“Christmas From The Heart” album reviews
Entertain Your Soul
Tis the season where I prepare myself to do many blogs on Christmas releases – movies, music, books – but allow me to start a big early by talking about my favorite Star Search alum and American Idol Season 7 sweetheart, David Archuleta. What a talent he is – sweet, cuddly, and his smooth, young voice is always rewarding to listen to on a really bad day. I will never forget his rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” on American Idol – it made me cry and feel a sense of passion that I do not often feel for cover songs. He is young and charming – what a character.
Listening to his Christmas album is no different – in the spirit of the holidays I always love to feel the “warm fuzzies” and drink a good cup of hot chocolate in front of the fire. His release “Christmas from the Heart” is one I would recommend anybody use for a good Christmas party or a cuddle session with a lover on a snowy night. This is David Archuleta doing his finest covers – from “Joy to the World” to the tear-inducing “Ave Maria” with the Salt Lake City Children’s Choir and the City of Prague Philharmonic – one of my favorite classics, beautifully covered. Grab your tissues.
Start your holiday season a little bit early – light up the lights, decorate the tree, and grab a good cup-o-nog – put in “Christmas from the Heart”, sit back, relax, close your eyes – and take it in. It is elegant – and coming from the vocals of such a young artist – it is one to keep in your collection – he has years to go in his career – and many Christmas’ in the future to make beautifully harmonized melodies – from the heart.
Favorite track: Ave Maria
Overall Grade: A
Recommended: Light your fires, get the family – aboslutely.
ThReviews
Former “American Idol” contestant David Archuleta’s new holiday album, “Christmas From the Heart,” puts the singer’s mellifluous voice front and center and wins over the listener with his original renditions of classic holiday music. Archuleta’s velvety delivery of “Silent Night” lulls the listener into a dream-like state, while the string arrangements on “Oh Holy Night” add to the intensity. And his Latin vocals combined with an urgent backbeat on “Pat-a-Pan” lend a more contemporary feeling to the set. Archuleta pays tribute to his Latin heritage by singing in Spanish on “Riu Riu Chiu”; elsewhere, the singer summons his usual pop style (while slipping in light sleigh bells) for “Melodies of Christmas,” a song he co-wrote. Archuleta’s vocal virtuosity gives “Christmas From the Heart” a timelessness that should appeal to his fans and lovers of the traditional.—Kelsey Paine
