Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review


Chris Tomlin, Emmanuel: Christmas Songs Of Worship (Live)
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Chris Tomlin
Emmanuel: Christmas Songs Of Worship (Live)



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Christmas / Worship / Live
Album length: 13 tracks: 47 minutes
Street Date: September 24, 2021


READER RATING:   


Christmas is an epic story and celebration that the Western World (including, alas, many church-going folks) keep trying to make simply a cozy one. This is not to say there isn't a place for "Jingle Bells," Christmas movies (like the wonderful ELF or It's A Wonderful Life) or festive pajamas. It's just that the message of Christmas, the ancient world-changing event that is at the heart of things, can often get drowned in holiday cheer, shopping, wrapping paper and hot cocoa.

Chris Tomlin has never released a cover of "Jingle Bells" or "Frosty The Snowman," and when it comes to the Advent season, he keeps his music squarely on where his calling as an artist is: vertical worship. His two previous Christmas worship albums, Adore and Glory In The Highest, are logical, thematic, and stylistic extensions of his whole body of work (going on more than twenty years now). His latest, Emmanuel: Christmas Songs Of Worship (Live), continues this theme with a batch of new songs, a few Christmas carol covers, and a number of guest stars adding to the mix.

Opener "Emmanuel God With Us" shows Tomlin's trademark easy way with a melody and is a highlight of the set right off the bat. With a worshipful, Noel-centric lyric, Tomlin keeps the focus right where it belongs - Jesus: "Go tell it on the mountain / The one that we've been waiting for / The king of our salvation / Born on this day our savior Christ the Lord / Go tell it on the mountain / Over the hills and everywhere / That we can be forgiven / The weight of all our sin He came to bear / Emmanuel, God with us / Emmanuel, King Jesus / The Savior of the world is born / Emmanuel, God with us / Emmanuel, King Jesus / The Savior of the world is born."

Second track, the equally epic and tuneful "Christmas Day," also places the focus squarely on the Christ child and features a wonderful orchestral part that lifts the tune to a majestic place. The following "All The World Awaits (Hosanna)" continues the thematic arc.

Fourth track, the soulful gospel music-flavored "Hallelujah," features a wonderful lead vocal by blind gospel singer Blessings Offor and serves to change the mood and tempo a bit before Tomlin offers a new take on the classic American poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day," that Tomlin welds to one of his trademark choruses, giving the poem (written in the sad days of the American Civil War) a resonance in our current troubled time.

Much of the rest of the album feels a bit like filler compared to the opening volley of songs, with a few standard Christmas carols and hymns mixed together. "O Come O Come Emmanuel" is nicely done, but another cover of "O Holy Night" and "Little Town Of Bethlehem" seem a little forced and rote.

Chris Tomlin certainly is true to his calling as a worship leader, and Emmanuel: Christmas Songs Of Worship (Live) is certainly worthy of adding to the ol' Christmas playlist and should be celebrated for keeping the focus entirely on the most epic story ever told.

- Review date: 12/3/21, written by Alex Caldwell of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 

. Record Label: Sparrow Records
. Album length: 13 tracks: 47 minutes
. Street Date: September 24, 2021
. Buy It: Apple Music
. Buy It: Amazon.com (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon.com (Vinyl)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Emmanuel God With Us (Live) (3:12)
  2. Christmas Day (Live) [feat. We The Kingdom] (4:20)
  3. All The World Awaits (Hosanna) (Live) (2:58)
  4. Hallelujah (Live) [feat. Blessing Offor] (3:18)
  5. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day (Live) (3:58)
  6. His Name Is Wonderful (Live) (3:21)
  7. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Live) (3:49)
  8. Hope Of Israel (Live) (4:14)
  9. O Holy Night (Live) [feat. CeCe Winans] (4:19)
  10. Crown Him (Christmas) (Live) [feat. Matt Redman] (4:10)
  11. O Little Town Of Bethlehem (Live) (3:50)
  12. Crown Him (Reprise) (Live) [feat. Matt Redman] (2:25)
  13. Emmanuel God With Us (Live At Ocean Way Nashville, TN/2021) (3:13)

 

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images