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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Marc Martel

Marc Martel
The First Noel EP

Street Date: November 24, 2017
Style: Christmas / Pop
Official Site: Official Website
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3



Last year, Downhere/Queen vocalist (that may never not be odd) Marc Martel released his first Christmas outing, The Silent Night EP. Though the songs were mostly given the standard treatment, with little experimentation outside of the updated Downhere original "How Many Kings," the EP was solid and enjoyable to listen to. For the second year in a row, Martel and his heavenly pipes are coming together to release some more holiday spirit. The First Noel EP features six more Christmas or Christmas-esque songs for our enjoyment.

The EP starts with perhaps the most appropriate song imaginable. Most people say that the day after Thanksgiving is when you can officially listen to Christmas music (I say they're just catching up). So for those who wait until Black Friday for their Christmas music, you can get started with "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas." An upbeat, slightly jazzy tune, Martel brought along the vocal talents of current tourmate Plumb, who adds another level of cheer to the tune. The cheeriness doesn't last too long, as Martel follows with the classic track "Mary Did You Know?" To add some intrigue to this version, Martel brought along another guest, but this time the guest happens to have co-written the song. Buddy Greene brings his southern gospel charm to the second verse of a song that hypothetically asks Mary if she truly knows who her Son is. The Bible does describe a conversation with Mary and Gabriel, but it's unclear exactly how much he told her about Jesus.

The near epic feel of "Mary Did You Know?" transitions into the warmth of "The Christmas Song," which, once again, enlists the help of a legendary musician. Martel provides all the vocals this time, but the bass, including a quiet bass solo in the middle of the track, is provided by Scott Mulvahill, the bass player of Ricky Skaggs' bluegrass band, Kentucky Thunder. It's certainly one of the more enjoyable versions of the song that I've heard. Martel's version of "The First Noel" follows, which doesn't deviate too much from most renditions in existence, and thus doesn't really stand out. Of course, it doesn't help when the beautiful "Ave Maria" follows it. Despite the lyrics of "Ave Maria" being composed of the Catholic "Hail Mary" in Latin, the piece is timeless and gorgeous, and Martel's take on the song does it justice. The final track is another timeless piece, "The Hallelujah Chorus" from the 1741 oratorio, Handel's Messiah. In a semi-recent Facebook live video, Martel talked a little about how he recorded this piece, using layers and layers of vocals, and utilizing auto-tune and voice modulation to hit some of the high notes that are a bit out of his register. The end result sounds great and ends the EP on an exciting note.

This tradition (is two years a tradition) of Marc Martel aiding in the ushering in of the Christmas season via Christmas carols is one I'm happy with. If you liked last year's Silent Night EP, you will greatly enjoy The First Noel. Get into the Christmas spirit!

- Review date: 9/17/15, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: None
. Album length: 6 tracks: 22 minutes, 7 seconds
. Street Date: November 24, 2017
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (feat. Plumb) (2:38)
  2. Mary Did You Know? (feat. Buddy Greene) (3:20)
  3. The Christmas Song (feat. Scott Mulvahill) (3:46)
  4. The First Noel (4:15)
  5. Ave Maria (4:10)
  6. The Hallelujah Chorus (3:58)

 

 

 

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This Friday, February 14, 2025
ALBUMS
Anike With Love, Anike - EP [Reach]
Leanna Crawford Still Waters (Deluxe) [Provident]
HeIsTheArtist Confessions of a Fallen Angel - EP [MTS]
Marvin Sapp If I Were an R&B Singer - EP [Elev8]
Sidewalk Prophets Looking Up [Curb]
Spoken Worth Jesus Is (independent)
Denison Witmer Anything At All [Asthmatic Kitty]
Team Omega Something To Chew On (independent)
Two Car Garage Peace & Love (independent)
With Blood Comes Cleansing With Blood Comes Cleansing (independent)

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down His Mercy is More - Single [BEC]
Alphein Lost In Ya Love - Single [Syntax]
Bill B. Get It Right - Single [Syntax]
Josh Baldwin Thank You Jesus (Studio Version) - Single [Bethel]
Jeremy Camp Again - Single [Capitol CMG]
Megan Danielle Honey Sweet - Single [Provident]
Deep Al Brindle Tell Me - Single [Tooth & Nail]
Dex the Nerd Who Loves Jesus Pray About It (feat. Big Fil) - Single [Marv4MoBeats]
Diatheke The Creator - Single [Rottweiler]
DJ Mykael V & 350 350 Waze! - Single (independent)
Drenae & OnBeatMusic Me & You - Single [Syntax]
Elevation Worship I Know A Name (feat. Brandon Lake) - Single [Elevation]
Fine China Fraught With Danger - Single [Velvet Blue]
Keith & Kristyn Getty Here Is Love, Vast as the Ocean (Everlasting Praise) [live] feat. Sandra McCracken - Single [Getty]
Heartbound The Monster I See - Single (independent)
IMRSQD Pure Gold - Single (independent)
Jericko Only You - Single [Syntax]
Lady Redneck Amazing Grace - Single [MTS]
Olivia Lane Who God Says You Are - Single [BEC]
Ethan Luck Going Down - Single (independent)
Meet Your Maker Cowards - Single (independent)
Adam Nigh Bodega Bay (feat. Rachel Nigh) - Single (independent)
P.O.D. I Won't Bow Down (feat. Andres Gimenez) - Single [Mascot]
QEW LVL Up - Single [Syntax]
Simply Worship Light (feat. Tenielle Neda) - Single (independent)
Sixpence None the Richer Kiss Me (Live) - Single [Flatiron]
SNT. VINCENT Invite Me - Single [Syntax]
Solachi Voz Horsepower - Single [Syntax]
Sound Street Heaven In The House - Single [Sonlite]
Sower & Second Adam and the New Creations Prodigal Pulpits - Dual Single (independent)
Strings and Heart Empty Airport - Single (independent)
Brandon Watson Still Hurts - Single (independent)
Wild Harbors Close Eye - Single (independent)

Next Friday, February 21, 2025
ALBUMS
Gather Worship Hear The World That You So Love Sing Back To You [Integrity]
Mat Kearney Mat Kearney (still drowning in nostalgia) [Deluxe] [Middle Kid]
Natalie Layne All Joy [Centricity]
David Leonard Just Jesus [Provident]
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal [Gaither]

SINGLES
Coqui only Idol - Single [DREAM]
Melody Noel Closer Than I Know - Single (independent)
Phil Wickham The King is in the Room - Single [Fair Trade]



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