of. Maybe you can help me out with that. This is from her EP “Do You Hear What I Hear,” which can be downloaded for free from Noisetrade.
¶The First Noel
»Six Against Seven »Sarah McLachlan (DJ Shah Remix)
I know nothing about Six Against Seven. They don’t even have a MySpace page. This song was on the long-out-print compilation “The Official 99x Soundtrack.
The DJ Shah remix featuring Sarah McLachlan is so good, it might actually put you in a trance. It features a lengthy electronic intro. Combine that with Sarah’s unmistakable voice, and you have yourself a great song. It was available as a free download from The Vancouver Sun last week (since expired).
¶Jesu Bambino (The Infant Jesus)
Granted this is the only version I’ve ever heard, but I’m not going to let that stop me. It appears on the compilation Happy Christmas Vol. 2 from BEC Recordings. I originally thought it was song the band wrote and used the chorus to “O Come All Ye Faithful.” It is of only two Plankeye songs I like after the departure of their frontman Scott Silletta.
¶Go Tell It On The Mountain
A song that I didn’t equate with being Christmas-themed until I was a teenager. I guess I thought it was more an proselytizing song. The frontman from Thrice has a great acoustic version of this song that has a quaint folky feel to it. The best part: the tacet outro. Unfortunately, this was not released on his Christmas EP last year.
¶God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
»Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchrestra »Brother Cane
The only thing that would make me like Shawn Lee’s version better would be without the extraneous vocals at the beginning. The rest is so good, I can overlook that. It has the rhythm similar to “The House of the Rising Sun.” You will hear a lot of instruments you don’t normally hear in Christmas music.
Brother Cane’s version has a southern rock/blues take on the classic . You can download this one from his website for free. You might know him as the guitarist for Alice Cooper or Whiskey Falls.
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra also have a short instrumental version with a classical guitar.
¶Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
»Trans-Siberian Orchestra » Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
The TSO version is a medley along with “The March of the Kings,” and another instrumental masterpiece with a biting lead guitar melody line.
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone’s version appear on the holiday sample from It’s Hard to Find a Friend. This is instrumental as well. It’s got keys, samples, loop, and more.
¶It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
I had never heard of The Red West before I bought the Peace on Earth samplers. It’s got some subtle and not-so-subtle loops around an acoustic guitar with the voice of Jason Belt, which is what happens when you combine Brandon Flowers of the Killers and Thom Yorke of Radiohead. Just when you think the song is over, things get a little chaotic and break down.
If you know anything about Over The Rhine, then this is exactly what you’d expect from this legendary Ohio band, beautiful piano with the mesmorizing vocals of Karen Berquist. A version that all you purists surely shall enjoy.
¶Joy To The World
»Jamie Barnes from Sojourn »Seabird
Both these versions change the melody and music of the song. The guys from Sojourn Church are amazing. Jamie Barnes’s version will take your breath away. It’s the opening track on “Advent Songs.” You can download this song and one other for free.
You might have heard Seabird’s version fall finale of “Grey’s Anatomy. It’s a great pop melodies from the Cincinnati band. This is from The Silent Night EP. ”
¶The Little Drummer Boy
»The 722 Band »The Almost »Mary’s Eyes & Candi Pearson
This was probably the easiest one for me to choose. I first the 722 Band’s version about 10 years ago. They were the worship band for Texas A&M and that’s where David Crowder, Shane & Shane, Chris Tomlin, and many others honed their skills. Thanks to a guy named Mephibosheth and his now defunct dyndns.org site, I was able to download gigabytes of mp3′s and a few videos.
Aaron Gillepsie is the drummer and singing vocalist for the metalcore band Underoath. The Almost displays his lighter side. The cover is amazing. Pay attention to the way Aaron strains his voice to get those vocals out You can watch the video above.
This week I found an mp3 on my computer by Mary Eyes & Candi Pearson. Turns out Candi is the female vocalist in the 722 version.
¶O Come All Ye Faithful
»Trans-Siberian Orchestra »Starfield »So Elated
The TSO version (medley with “O Holy Night”) starts off with a simple piano progression that quickly turns into a full band orchestration that repeats with a fury. I can only imagine the intensity on the face of the lead guitarist. Then the strings kick in. Ahh, bliss. This in inspired medley.
Aside from this song, I didn’t know much about Starfield. Apparently they are pretty popular in Canada. The bridge the bands adds to the end of the song, leaves me want more.
So Elated put out a great Christmas Album, “The Bewildering Light.” You can get it for free from Noisetrade. Ben Thomas holds true to the carol and adds unique instrumentation. The song (and album) close with a choir repeating the chorus a capella.
¶O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
»August Burns Red »Bodies of Water w/No Little Kindness »Rosie Thomas
I would have to agree with Rosie Thomas on this one:
“I always hated this song actually. It reminded me of old men with bad breath singing it in church, so slow and labored, but after reworking it I came to really love it and I saw the lyrics in a completely new way that was really beautiful to me.”
But this year I found 3 versions I liked, that makes this song what it was intended to be when it was written almost 1000 years ago, a call to worship.
August Burns Red’s appears on their new Christmas EP. Like their version of “Carol of the Bells,” this is strictly instrumental. But unlike “Carols” this one starts off heavy, complete with palm-muted distorted guitar and plenty of hits from the double bass drum pedals.
The track by Bodies of Water w/No Little Kindness is from charity sampler Peace on Earth. Just when you think this is going to another instrumental, a women’s voice chimes in and adds her voice the mix. The slide guitar in the background give this a western feel.
I can’t believe I almost forgot about Rosie Thomas’s CD “A Very Rosie Christmas. She changes the melody and delivers her vocals strong while playing a minimal amount of chords on her piano.
¶O Holy Night
Two great versions that take artistic liberty with my favorite carol. Read my previous post with the 7 best versions (plus 2 honorable mentions).
¶Silent Night
»Rosie Thomas »Seabird »Sinead O’Connor
This is another one of my favorite carols, even before I found out that this might have been written so that Father Josef Mohr could have a Christmas song he could play on his guitar.
Rosie Thomas adds her personal style to this song. You can get Rosie’s version for free if you sign up for new newsletter. Not only does she change the melody slightly, she adds a second voice during the second verse.
Silent night (in a manger a Child is born)
Holy night (star of Bethlehem shines on Him)
Shepherds quake (the wise men bring their gifts to Him)
At the sight (angels on high watch over Him)
Glorious stream (in a manger a Child is born)
Heaven afar (joy to the world the King has come)
And Heavenly hosts (all who are lost can be found again)
Alleluia
Seabird released a great version of the song on The Silent Night EP. It has the feel of The Fray with a steady beat and piano pattern. The speeds the song up, but not to the detriment of it. It’s a great modern-pop cover.
You might know Sinead O’Connor from either tearing up a picture of the Pope on live TV (for which she asked for forgiveness) or from her universal hit, a cover of a Prince song, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” One thing is undeniable, she can sing. Some people hide their voice behind an instrument, but not Sinead; her voice isher instrument. Just listen to her sing from the bottom of her lungs. A video is also in the player above.
¶We Three Kings of Orient Are
This is a song that is usually not covered well. These are 3 best versions I’ve heard.
JJ Heller is an artist I’m going to keep an eye (or ear) out. After hearing her Christmas CD “Wake Up The World,” I’m going to check out her other works. She and her husband expand and retell the story of “We Three Kings.” with beautiful simplicity on “Star of Wonder.” You can get the EP for free from Noisetrade.
Sufjan slows things down slightly in this version. As the song progresses, the layers build, keyboard, banjo, some light percussion, and a flute.
![amazing_grace_large[1]](http://robbystewart.com/wp-content/themes/canvas/thumb.php?src=wp-content/uploads/2010/08/amazing_grace_large1.jpg&w=50&h=50&zc=1&q=90)
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