Faith Hill

Faith Hill has given the music world singles like “Breathe” and “The Way You Love Me”, won numerous awards (five Grammys!), and has even acted in the 2004 remake of The Stepford Wives. She’s married to one of Country music’s biggest superstars, has been endorsed by Cover Girl Cosmetics, and has sung the national anthem at the Super Bowl. And now the lovely blond songstress can add “recorded a holiday album” to that lengthy list of accolades.

And oh, what an album it is! She ventures into new territory, recording a surprisingly weighty project. Her signature vocal is at its finest, launching mostly humdrum standards to greatness. In all honesty, it’s a very simple album, with large segments of orchestral strings and lively brass instrumentals, but with a voice like Faith’s, she could have recorded it with no instruments and been just fine.

Hill’s version of “Joy to the World’ immediately sets the tone for the record, with a string section that sets itself apart as stellar, which is no surprise, since they are played by the talented Nashville Orchestra. And Hill’s vocal ebbs and flows at all the right places, walking the narrow path between blending and overwhelming the orchestra. “What Child is This” has a haunting string section that borders on a gypsy feel. Hill lowers her tone to suit the Arabian motif of the track, and it works well to accent her crescendo on the chorus. The pace picks up with the jovial “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, which separates itself as a standout with a well-orchestrated big-band feel.

Choirs sometimes lend themselves to lackluster arrangements, but the two on this album (London Oratory School Boys Choir, and the Metro Voices) provide a classy backdrop. Unfortunately even the choir can’t save one of the songs; “Away in a Manger” does little to set itself apart, with a truly uninspiring arrangement. “O Holy Night” allows Hill to redeem herself, where a meandering pace works wonders beneath her exquisite vocal.

However, it’s on “A Baby Changes Everything” where she finds her wings, and makes the single she was born to sing, as well as the best track on the project. The moving lyrics, penned by Tim Nichols, Craig Wiseman, and KK Wiseman, are sung with emotion and heart, and it’s like a one-two punch. Lyrics like “My whole life has turned around / I was lost but now I’m found / A baby changes everything” bump the single from standard “Christmas single” to a song with a true message.

Mrs. Hill could have justly recorded a ‘fluffy’ album and it would have sold simply because she was on the cover. However, she took the high road, creating an album rich with themes of Christ’s birth, and for that, she is to be applauded.

Tagged as: Faith Hill, Joy to the World

↓ 3 comments

#1 Myra Robinson on October 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 am

I don’t particularly like the comments about Faith’s Christmas album.it appears the critic only likes one song on it and you did not like her version of “away in a manger” I am a big fan of Faith and like her other fans,we appreciate and love her new album and think she did a spectacular job on it. I give it 5 stars out of 5. great job Faith,thank you!!!

#2 Andrew Greenhalgh on October 2nd, 2008 at 10:23 am

Myra, thanks for your comments here but I have to wonder, did you read the whole review? Grace points out that Faith’s “signature vocal is at its finest, launching mostly humdrum standards to greatness” and calls it a “surprisingly weighty project.” Add to that the 6/10, which, while not qualifying it for “album of the year” status necessarily, sets it over and above an average rating.

While Grace does point out some foibles, and I tend to agree with her assessment, she overall seems to have enjoyed the album. At least, that’s the vibe that I got from this review.

#3 grace s. cartwright on October 2nd, 2008 at 2:15 pm

Thanks Myra, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I appreciate yours. However, simply because I didn’t like the arrangement of Away in A Manger, I did enjoy much of the album, and am actually a huge fan of Faith’s music, and country in general. That being said, for an album to reach 10/10, for me, it must truly demonstrate a musical sensibility and truly original lyrics. Since this is a Christmas record, its difficult for any artists to show that. That’s why I stopped at 6/10, which marks it far above average. Thanks

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