Friday, December 11, 2015

The Christmas Project by John Schiltt - REVIEW



My Thoughts:
 Dance your way through the celebration of Christ's birth with this amazing project! This is a rockin', groovin', electronic  combination of sounds that gives listeners a new way of hearing the words of traditional carols.  There are some slower songs, but even these more thoughtful songs have a great new sound that will set your toes tappin' and your feet groovin'!  You have GOT to check this out!!



Grammy and Dove Award winning vocalist John Schlitt released his first-ever recording of holiday music, The Christmas Project, to brick & mortar retail outlets in Fall 2014.

The CD, available through
Elevate Entertainment and Send The Light Distribution, can be found at retailers including Lifeway Christian Stores, Family Christian Stores and Munce Group member stores, as well as online through BestBuy.com, Walmart.com, Amazon, iTunes and others.
"This is the first time I've had almost a full year to promote a CD, and The Christmas Project is worth it," says Schlitt, who released the project in digital format only in November 2013. "We have created a wonderful package, thanks to the skill and belief of my producer and the musicians who gave 100 percent. The reaction to the digital release last year was amazing and I'm excited that this project is now in retail stores. Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year and I'm so humbled to have a CD out there celebrating this blessed season."

The full-length CD is comprised primarily of beloved traditional Christmas carols, but that doesn't mean The Christmas Project is all egg nog and holly. This album rocks with the unmistakable John Schlitt style that legions of fans have come to know and love. The icing on the Christmas confection is an original tune, "What Christmas Needs to Be," which is destined to become a seasonal classic.

Schlitt launches The Christmas Project with what is arguably the greatest Christmas song of all time, "The Hallelujah Chorus." While Handel's masterpiece has been interpreted by a multitude of musicians over the past 250 years, no one sings
"hallelujah" like Schlitt. "The Hallelujah Chorus" transitions seamlessly into a guitar-driven, barn-burning version of "Do You Hear What I Hear." "Little Drummer Boy" gives Schlitt the freedom to explore his full range of vocal prowess, starting at a muted whisper before embracing his full-throttle, wailing rock roots while holding fast to the traditional melodies of the beloved carol. A music video of "Little Drummer Boy" by the award-winning Saylors Brothers (Israel & New Breed's Live From Another Level DVD) is available on YouTube (YouTube.com/LittleDrummerBoy)

Schlitt reins in his potent vocals for a gentle, reverent interpretation of "Oh Holy Night," then ratchets up the intensity on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," a rock-inflected fist-pumper that is guaranteed to get the listeners' blood flowing. The versatile vocalist shifts moods to one of pure fun with the funky Irish reel "Good Christian Men Rejoice," then slides comfortably into the mellow, bluesy "That Spirit of Christmas."

Melancholy keys and strings embellish Schlitt's emotion-laden vocals on the traditionally arranged "We Three Kings." The gently rocking "What Christmas Needs to Be" leads into the project's closing tune, the reflective "What Child Is This." "What Child Is This" provides the perfect foil for Schlitt's signature vocal stylings, allowing him to channel his passionate delivery through a filter of awe at the enormity of this central event in history.

Schlitt utilized the popular crowd funding platform Kickstarter to raise financial support for the new album. To purchase The Christmas Project, visit schlittshop.comFor more information on Schlitt and The Christmas Project, visit johnwschlitt.com  or follow him on Twitter (@johnwschlitt) or Facebook (facebook.com/johnwschlitt).  

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