Louder Than The Music

The amazing and critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Sara Groves has released her new live Christmas album available for free through her website. O Holy Night Tour Live : The Prison Show was recorded in an Illinois prion during two gigs in front of the enthusiastic women.

The album starts off in a bit of disjointed way, Sara seems to be talking to her band about what songs to play and when, at the same time there seems to be people coming into the venue, yet Sara starts the set without any introduction, her first two tracks with a lot of background movement and noise as people settle into their places. It distracts from the two opening tracks You Are The Sun and Maybe There’s A Loving God.

After Sara and her band have been introduced, the quality of the album improves and the quality of Sara and her voice comes through during the tracks It's True and It Came Upon A Midnight Clear and from listening to her voice, which is so strong for most of the songs, when it is in full flow you would find it hard to realise they are recorded live.

Being as it's a Christmas album it might not surprise you that there are a few carols on the album. During the last but one song, Sara with no PA and the band turning off their amps, leads acoustically a medley of classic Christmas carols, with everyone singing this sounds stunning.

As a free album, you are getting ten good live tracks, maybe a bit rough around the edges at times, but Sara Groves and her songwriting and singing talent shine through. Christmas is here.

Review by Jono Davies

LTTM Rating 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Standout Tracks
It's True
Carols
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear