Michael W Smith - Christmastime

Tuesday 1st December 1998
Michael W Smith - Christmastime
Michael W Smith - Christmastime

STYLE: Pop
RATING 2 2
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 5763-5642
LABEL: Reunion 023410015 2
FORMAT: CD Album

This product is currently not available from Cross Rhythms Direct


Reviewed by Tony Cummings

It was Sammy Horner who once observed that Americans can take shallowness to new depths. And in few areas of cultural activity is there a more consistent celebration of cultural cheesiness and aberrant taste than in the annual phenomenon of Christmas albums. There is seemingly now a rigidly held tradition throughout the record industry that once a year singers of every stylistic hue can momentarily discard any cherished perspective of being The Artist, with its associated sense of creative continuity and become instead wallowers in bottomless vats of glutinous sentimentality. Take for instance the case in hand. Michael Whitaker Smith's 'Live The Life' earlier this year gained a 10 square review in Cross Rhythms and is well on the way to achieving a huge mass audience. By comparison 'Christmastime' tumbles from the sublime heights of "Missing Person", "Love Me Good" and "Live The Life" (classics every one) to music and arrangements of such stupefying depths that one is left hoping beyond hope that the London Symphony Orchestra and the Abbey Road studios had helped Michael serve a colossal Yuletide prank on his industry friends. But 'Christmastime' is no joke, merely a ghastly creative deviation where even lush, plush orchestrations, guest appearances from Sandi Patty on "Christmas Waltz", guitar maestro Phil Keaggy on "O Christmas Tree" and a mass boys choir on the original song title track. Michael no doubt thought the cornball version of "Jingle Bells" a rib-tickling tribute to Dancer, Prancer, Donna and Blitzen. In fact it's grotesque burlesque. Also, the idea of bringing in his eight year old daughter Anna to guest on "Away In A Manger" is the kind of OTT kitchness one usually associates with American award ceremonies. Michael is a monumental musical talent, but from this particular reviewer's perspective, 'Christmastime' is a monumental mistake.


Sample Track Listing:
1. The Happiest Christmas
2. Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells
3. Christmastime
4. Welcome To Our World
5. Hope Of Israel
6. (Medley) Sing We Now Of Christmas - O Come O Come Emmanuel -Emmanuel
7. O Christmas Tree
8. Christmas Waltz
9. We Three Kings
10. (Medley) Away In A Manger - Child In The Manger
11. Carols Sing
12. (Medley) I Saw Three Ships - Joy To The World

This track data is supplied by the Cross Rhythms CD/DVD review library. Please note that CD tracks may vary according to release region or product version. You should not assume that products purchased through Cross Rhythms Direct will necessarily have identical track listings to those shown.

Reader Comments

Posted by Don in state of Delaware @ 20:58 on Oct 6 2010

Another wonderful cd with new songs by Michael for the Holiday season. What a nice cover of Chris Rice's "Welcome to our World"; also have a video clip of him singing the song live. I just luv the duet with ccm songstress Sandi Patty "Christmas Waltz"; what a wonderful song! I really like the cd starter song "The Happiest Christmas" and "Christmastime".
It's nearing that time again to dust off the Christmas cd's,and play songs for that most wonderful time of the year!! GOD Bless! -Don



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