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4 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
One of the best Christmas albums ever recorded, period
1 Dec 2010
Format:Audio CD
1996 was the last year of the original line-up of Over the Rhine: Linford Detweiler, Karin Bergquist, Ric Hordinksi and Brian Kelly, and they went out with a bang, releasing 2 albums that year: "Good Dog Bad Dog" (considered by many OtR fans--but not me--to be the ultimate and essential OtR album) and at the tail end of the year this non-traditional Christmas album. Some years before, the band had started a tradition of holding a year-end holiday show in their hometown of Cincinnati (a tradition that continues to this day), and out of those concerts grew the idea that they band should record a Christmas album. If you know much of Over the Rhine, you knew it wouldn't be your standard holiday collection (first clue: title of the album).
"Darkest Night of the Year" (13 tracks; 44 min.) is a mix of Over the Rhine originals and covers of traditional songs, and it works beautifully. The album starts off with an instrumental cover of "The First Noel", which sets the tone for the album: reflective, pensive. Lead singer Karin Bergquist sounds great on tracks like "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" and the gentle "Mary's Waltz", one of the best tracks on here with just Karin and Linford on piano. Linford's piano is intimate on "O Little Town of Bethlehem". "Coal Train" is short interlude from Ric Hordinski. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is another beautiful Detweiler-penned instrumental. What works so well is the sequencing of the songs on the album (sadly, an art that seems to be vanishing more and more). In the end, it all leads towards the closing track, a 7+ min. instrumental from guitarist Ric Hordinski, painting a dark but mesmerizing soundscape that is the perfect way to close out this gorgeous album.
A decade later, the band (by now just Linford and Karin, with assorted extras) released a second Christmas album "Snow Angels", which is quite nice on its own but slightly more traditional and, yes, more upbeat. I have heard many, many Christmas albums over the years, and "Darkest Night of the Year" is truly one of the most unusual, original, and very rewarding collections you will ever encounter. The album is now approaching 15 years, and it aging gracefully and beautifully, sounding richer with each Christmas that comes and goes. Highly, highly recommended.
"Darkest Night of the Year" (13 tracks; 44 min.) is a mix of Over the Rhine originals and covers of traditional songs, and it works beautifully. The album starts off with an instrumental cover of "The First Noel", which sets the tone for the album: reflective, pensive. Lead singer Karin Bergquist sounds great on tracks like "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" and the gentle "Mary's Waltz", one of the best tracks on here with just Karin and Linford on piano. Linford's piano is intimate on "O Little Town of Bethlehem". "Coal Train" is short interlude from Ric Hordinski. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is another beautiful Detweiler-penned instrumental. What works so well is the sequencing of the songs on the album (sadly, an art that seems to be vanishing more and more). In the end, it all leads towards the closing track, a 7+ min. instrumental from guitarist Ric Hordinski, painting a dark but mesmerizing soundscape that is the perfect way to close out this gorgeous album.
A decade later, the band (by now just Linford and Karin, with assorted extras) released a second Christmas album "Snow Angels", which is quite nice on its own but slightly more traditional and, yes, more upbeat. I have heard many, many Christmas albums over the years, and "Darkest Night of the Year" is truly one of the most unusual, original, and very rewarding collections you will ever encounter. The album is now approaching 15 years, and it aging gracefully and beautifully, sounding richer with each Christmas that comes and goes. Highly, highly recommended.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
A truly meaningful Christmas album
18 Dec 2006
Instead of the usual holiday sappy syrupy fare, Over The Rhine really does conjure up a mysterious aura with this lovely and spare album. You'll never get tired of hearing it every holiday season - it sounds fresh every year.
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful
You don't have to pay $35 to own this cd
8 Dec 2008
This, along with Bruce Cockburn's Christmas, is my favorite Christmas cd. A dark, reverent, evocative masterpiece that gets played every December at my house. It doesn't get any better than this. But the people that are selling this used for $35 to $45 are only preying on others ignorance. You can pick up a new copy at the band's website overtherhine dot com for a reasonable price. But don't be tempted to pick up their latest Christmas cd Snow Angels unless you want something jazzy, loungey, and mostly devoid of spiritual content.
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