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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Mac Powell and The Family Reunion, December

Mac Powell and The Family Reunion
December

Street Date: November 27, 2018
Style: Christmas / Country / Southern Rock
Official Site: Official Website
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3



Rejoice Third Day fans! Mac Powell, the legendary baritone lead singer of that classic band, shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. With several country music albums under his belt now, Powell and his new backup band, The Family Reunion, have quietly released one of the best Christmas albums this year. And thankfully, you don’t have to be a modern country fan to appreciate December. There are elements of blues, rock and roll and folk music present, and all fit the holiday mood just right. And tying all those loose genre strands together is the familiar, soulful and mighty bellow of Mac Powell.

Kicking off with the folksy title track, Mac and his crack band harmonize up a storm (sounding a bit like something from the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack) and have created a song that will sound great every time that Christmas month rolls around. Taking a down-home look at the journey of Mary and Joseph, “December” sets the tone for a great batch of songs that follow. Highlights include the great folk-rock mashup of “Away In A Manger” and “Joy To The World” (featuring guest vocals from Brandon Heath), the fine cover of Merle Haggards devastating country music standard “If We Make It Through December” and the most rocking versions of “Silent Night” and “Merry Christmas Baby” you’ll hear in many a season.

With December, Mac Powell & The Family Reunion have accomplished something truly unique in that they've managed to successfully write a few very good seasonal holiday songs (the New Years song is a particular delight), put them alongside a few classics and make the whole affair cohesive and fun at the same time. Holiday albums need not be hackneyed, rushed affairs or blatant cash-grabs. Sometimes one comes along that feels lived-in and authentic to the season. December is just such an album.

- Review date: 12/20/18, written by Alex Caldwell of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: None
. Album length: 11 tracks: 36 minutes, 47 seconds
. Street Date: November 27, 2018
. Buy It: iTunes Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. December (3:25)
  2. Away In A Manger / Joy To The World (feat. Brandon Heath) (2:25)
  3. Happiest New Year (4:16)
  4. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (2:32)
  5. Everything You Want For Christmas (3:25)
  6. Blue Christmas (2:19)
  7. If We Make It Through December (2:51)
  8. Silent Night (3:27)
  9. Christmas in Dixie (3:39)
  10. Merry Christmas Baby (2:38)
  11. One More Silent Night (5:54)

 

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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune The Seventh Seal [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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