Winter Moon

I am not going to lie: I love Christmas music. I can't wait until I can start playing it on the iPod (guilty pleasure: Christmas in July). I am usually in search of something new and entertaining, and I was so excited to hear one of my favorite singers was recording a Christmas album; the great Mindy Gledhill.
What? You never heard of her? No way!
Her Anchor album was my summer soundtrack. I love, love LOVE that album. Check out the video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URR_4i5gIFU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

It's a little snippet of her peppy, positive music.
And I love the fact she's a wife and mom, and able to balance all that with following her dreams. That's cool and inspirational.

I was very excited to download her Winter Moon album from iTunes (or you could get it here: http://bluemorphmusic.mybigcommerce.com/cart.php)
Owning both Feather in the Wind & Anchor, I knew it would be a little quirky, a happier Tori Amos/Sarah McLachlan sound, and perfect to play in the car or at work, or when im just admiring the Christmas tree sipping my peppermint hot cocoa.
My favorite song is the title track, Winter Moon. There are two versions of it, one with puppets and one without. My son & I have been known to dance around the living room to the puppet version, especially after watching the video on you tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBuBjFwDj-E&feature=youtube_gdata_player

We have been known to act out the video too, because we are a bunch of goofballs, little man and I.

My second favorite song is Little Soldier. I love the line "let me dance like I was 10/even if it's just pretend". That's the purity and innocence of children, and seeing the season through their eyes.

My son's favorite song is Patapan. He sang it last year for his 2nd grade caroling from school. It was exciting to see a traditional carol included on an album that was not by Lorenna McKinnot or Enya!

One of my all time favorite carols is Silent Night. To me, it needs to be plain and simple, which is how it was intended. The origin of it was the church's organ broke on Christmas Eve, and Silent Night was born. In my home church, the Christmas Eve service ended with Silent Night. The lights would go out, section by section, until the sanctuary was bathed in candlelight. Then, the bells would ring, and it would give you chills.
Mindy Gledhill's version is, in choir terms, plainsong. No frills, just letting the message get across through the music and voice.

As an added bonus, there are some really great versions of classic Christmas songs. I am particularly fond of Little St. Nick, which is not a song I liked previously. The Big Man's favorite song, the Christmas Waltz, (and I am not a Carpenters fan) is also included so there truly is something for all of us on there.
If you are going to get just one new Christmas album this year, make it Mindy Gledhill's Winter Moon. You won't be disappointed.