Glory In The Highest: Christma

I believe that what makes this album strong for some is what makes it weak for others. I see these following components as strengths:
1. Focus on worship rather than nostalgia
2. Introducing new songs to the Church and revamping old ones
3. Doing something simple, yet profound, that will lead other worship leaders to do the same (eg slowing down and quietening down "O Holy Night", much the same as Tomlin did with "I stand amazed in the presence (How Marvelous)")
4. Making this accessible and possible to replicate in the worship setting
5. The live nature of the album
6. Introducing new worship leaders to the Christian community (this is one of Tomlin's strengths - virtually every record of his he introduces a new worship song / leader, eg Laura Story (Indescribable), Bluetree (God of this City))
7. Understanding that power can be found often in the absence of noise (hence the acapella singing etc)
Other than Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb of God" (which is phenomenal), this is perhaps the second most powerful and consistent Christmas worship CD I know. Having said that, I've just started listening to Sovereign Grace Ministries' "Savior" and think that might be up there too. Oh, and Graham Kendrick's "Dreaming of a Holy Night"

I noticed some of the semi-negative ratings for this wonderful holiday time recording. There are other reviews, though, that I believe nailed it. If you want nostalgic, 'feel good' Christmas music (and I'm a BIG fan of those recordings too, Bing, Frank, Dean, Ella, countless others) go for it, but Christmas is a time to worship 'the newborn King' too and this album is all about worship. It's melodic, rapturous, easy to get drawn into. It's a recording that has Chris' stamp all over it and what's wrong with that? It's his style and his style is pretty darn good! Is it a tad different? Perhaps, especially when placed against the old stuff, but it's still Christmas music, worshipful, thankful, glorious and praise worthy. I give it a solid 5 stars and encourage Tomlin fans and others to give it a shot.

What do you want out of a Christmas album? Do you want something to conjure up images of snow-covered houses, fires in the fireplace, gifts around the tree, and other "merry" things? Or do you like your Christmas music to point whole-heartedly, single-mindedly to Christ, the meaning and purpose of the season?

If you're looking for the former, you might be a little disappointed with Chris Tomlin's new, live performance Christmas album, Glory In The Highest. There are traditional hymns ("O, Come All Ye Faithful," "Angels We Have Heard On High," "Hark The Herald Angels Sing," "Joy To The World," and "O Holy Night"), but for the most part, the album sounds like a straightforward, live worship album that happens to focus on the incarnation and Christmas.

This approach had somewhat mixed results for me.

I appreciate Tomlin's attempt to bring out the worshipful element in traditional carols, and the original songs he performs are what you'd expect from Tomlin. I have to say, though, that there's very little musically that makes this really a Christmas album. I'm not saying every song needs to have sleigh bells or anything, but there are certain elements that simply are associated with Christmas, and I just would have liked to hear a little more of this.

That criticism aside, however, fans of Tomlin will find lots to enjoy here. He's a worship leader, and he's in his element here, leading a live crowd in Nashville through song after song of worship to God. There's a power in hearing a congregation sing the beautiful "O, Come All Ye Faithful" in unison. Many of these older songs have lost the worship element as they've been sung so many times over the years. Tomlin succeeds in re-capturing the awe in the lyrics of the classics he chose here.

I'm not a huge Tomlin fan in general, but this album is a nice addition to the Christmas album pile, and one that admirably attempts (and succeeds, for the most part) at keeping the focus of Christmas on Jesus Christ. There's nothing overly creative musically, here. In fact, some of the songs gain power by their stripped-down, congregationally-sung feel. But you feel Tomlin's heart for worship, and that's a great reminder to have during the upcoming Christmas season.