December 17, 2011

Rockapella - Rockapella Holiday

The perfect gift to us from "America's Leading A Cappella Group, "A Rockapella Holiday" has arrived just in time for Christmas, and we think we saw a fat dude with a white beard joining in with this legendary all-male a cappella quintet, singing bass! The CD follows the critically acclaimed "Bang" as their 14th soulful release, and it features 12 wonderfully arranged cuts that stay true to their trademark Contemporary sound, which melds soul, rock and r&b. Some favorites are "Angels We Have Heard on High," a very silly "Christmas Don't Be Late (The Chipmunk Song)," "I Have a Little Dreidel," "Matunda Ya Kwanzaa," "Jingle Bell Rock," "Ukranian Carol," "Little Drummer Boy," "Christmas Altogether," the very politically correct "Happy Christmas-Hanu-Kwanzaa Holiday," and the heart-tugging "Auld Lang Syne.;" but every song is a stone winner. Arranger and high tenor Jeff Thacher feels the album "finally captured the spirit of our live holiday concerts, from the edge to the warmth to the fun." Rockapella's feeling of wonder at the holidays comes through bigtime in "A Rockapella Holiday," so don't forget to open this very special musical gift from one of our longtime favorite groups! 2051 CD 11.95
Listen to "Christmas Don't Be Late

Posted by acapnews at 12:00 AM

December 16, 2011

Eclipse - It's Christmas Time

Eclipse has taken Christmas music to a whole new level with their second holiday album. "It's Christmas Time" is an up-beat and light-hearted collection of songs that is sure to put a smile on your face. The album features ten new arrangements that are both inventive and engaging - from the hard-hitting bass and percussion of "Need a Little Christmas" and "Come all ye Faithful" to the emotional delivery of "O Holy Night," this album will make you fall in love with Christmas music all over again. "It's Christmas Time" is a must-have for your holiday music collection and the perfect Christmas gift. 2065 CD 15.95
Listen to "Need a Little Christmas

Posted by acapnews at 12:41 AM

Tonic Sol-fa - March of the Kings

Tonic Sol-Fa, Jared, Mark, Shaun and Greg, have averaged over 150 shows annually in 48 states, winning numerous original song and album awards in pop, gospel and holiday genres, including their first Emmy for Original Musical Composition! Performances on NBC's Today Show, Jay Leno, Shawn Colvin and Garrison Keillor have propelled album sales to more than 2 million copies (mostly sold from the back of their trailer) and thousands of loyal fans. "Christmas" has 18 tunes, favorites are a rockin', joyful "Joy to the World," the upbeat, surprising originals "Come to Save the World," "Baby King," "On This Christmas Night" and "King of Glory;" raucous live cut "Adeste Fideles," finger-popping salsa-flavored "Ay, Ay, Ay It's Christmas," the live Elvis-like "Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me;" juicy new arrangements of standards "Up on the Housetop," "Silent Night," "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen" and "Little Drummer Boy;" new holiday lyrics to the rocker "29 Ways to My Baby's Door," the truly silly "Nuttin' for Christmas" and finishing with the lovely, poignant "Grace." Tonic's live shows are legendary, and many of these are live cuts that capture that excitement and energy. Give yourself and your loved ones this joyful, spirited collection, a Christmas Tonic! 2049 CD 14.95
Listen to "Away in a Manger/

Posted by acapnews at 12:00 AM

December 14, 2011

Cadence - Cool Yule

Toronto's all male Vocal Jazz quartet Cadence says "Instruments are for surgeons," and we couldn't agree more! The group's much-anticipated hot new 4th release, "Cool Yule" is hot and cool off the presses, and the goodies in our stockings keep on coming: "Silent Night - Prelude," great vocal percussion and faux instruments on "Sleigh Ride," the jazzy title tune, sweet new arrangements on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Baby, It's Cold Outside," "I Saw Three Ships," "The Carpenter's Carol," "Carol of the Bells" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree;" the soulful, bluesy original "River," the sweet, joyous new French carol "Petit Papa Noel," "Christmas Song" and "Silent Night." The buzz around fast-rising Cadence in the jazz world is growing every day, and the finely-crafted "Cool Yule" is a Christmas winner from start to finish, one of the best Vocal Jazz albums of the year! 2061 CD 15.95
Listen to "Cool Yule

Posted by acapnews at 12:00 AM

December 1, 2011

Sing-Off: Songs of the Season

Now in its third year, The Sing-Off, NBC's smash series based on our own annual Harmony Sweepstakes, just keeps getting better and better. The show went weekly on primetime in 2011, and set out to find the country's best a cappella groups by holding auditions in four major cities, and this shows in both the quantity and quality of this year's contestants. "Songs of the Season is a very Contemporary Christmas album of 13 cuts, some of our favorites are old favorites that sound completely new, such as Dartmouth Aires' big fun take on Doo-Wop take on "Up on the Housetop," Pentatonix' "We Three Kings," and U of Rochester Yellowjackets' "Carol of the Bells." Sonos' "Coventry Carol" has a wonderful harmonic blend that sounds accompanied, giving it an urban sound while respecting its original haunting lyrics; Vocal Point's "Infant Lowly, Infant Holy" is stunningly pure and lovely; "Winter Wonderland" is another chestnut taken in a bright, new Doo-Wop direction by North Shore. "In the Bleak Midwinter," is given a beautiful, subtle arrangement by Kinfolk, building to a powerful, complex harmonic blend; and we would have to give Urban Method the award for "most innovative" with their Hip-Hop take on "I Saw Three Ships." "Jingle Bells," the bonus track by last year's winners Committed, is given a sweet, urban edge, and serves as icing on the cake to this delightful, envelope-pushing collection! The quest, if you will, of the Harmony Sweepstakes since its founding 27 years ago has been to showcase the ultimate instrument, the human voice, and the Sing-Off has carried on this quest to a huge, admiring audience, which can only grow with great CDs like "Songs of the Season." And what can we say, but "Bravo!" 2017 CD 11.95
Listen to "We Three Kings

Posted by acapnews at 12:00 AM