Five unique artists deliver a canny combination of cherished classic carols and fresh new Christmas songs, wrapped in musical stylings that are as individual as the artists themselves. Prepare to be surprised and delighted at the sparkling, minor key strings on Banyan Days' folk-inflected rendition of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." The EP's tone shifts exponentially as post-hardcore band Eleutheria applies its playful, swinging punk to "Childhood Dreams (Toyland)."

Holly Hartman, a self-confessed Christmas-lover, offers "This Time of Year," an original, smooth jazz Christmas song that implores listeners to examine their hearts during the Christmas season. "My name is Holly," she declares. "I love everything about Christmas. I love Christmas trees and Christmas smells...and people! I have a lot of friends who come to church only on Christmas and Easter, and I wanted to write a song that asks them, 'Why are you here?'"

Andrew Smith and Jordan Hays of Visible Worship inject a contemporary worship flavor to the haunting, century-old African-American spiritual, "Go Tell It on the Mountain," and veteran Americana recording artist Jason Lee McKinney puts a bow on the project with his country original, "A Little More."

"I don't get bent out of shape when people write songs about Santa Claus and reindeer," confesses McKinney, an Independent Country Music Association award winning singer/songwriter. "But I think sometimes we need that subtle, gentle reminder that as good as it is to see old friends on New Year's Eve, as good as it is to come home and see your parents and family, this season is about more than that. It is about the birth of our Savior, and if we lose that all we have left is a cultural excuse to get together and exchange presents."

A Visible Christmas Vol. 3 was released on November 25, 2014 in conjunction with Visible Music College's Rock 'n' Roll Christmas Show, which was performed at campuses in Memphis and Chicago. It is available now at all major digital music retailers, and from Madison Line Records' online store, madison-line-records.myshopify.com.

TRACKLIST: 1. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Banyan Days
2. Childhood Dreams (Toyland) - Eleutheria
3. This Time of Year - Holly Hartman
4. Go Tell It on the Mountain - Andrew Smith & Jordan Hays of Visible Worship
5. A Little More - The Jason Lee McKinney Band

About Visible Music College and Madison Line Records:
Visible Music College, a Music and Worship Arts College located in Memphis, Tenn., was founded by Ken Steorts, a founding member of the Christian rock band Skillet. The college's mission is to train and equip musicians, technicians, and business professionals in skill and character for effective service in the music industry and in the Church. Visible Music College offers four-year Bachelor degrees in the following areas: Music Production Ministry, Modern Music Ministry, and Music Business.

Madison Line Records is a nonprofit label owned and operated by Visible Music College. Among the label's recent releases are the Welcome Home EP from Grammy nominee Antonio Neal; the self-titled debut from Visible Worship, which Worship Leader Magazine has named one of 2014's Top 5 Best College Releases; and a Christmas single from Visible Music College alum Sarah Simmons, who was in the Top 8 of NBC's The Voice (Season 4).

For more information about Visible Music College or Madison Line Records, visit visible.edu or madisonlinerecords.com.

Leave a Comment

 

 

[2025]
Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec.

[2024]
Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec.

[2001 - Present]
Visit our complete MUSIC NEWS ARCHIVE