Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review



Relient K
Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 17 tracks: 48 minutes, 15 seconds
Street Date: October 23, 2007


In 2003, Relient K made their Christmas project debut with Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand, a slender but witty deluxe EP of sorts that was only made available packaged with their current release at the time. The EP has resurfaced a time or two since, and now the 10-track project has been repackaged and re-released with seven additional songs and a new title. For those who never got their hands on the original, Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer is an absolute gem.

A mix of where Relient K has been and where they're headed stylistically is captured here, with brand new exclusives making the original release even better. Fans might not be too keen on double-dipping for six new songs ("In Like A Lion" was previously on The Apathetic EP), but the new tracks are too good to pass on. The new cuts include fresh takes on traditionals like "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "Sleigh Ride" and even an old, rare classic, "I'm Gettin' Nuttin' For Christmas" - which fits in perfectly with the RK style. "Boxing Day," which uses its title to play on the obscure post-Christmas Canadian holiday, is a new original that serves as a lament for passing of another Christmas, but with an expression of hope for the new year ahead. Coupled with the equally unique, equally pensive "Merry Christmas, Here's To Many More," these tracks add to the emotional side of Christmas, musically falling in line with what the band's been doing as of late. However, because a little over half of the album is four years old, with the oldest track being a significant six years old, Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer might seem to be more of a Christmas hits record than a consistent, fluid, concept album. There's an immense difference between the sound of "Santa Claus Is Thumbing To Town" from 2001 and, for example, the new album opener, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." It almost doesn't seem like the same band anymore. For continuity's sake, a new EP may have made more sense given the band's musical maturation over the years, but on the other hand, it is rather nice to have all of the band's Christmas offerings in one place. The end result, I suppose, is a bit of a double-edged sword.

No matter how you slice this Christmas delight, Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer is still a fun and diverse holiday venture. From capturing the fun and spirit of Christmas ("Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "Sleigh Ride," "12 Days of Christmas"), to the more isolated and emotional musings of the season ("Merry Christmas, Here's To Many More," "I Hate Christmas Parties," "Boxing Day"), and still yet to the most important part - the birth of Christ (the incredibly inspiring "I Celebrate The Day," "Silent Night / Away In A Manger"), Relient K approaches Christmas from just about every angle for a well-rounded celebration. Being a little rusty in its compilation, Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer feels just a bit askew (perhaps approaching the project with the new tracks plus acoustic renditions of some of their past recordings may have helped pull it together as an all-new concept), but still manages to be the Christmas rock album of the decade and all-around one of the better modern Christmas projects you can find today.

- PReview date: 9/2/07, Reviewed 10/21/07 by John DiBiase



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

 

CD

Buy This CD Online


. Record Label: Gotee Records
. Album length: 17 tracks: 48 minutes, 15 seconds
. Street Date: October 23, 2007
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas*
  2. Sleigh Ride*
  3. Merry Christmas, Here's To Many More*
  4. Angels We Have Heard On High
  5. Deck The Halls
  6. 12 Days of Christmas
  7. Silent Night / Away In A Manger
  8. I Celebrate The Day
  9. In Like A Lion (Always Winter)
  10. I'm Gettin' Nuttin' For Christmas*
  11. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
  12. Santa Claus Is Thumbing To Town
  13. Handel's Messiah
  14. I Hate Christmas Parties
  15. Boxing Day*
  16. Auld Lang Syne (new ending)
  17. Good King Wenceslas*
    *Brand new songs
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

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

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images