Artist: Pentatonix
Label: RCA Records
Producer: Pentatonix, Ben Bram
Genre: A Capella, Christmas music
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year! With the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you be of good cheer it’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Especially for Christmas music fans everywhere!
The winter season doesn’t just bring snow in most climates, it also brings some of my personal favorite music of all time. I’m a long time lover of Christmas music; once the day after Thanksgiving hits, I turn into Buddy The Elf and I stay that way until Christmas is over. As soon as I heard Pentatonix released a Christmas album, I thought it was too good to be true. I’m a huge fan of their music as well, and hearing holiday classics in their a cappella style sounded like the perfect pairing, but did That’s Christmas to Me really deliver?
Content Guide
Most Christmas music is very clean, and this album is no exception. There’s only one original song, “That’s Christmas to Me” and it’s just as clean as classic songs that Pentatonix covers on this album.
Album Theme/Cover Art
Cosmetically speaking, this album is fun. With a picture of the band all smiling like the group of friends that they are, their hair and clothes dusted with snow, it encapsulates what I consider Christmas cheer. It appeals to different age groups, and I think I can say with some confidence that my aging grandparents will find it just as appealing as I do.
Presentation
That’s Christmas to Me opens with “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” a familiar classic which sounds very traditional with just voices… but as you get into the song it becomes evident that this isn’t your ordinary Christmas music. It’s respectful, and all of the tracks are instantly recognizable, but Pentatonix did an awesome job of taking these Christmas favorites and really making them their own.
Faster songs such as the “Winter Wonderland/Don’t Worry Be Happy” mashup featuring Tori Kelly, or “Sleigh Ride” are fun and joyful like Christmas music should be, but the slower, more meaningful songs such as “Silent Night” or “That’s Christmas to Me” are deep, beautiful songs, especially when sung in a cappella by a group as talented as Pentatonix. The original title song highlights the stories of Santa, children playing in the snow, and time spent with family, wrapping them all together in one beautiful track. While there is no spiritual meaning in the song, it relates lasting memories and experiences instead of material gifts, which everybody can enjoy no matter their reason for celebrating Christmas.
Conclusion
I gave That’s Christmas To Me a rating of 9.5, which is really high and you will probably never see me give such a high rating again, but I think this album deserves every bit of it. Pentatonix modernized older Christmas songs and made them even more fun in my own opinion. So sit back, kick up your feet, grab a cup of eggnog, and enjoy some stellar Christmas music from a stellar album. If you haven’t picked it up yet, go get it; you won’t be disappointed.
[amazon text=Buy it from Amazon&template=carousel&asin=B00NEJ7MMI]
The Bottom Line