Post by ♥ Amy ♥ on Nov 30, 2010 9:20:31 GMT -5
Without a doubt, this is probably the best Gothard Sisters' CD I have heard ever. It is so well put together...all the different tracks and layering just lend so much to it. I don't like songs that feel "empty", like they don't have much debth to it. That is NOT the case with this CD. I would have a hard time picking my favorite song, but I would have to say it would probably be a tossup between "Little Drummer Girl" and "The First Noel". Probably Drummer Girl a little more, but not by much. 
The CD opens with a lovely reindition of The First Noel. It starts out with an instrumental opening, and then Solana puts her lovely vocals to it. The harmony parts on this is PERFECT, and lends so much to it.
Little Drummer Girl is a fun, upbeat, insrumental version of the traditional "Little Drummer Boy". You can hear two drums (I think) on there...bodhran and djembe. And I just *love* the little note that it starts out on.
Winds Through the Olive Trees is a lesser-known song, but it shines with the Gothards' signature touch. You can hear a mandolin every once in a while in this song, and it works perfectly with the style.
I Saw Three Ships/Marie's Wedding, Santa Lucia/Czech (I'm not spelling that whole thing out ;D) Carol and Carol of the Bells/We Three Kings are all very nicely put together and blend nicely between the two very different songs. Again, I love the harmony on Santa Lucia. It fills in what otherwise could seem empty singing. Carol of the Bells/We Three Kings has a haunting sound to it that makes it all the more beautiful. I love the reverb that is put on the violins at the beginning.
Good King Wencelas has a sort of 'royal' feel to it, which is perfect for the song. Solana's voice is perfect for this song, I have rarely heard it sung so well. I know I can't do it! I get all messed up over the "Wencelas", lol.
Silver Bells is BEAUTIFUL...it gets the prize for the most elegant and beautiful. Very well put together, I love all the different violin tracks. And I love the plucking in the background, it lends itself to the track so well.
Greensleeves and Jolly Old Saint Nicholas are both instrumental tracks that don't fail to impress and do justice to the old traditional tunes.
Silent Night starts out centered on the guitar, and I love that with the fingerpicking; and then when the violins come in...shivers.
hehe. And then Solana's lovely voice again takes centerpoint (those 20+ takes were worth it, Solana. Hehe). She sings this classic Christmas carol extremely well. I have to note, her voice has definitely improved from Celtic Rainbow. Her high notes are a lot clearer and she sounds more at ease singing.
Finally, the CD wraps up, appropriately, with "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". This song starts out with ringing bells, and then is mostly compsed of plucking, and then background violins and bells again slowly fade in later in the song. It's not what you would expect, but the unexpected is good.
Five stars from here, girls, and I'm not being biased, hehe. It was honesly a GREAT CD and totally worth all your hard work.
The CD opens with a lovely reindition of The First Noel. It starts out with an instrumental opening, and then Solana puts her lovely vocals to it. The harmony parts on this is PERFECT, and lends so much to it.
Little Drummer Girl is a fun, upbeat, insrumental version of the traditional "Little Drummer Boy". You can hear two drums (I think) on there...bodhran and djembe. And I just *love* the little note that it starts out on.
Winds Through the Olive Trees is a lesser-known song, but it shines with the Gothards' signature touch. You can hear a mandolin every once in a while in this song, and it works perfectly with the style.
I Saw Three Ships/Marie's Wedding, Santa Lucia/Czech (I'm not spelling that whole thing out ;D) Carol and Carol of the Bells/We Three Kings are all very nicely put together and blend nicely between the two very different songs. Again, I love the harmony on Santa Lucia. It fills in what otherwise could seem empty singing. Carol of the Bells/We Three Kings has a haunting sound to it that makes it all the more beautiful. I love the reverb that is put on the violins at the beginning.
Good King Wencelas has a sort of 'royal' feel to it, which is perfect for the song. Solana's voice is perfect for this song, I have rarely heard it sung so well. I know I can't do it! I get all messed up over the "Wencelas", lol.
Silver Bells is BEAUTIFUL...it gets the prize for the most elegant and beautiful. Very well put together, I love all the different violin tracks. And I love the plucking in the background, it lends itself to the track so well.
Greensleeves and Jolly Old Saint Nicholas are both instrumental tracks that don't fail to impress and do justice to the old traditional tunes.
Silent Night starts out centered on the guitar, and I love that with the fingerpicking; and then when the violins come in...shivers.
hehe. And then Solana's lovely voice again takes centerpoint (those 20+ takes were worth it, Solana. Hehe). She sings this classic Christmas carol extremely well. I have to note, her voice has definitely improved from Celtic Rainbow. Her high notes are a lot clearer and she sounds more at ease singing. Finally, the CD wraps up, appropriately, with "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". This song starts out with ringing bells, and then is mostly compsed of plucking, and then background violins and bells again slowly fade in later in the song. It's not what you would expect, but the unexpected is good.
Five stars from here, girls, and I'm not being biased, hehe.
It was honesly a GREAT CD and totally worth all your hard work.
