| Recently, Musiq Soulchild released his first ever | | | | arrangement, but quickly builds into a truly fantastic |
| christmas album, 'A Philly Soul Christmas'. Now, as | | | | rendition carried by Musiq's soulful vocals. Those |
| much as I normally prefer to leave reviews to 'critics' | | | | soulful vocals, however, aren't enough to save the |
| (ie people who really don't know much at all about | | | | overbusy arrangement on 'Deck The Halls'. 'O Holy |
| music to begin with), the reviews this disc has received | | | | Night' is a tricky one to comment on. Since I'm today |
| since it's release compelled me to write a few | | | | wearing the 'reviewer' hat, I have to say that setting a |
| words. It would appear that the vast majority of | | | | song like this to a reggae arrangement was a risky |
| 'critics' who decided to review this disc so far are strict | | | | yet rewarding decision. Personally, what I've always |
| traditionalists...and, admittedly, if you're a traditionalist | | | | loved about 'O Holy Night' is it's dynamics. It's intended |
| where your holiday tuneage is concerned, you may | | | | to start calm and build up to a whirlwind of pure |
| not particularly enjoy 'A Philly Soul Christmas'. | | | | emotion, yet reggae by nature is meant to 'rock |
| However, a lot of us buy our Christmas music based | | | | steady'. Even still, I can't tell you it doesn't work (it |
| not on which tunes have been retooled for the zillionth | | | | really does), but it does sacrifice what's best about the |
| time, but based on the artist recording them. In truth, | | | | original arrangement. 'O Christmas Tree' is a fairly |
| when I buy a Christmas CD from Musiq Soulchild, I not | | | | standard R&B take, but really brings life in it's |
| only expect it to have Christmas music, but I expect it | | | | closing moments with a jazzy breakdown chant. |
| to be a Musiq Soulchild album. That is where I believe | | | | 'The First Noel' closes the set, and while the musical |
| previous critics have missed, and where Musiq has hit | | | | arrangement is pretty straight forward, Musiq comes |
| the bullseye. | | | | with a really fresh vocal arrangement that makes it |
| The disc starts off with 'Jingle Bells', and anyone who's | | | | more than worthy. |
| ever bought an R&B Christmas album knows that | | | | It's unfortunate that Joe Blow at the Anywhere |
| it's not entirely easy to make 'Jingle Bells' sound cool. | | | | Chronicle feels that our classic Christmas joints can't |
| Indeed, the version here has the same silly-hokey | | | | benefit from a modern tweak. We are, after all, living |
| quality that most versions carry...but within the first few | | | | in a time of change...and while not every risk Musiq |
| seconds, you get a bit of those jazzy vocal | | | | takes on this set is spot on, it's well deserving of a |
| arrangements that Musiq fans expect, and you're | | | | place in any R&B fan's Christmas collection. |
| drawn in anyways. 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!' | | | | If you'd like to comment on this review, please feel |
| follows, and is kicked off by a spoken intro set to | | | | free to drop by the Fullasoul Music Community and do |
| music that's got a clear P-Funk quality to it. 'O Come | | | | so! |
| All Ye Faithful' starts off with a fairly traditional | | | | |