Search - Billy Dean :: The Christ (Song For Joseph)

Moving and divinely inspiring!

Seminole | Tampa, Florida | 11/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Billy Dean's humble cover pose compliments this beautiful and thoughtful tribute to Christ. It's refreshing to hear an artist who is not afraid to let their faith resonate through their music especially at Christmas. This is anything but your average Christmas album. Billy Dean's renditions of traditional Christmas favorites shine with simple warmth and sincerity (not slick or overly produced). I found more than a few tears filling my eyes. The `Silent Night' duet with Dolly Parton is particularly poignant. A huge fan of Christmas songs from New age to Rock to Country, I've heard most of the traditional carols in hundreds of forms; still I found Dean's performances (The First Noel, Little Drummer Boy, What Child Is This, Away In a Manger etc.) captured my heart and imagination filling me with that sense of Christmas Spirit I long for each year. Dean's deep mellow vocals meld well with the down tempo and simple instrumentation (i.e. the simple guitar thumping and strumming for Little Drummer Boy).

Dean `book-ends' the traditional carols with contemporary expressions of personal faith (`The Christ' and `Shine On') as well as the centerpiece `Just for You and Me'.

From the beginning homage to `the Christ' to the stirring ending `Shine On' I found every song on this Christmas album enjoyable and worshipful. Each song comes across as heart-felt. Short and sweet, this is definitely an album that will go on my iPod Christmas play-list in its entirety. Of the dozen or so new Christmas CD's I have this year, I'm thankful to have this one that keeps the focus on the `reason for the season' from start to finish!"

Dean's "The Christ" Good But Not Essential

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 11/22/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: Just for Me and You (Duet with Hannah Dean), The Christ, Silent Night (Duet with Dolly Parton)



Thanks to John Denver, Billy Dean has found a new lease of life at Curb Records. After years of frivolous wonderings without a record label, Dean's cover of Denver's "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" caught radio's attention, resulting in Dean being signed to Curb Records in early 2005. This resulted in two CDs: one a commercial country CD "Let Them Be Little" and this Christmas collection. Perhaps, Dean and his co-producer Ray Barnette have placed too much attention on his album proper resulting in "The Christ" sounding very much workmanlike. Unlike some yuletide offerings where the sound is rotund--filled with lush strings and heavenly-sounding choirs, "The Christ" has an acoustic almost demo- like feel. Depending on one's taste and preference, this may come across as a blessing or a curse.



Throughout the CD, Dean is not reticent about his Christian faith. And he is to be congratulated for getting to the essence of Christmas' real meaning in the anodyne "Just for Me and You." Coming from the pen of Mitchell Callis, this power ballad thumbs out the salvific mission of Jesus Christ that is in no way treacle. Noteworthy also are the vocals of Dean's daughter Hannah who is a melismatic powerhouse in the veins of Carrie Underwood. Mark my words this young lady is a name to watch. Taking a fresh perspective on the traditional story of Christ's birth, "The Christ" tells it from the perspective of the angel to Joseph (Jesus' earthy father) calmly assuring him that the baby to come is none other than the Christ. A little less effective is the last of the three originals, "Shine On" a popish number that fits more on a contemporary Christian album than a Christmas CD.



But, the CD takes a disappointing turn when it comes to the more traditional carols. They are just freighted with an obligated feel-on most of these tracks Dean does not sound too enthused. Offering an impervious read, there's not much creativity in Dean's take on these carols. Though Dean sings right on the mark, he does nothing new to these tried and true evergreens. In fact, if it were not for Dolly Parton, Dean almost sounds like he was about to doze off on "Silent Night." Described in the liner notes as one with an "angelic voice... (who) sang "Silent Night" like a sacred lullaby," Parton truly redeems this canticle from Dean's snoozing counterpart. But sadly the same can't be said of pop vocalist David Pack who joins Dean on the modern classic "Mary Did You Know." Though Pack's high tenor perfectly compliments Dean's lower baritone, Pack sounds off on numerous occasions, making his performance here embarrassing at best.



Dean's warm baritone is the perfect vehicle for Christmas songs and this CD shows that he can sing them-though he needs the added vocal charm to make this CD even more magical. Depreciative also is the fact that this CD avariciously only has 10 songs. Overall, this is a good CD, but not essential.

"

Beautiful, sweet, uplifting, spiritual

Pat | Boston, MA | 12/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Billy Dean's voice sounds amazing here. I normally don't listen to Christmas music, but stumbling upon this CD while browsing, I became inspired. This CD is simply beautiful, sweet, uplifting, and spiritual in the true sense of the holiday. This is a must buy. And even if you are not a country music fan, the music on this album transcends any labeling. Just listen and you will see. Billy Dean is amazing and I am very satisfied with this release. This is a very special album."