Indie artist JJ Heller is offering a free download of her Holiday EP, "Wake Up The World." It is only available until 12/31/09 so act now!
I can't say enough about JJ Heller's music. Her voice is so pure and innocent. She disarms you. Her smart lyrics sneak in under the radar. And this EP is no different.
The first track has a simple, worshipful tone. As of late, I haven't been able to make it through the first 30 seconds of a song like this, but she pulled me in. She calmed me before I could become defensive. She is one of the most genuine singer/songwriters I have ever heard. This is especially important in Christian music when the schmooze tends to drown out the sentiment.
Here are a few of her lyrics (which I love) but to get the full effect you definitely should listen to them.
Emmanuel
(an excerpt)
"Come, fall at His feet.
Won't you sing, sing to the King.
And go, tell everyone
Christ is born.
Glory fills the sky
as Mary sings a lullaby.
Emmanuel is born tonight.
Give all that you are
Follow the star
And leave all that you have
behind. ..."
In 40 seconds she paints a picture of the "Holy Family" that I have never encountered. She breathes new life into well-known lines: "let heaven and nature sing," "Son of God, love's pure light." I believe that adds to the comfortable, familiar feel of these songs. And perhaps that is why I instantly loved them: I've been singing them all my life, but now I can finally hear them.
The first two tracks on this EP were like the Polar Express for my ears. They made me believe in Christmas again.
Wake Up The World
(an excerpt)
"Shepherds come to worship
Angels sing Gloria
Wake up the world
The King has come
Joseph smiles at Mary
the baby falls asleep
Wake up the world
The King has come
So let heaven, heaven and nature sing
Oh let heaven, heaven and nature sing
Oh let heaven, heaven and nature sing
Son of God, Love's pure light
Wake up the world, the King has come. ..."
It takes talent to reinvent the wheel as far as Christmas music is concerned, but JJ Heller does just that. Not only does she write new songs for Christmas that aren't terrible and schmoozy, but she adapts the familiar tunes. She has her own version of "We Three Kings" entitled "Star of Wonder." I don't particularly care for "We Three Kings," but Heller's, "Star of Wonder" brought it to life for me for the first time. Lines like "Through the fields and deserts they came/ Messiah was worth every mile" vividly revive the dusty image of the wise men that lingers in my mind.
The EP finishes with a light-hearted, spunky tune entitled, "Christmastime" about surviving the holiday gatherings with our families. This track reminds me a bit of Ingrid Michaelson and kept me smiling the whole way through.
Christmastime
(an excerpt)
"It's that time of year again
Station wagons pulling in
I can see it's gonna be
another Christmas to remember
Oh Christmastime, Oh Christmastime
We'll all be fine in a week or two
All the relatives are here
Grandpa and his Santa beard
How can it possibly already be December?
Wasn't it just July?
I was alone in my room
without a cousin in sight
So far the only one who's having fun
is the reindeer on my sweater
Does it get any better? ... "
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