Glory in the Highest: A Christmas Record

Last updated
Glory in the Highest: A Christmas Record
GloryintheHighestAChristmasRecord.jpg
Studio album by Shane & Shane
Released October 14, 2008 (2008-10-14)
Genre Contemporary worship, Christmas music
Length35:56
Label Inpop
Producer Jason Hoard [1]
Shane & Shane chronology
Pages
(2007) Pages2007		Glory in the Highest: A Christmas Record
(2008)		 Everything Is Different
(2009) Everything Is Different2009

Glory in the Highest: A Christmas Record is the first Christmas music by the contemporary worship duo Shane & Shane. The album was released on October 14, 2008 by Inpop Records label, and the producer on the effort is Jason Hoard. [1]

Christmas music Music associated with Christmas

Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season. Music associated with Christmas may be purely instrumental, or in the case of many carols or songs may employ lyrics whose subject matter ranges from the nativity of Jesus Christ, to gift-giving and merrymaking, to cultural figures such as Santa Claus, among other topics. Performances of Christmas music at public concerts, in churches, at shopping malls, on city streets, and in private gatherings is an integral staple of the Christmas holiday in many cultures across the world.

Contemporary worship music music genre

Contemporary worship music (CWM), also known as praise and worship music, is a defined genre of Christian music used in contemporary worship. It has developed over the past sixty years and is stylistically similar to pop music. The songs are frequently referred to as "praise songs" or "worship songs" and are typically led by a "worship band" or "praise team", with either a guitarist or pianist leading. It has become a common genre of music sung in many churches, particularly in charismatic or non-denominational Protestant churches with some Roman Catholic congregations incorporating it into their mass as well.

Shane & Shane is a Texas-based, contemporary worship music band known for acoustic praise and worship music. The band consists of Shane Barnard and Shane Everett (vocals). They are often joined by their drummer and manager, Joey Parish.

Contents

Music and lyrics

Allmusic's Jared Johnson said that the release is in the "traditional folk-pop vein", but found that when they go down "the folksy near-country sound" it "appeals to the group's core fans with a heaping helping of Southern charm and the right intensity at the right moments." [1] At The Christian Manifesto, Calvin E'Jon Moore had one complaint, and that was "at 10 tracks long, the album feels much too short for such a wonderful display of talent." [2] Simon Carpenter wrote that "the music has a jazzy/country/acoustic feel to it which is pleasant but hardly dynamic." [3]

At Indie Vision Music, Eric Pattersson found that "the three original, newly written songs on the record lose some of the charming jazzy/folksy style felt throughout the rest of the record, instead playing a much more straightforward singer/songwriter type sound, but they all work together for a total record that has both variety and flow." [4] Jesus Freak Hideout's Timothy Estabrooks wrote that "Glory In The Highest features a mix of classics and contemporary favorites, all performed in the duo's familiar acoustic/folk style." [5] Curt McLey of The Phantom Tollbooth told that "Glory in the Highest shares with other Shane and Shane efforts is the showy, tight-as-a-fiddle harmony, and breezy, jazz-tinged arrangements", but "That's not to say that this holiday release is like anything close to a jazz album. It's far more eclectic than that, highlighted by forays into pop, relaxed country, and faux rock." [6] Lastly, McLey noted that "the glitterish vocal style of Shane and Shane both attract and detract." [6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
CCM Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Christian ManifestoStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
Cross Rhythms U+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgSolid white borderedS.svgSolid white borderedS.svgSolid white borderedS.svgSolid white borderedS.svgSolid white borderedS.svg [3]
Indie Vision MusicStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Jesus Freak HideoutStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Phantom TollboothStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Glory in the Highest: A Christmas Record has received mostly positive reviews from the music critics. Jared Johnson of Allmusic noted that "it's a bit of a shame that their holiday record doesn't bear more of an impact." [1] At CCM Magazine , Matt Conner found that for a few listeners "the overload on the overdone songs will be a nuisance, but Shane & Shane accommodate well with their special ingredients, spicing up the compilation for a fine acoustic blend." [7] The Christian Manifesto's Calvin E'Jon Moore told that the release "is one of the few Christmas albums that is also a powerful piece of worship. If you’re skeptical about Christmas albums, Shane & Shane should help ally any lingering doubts or fears." [2] At Indie Vision Music, Eric Pattersson felt that "in the distinct absence of punk Christmas compilations this year, perhaps those of us still eager for new tunes to celebrate the holiday will find some satisfaction in Glory in the Highest." [4] The Phantom Tollbooth's Curt McLey affirmed that the album is "striking a balance between sounding fresh, but not so creatively over the line that traditionalists won't listen", and that "Shane and Shane offer up a collection of ten gift-wrapped songs that walk that challenging tightrope; tradition stamped with originality and creativity." [6]

<i>CCM Magazine</i> magazine

CCM Magazine is a twice monthly online magazine about contemporary Christian music, published by Salem Publishing, a division of Salem Communications.

However, Simon Carpenter of Cross Rhythms claimed that "this too predictable Christmas album is unlikely to change the situation." [3] In addition, Jesus Freak Hideout's Timothy Estabrooks found that the effort is "filled primarily with songs that have been heard a hundred times before, listeners will find nothing noteworthy to get excited about", and he called the release "unremarkable." [5]

Commercial

For the Billboard chart week of October 25, 2008, the album charted at the No. 29 most sold Holiday Albums in the United States. [8]

<i>Billboard</i> (magazine) American music magazine

Billboard is an American entertainment media brand owned by the Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group, a division of Eldridge Industries. It publishes pieces involving news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style, and is also known for its music charts, including the Hot 100 and Billboard 200, tracking the most popular songs and albums in different genres. It also hosts events, owns a publishing firm, and operates several TV shows.

Track listing

Tracklist
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."O Holy Night" 3:42
2."O Come O Come Emmanuel" 4:36
3."Away in a Manger" 3:03
4."It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas" Meredith Willson 2:52
5."Born to Die" 4:15
6."Silent Night" 3:24
7."White Christmas" Irving Berlin 3:24
8."Holiday"Shane Barnard3:39
9."Glory in the Highest"Barnard, Shane Everett3:38
10."O Come Let Us Adore Him" 2:23
Total length:35:56

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
US Holiday Albums ( Billboard ) [8] 29

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Rovi (September 13, 2005). "An Evening With - Shane & Shane : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Moore, Calvin E'Jon (November 25, 2008). "Shane & Shane's "Glory In The Highest": A Review". The Christian Manifesto. New Release Tuesday. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Carpenter, Simon (October 30, 2008). "Review: Glory In The Highest: A Christmas Record - Shane & Shane". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Pettersson, Eric (December 11, 2008). "Shane & Shane – Glory in the Highest | Reviews". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 Estabrooks, Timothy (October 6, 2008). "Shane & Shane, "Glory In The Highest: A Christmas Record" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 McLey, Curt (October 15, 2008). "Glory in the Highest". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  7. 1 2 Conner, Matt (October 7, 2008). "Christmas the Shane & Shane Way". CCM Magazine. New Release Tuesday. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  8. 1 2 Billboard (October 25, 2008). "Shane & Shane - Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved May 19, 2013.
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