Mercy Me
The Christmas Sessions
INO Records

The ever popular guys of Mercy Me are sure to please you with their first Christmas album. The CD, titled The Christmas Sessions, is a combination of traditional and more recent holiday favorites, with a dash of Mercy Me’s own personality. Their rock influences can be heard from the very start with “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,” which starts with a subtle, but evident, guitar riff that should sound familiar to U2 fans. The song shortly breaks out into a subdued, yet upbeat sound that is recognizable as Mercy Me’s own style. The same goes for “Gloria” which sounds a lot like the groups previous popular radio hits. Of course, the band doesn’t rest on its accepted sound alone, as they give each song a different twist, including a bit of country on “Silent Night.”

My favorites include the vigorous rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” and the country/hillbilly rock styling of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and the jazzy “Christmas Time Is Here.” I have to give them props too, for their highly distinctive interpretation of “Little Drummer Boy.”

The Christmas Sessions is sure to be a popular choice this season, partly because Mercy Me is popular, but more so because it is an amazing selection of songs. Songs that are performed with added appreciated aspects of Mercy Me’s popular sound. Count yourself fortunate if their short Christmas tour comes your way. If not, like me, just enjoy the merry sounds of the season, Mercy Me style.

- Ken W.

Read from their own words, what some of the songs mean to the members of Mercy Me. Read Here