MercyMe – ‘It’s Christmas!’ album review

The creative Renaissance continues for MercyMe on this second ever Christmas collection that finds the fellas expanding their musical palettes even further than the first time. With super producer Brown Bannister behind the boards, the band lays out a sumptuous spread of covers and originals bathed in up-tempo beats and soaring ballad arrangements. “Christmastime Again” bursts with a swinging snap to recall retro sounds of the season transported to today, while the beautiful “Joy” gives Bart Millard the chance to flex his bountiful pipes. Add in a split between good old-fashioned fun ones (“Sleigh Ride,” “Have A Holly Jolly Christmas”) with classic carols (“Go Tell It On The Mountain,” “Do You Hear What I Hear?”), and there’s basically something for everyone on one of this season’s most inviting Yuletide treats.