Celtic Thunder's new holiday. 


Just in time for the holidays, Celtic Thunder's latest album Christmas Voices has just been released. It’s the latest CD from Celtic Thunder creator Sharon Browne and musical director David Munro.

The album travels around the world to bring an eclectic selection of much loved Christmas standards, delivered with Celtic Thunder’s signature big production sound.

The musical production on Christmas Voices is one of big orchestra sounds and rich symphonic feels. The tracks on the album range from the traditional carols “Away in a Manger,” “Come All Ye Faithful” and “O Holy Night” to the more contemporary Caribbean-style carol “Mary’s Boy Child” and pop classic “Fairytale of New York.”

Like the song selection, the tempo of the album also ranges from slow and pensive in numbers such as “Gabriel’s Message” and “Comfort Ye” (Aria from Handel’s Messiah), building speed with the larger ensemble numbers “Carol of the Bells,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and the medieval carol “Gaudete” (meaning joy in Latin).

A wonderfully fast-paced arrangement of a new Christmas medley (“Sleigh Ride,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “The Bells of St. Mary's” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”) brings together cherished holiday favorites and delivers them with Celtic Thunder’s upbeat and unique interpretations of these seasonal classics.

Is it cheesy? Kinda. Will you risk getting a diabetic coma from repeated listenings of this sugary stuff? Probably.

But can't you say that about all Christmas music? Let's give the lads a hall pass on this one.