A Lovemongers' Xmas From The Heart

What a year Heart is having! They had three titles from their back catalog remastered and released prior to unveiling their newest masterpiece Jupiters Darling, which received rave reviews and brought them back into the limelight once again. I believe what we are having here is a Heart renaissance. They never went away; the Wilson sisters just needed some time to regroup to get back to what worked best for them. Man, is it ever working now!

Nancy and Ann Wilson are a one-two punch that is hard to match once again on Heart Presents A Lovemongers Christmas. These sibling rockers have made their mark since the 70s. From Magic Man to Ave Maria, it certainly seems as though the girls have come full circle with their career. They both can sing like angels and play instruments like it was their very purpose in life, but they always have been passionate about their work.

Originally released in 1998 it is now available with two additional tracks, "Mary" and "Let's Stay In." With the recent rebirth of their music, I believe this CD will find its way into many collections for the holiday season, and for years to come. This is not your token Christmas album; it is a work with depth and variety rarely found in a seasonal recording. It is literally soaked in the heartfelt emotional sincerity of Ann and Nancy Wilson. Both sisters are in stunning voice and the music is simply extraordinary. Nancy creates lush soundscapes of folk-rock with her guitar for Ann to take full advantage and her vocals take a ride on the velvety soft clouds of musical bliss.

They even go in a jazz direction, something I have never heard from them, on Lets Stay In, and it is wonderful. Here Is Christmas is quite moving and Ave Maria is just beautiful, a real slice of heaven to be sure. The entire album is solid from start to finish.

This is one of the best Christmas albums to come out from the world of rock in a long time. It will definitely be on my favorites list for several plays during the Christmas season every year from now on.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com

01. Here Is Christmas (4:12)
02. Christmas Waits (3:08)
03. Mary (4:50)
04. How Beautiful (5:29)
05. William and Rose (3:56)
06. Let's Stay In (3:27)
07. Balulalow James (1:19)
08. Ave Maria (4:51)
09. The Last Noel Cox (4:23)
10. It's Christmas Time (3:38)
11. Oh Holy Night (3:190
12. Bring a Torch (1:57)
Rating-10/10

Credits:

Ann Wilson-Vocals, guitar
Nancy Wilson-Vocals, guitar, mandolin
Frank Cox - Bass
Sue Ennis Guitar
Ben Smith-Drums
Craig Bartock - Guitar (only on Let's Stay In and Mary)