This is a great time to be alive. Pentatonix just released their newest album, A Pentatonix Christmas. Pentatonix is a five member a cappella group who rose to fame after competing and winning The Sing-Off, a competitive elimination style a cappella singing show. After being crowned champions of The Sing-Off, Pentatonix used YouTube to share their love of music and many talents. Today, Pentatonix is an extremely successful platinum-selling and Grammy-winning group of talented artists that tour the world sharing their talents and love for the art of music with the world.
I was ecstatic when I woke up to find their newest music video to "Hallelujah" blessing my YouTube feed. I watched this visual masterpiece and beautiful rendition of a timeless classic over and over. While I was still emotionally recovering from this beautiful masterpiece, I realized THEY HAD RELEASED A WHOLE NEW CHRISTMAS ALBUM TOO!
There is no better feeling in the world than going to bed one night and waking up the next morning to discover an entirely new album has been released by your favorite artists! Though some may say that at two months away, it's still to early for Christmas music, I say it’s never too early to get in the Christmas spirit as it is my favorite holiday of the year.
I’ve been listening to this album nonstop since its release, so let's get into a quick review of its amazing contents.
A Pentatonix Christmas, released October 21st, contains 11 songs. The cover songs include new takes on timeless Christmas classics such as "O Come All Ye Faithful," "White Christmas," and "I'll Be Home For Christmas" as well as lesser-known spiritual "Coventry Carol," and upbeat "Coldest Winter." We hear so many renditions of these timeless Christmas classics that it is always a treat when you hear an artist's unique rendition of one of these songs.
Their first original on the album, "A Christmas Sing-Along," is a fun song that is meant to be sung in community. It includes a playful interlude of "La-Da-Da's" that are fun to sing along with and dance to. It won't be long before this song is playing on repeat in your head.
Their upbeat funky cover of "Up On the Housetop" is the Christmas song you've been waiting for. It so makes you want to get up and dance! Kevin's strong percussion combined with Kirsten's and Mitch's background harmonies make this my go to Christmas song of the season.
A cover of Kanye West's "Coldest Winter" is a surprising soulful addition to this album. In this song, you can hear just how talented the five-member group is. Their voices meld together so beautifully and they know how to complement each other extremely well.
Pentatonix never fails to impress me with their soulful arrangements, and this album is no different. Even with thousands, probably millions of Christmas songs out there, Pentatonix finds something to add to this genre, sharing their own originality and style. I hope you will take the time to listen to PTX's carefully orchestrated and meaningful a cappella renditions of these timeless Christmas classics.
