Glory In the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship

iTunes Review

Rather than go the traditional route, Chris Tomlin mixes familiar Christmas hymns with newly penned material on 2009’s Glory In the Highest. The album emphasizes worship over frivolity, foregoing sonic tinsel in favor of sparse arrangements built around acoustic guitar and piano. Accompanied by a small backup chorus of friends and colleagues, Tomlin offers versions of such favorites as “O, Come All Ye Faithful,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “O, Holy Night.” “Joy to the World” and “Angels We Have Heard on High” are given bracing rock treatments, while “Emmanuel” shimmers with reverence. Moving beyond the expected nativity numbers, uplifting songs like “Light of the World” and “My Soul Magnifies the Lord” take the album in a contemporary pop/rock direction. Tomlin seasons the proceedings with a number of guest stars, including Matt Redman, Christy Nockels and Audrey Assad (whose quietly radiant vocals on “Winter Snow” are an album highlight). The stirring “Born That We May Have Life” wraps things up on an exalted note.