It Must Be Christmas Time - Reviews

Sarah Pierce: It Must be Christmas Time
Little Bear 14252
Format: CD
Musical Performance - 3.5

Sound Quality-4.5

Overall Enjoyment-4

Sarah Pierce is an acoustic musician who is basically a folk singer, yet she has surprises up her sleeve at every other turn. This holiday set includes Pierce’s own "Miracle at Hand," a bluesy retelling of the birth of Jesus, as well as four additional Pierce originals and covers of five holiday favorites. "O Holy Night" is heard in a much lower register than usual. In Pierce’s rendition, her husky alto allows one to concentrate more on phrasing and text than bracing for that grandstanding high note toward the end. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is given a unique, reggae-influenced folk treatment that gives this overworked song a much-needed new sound. The overall feeling of this set is one of simplicity and intimacy. The sound helps with the latter; though manipulated in the studio, the sound is live and in person, with noticeable warmth and presence….Rad Bennett–Goodsound.com

“Sarah Pierce has a delicious alto voice, rich and smooth like country-churned butter. More than just a pretty voice, Pierce is also a killer songwriter, and she puts both talents to good use on It Must Be Christmas Time. This wonderful seasonal effort is an endearing country/folk venture with five Pierce originals (one with A. Adinolfi, one with M. Bregante) and superb vocals throughout. The album presents ten tracks, an eclectic mix of the sacred and secular. The tone tends to be gentle, even when the music has a lively, honky-tonk sentiment.

It Must Be Christmas Time opens with a catchy original; Pierce's punchy “Miracle at Hand” has a simple refrain with a bluesy swing beat and nicely-placed background vocals. Her lovingly-constructed “You Make It Christmas” is a sentimental sweetheart, and “It's Santa Claus” is a most pleasurable hard-driving romp. Pierce's title track “It Must Be Christmas Time” is the loveliest ballad, with perfect harmonies floating over a melodic guitar foundation, and her “Soon It Will Be Christmas Day” takes on island rhythms. This artist definitely knows how to sprinkle excellent lyrics over memorable melodies!

Although Pierce does a fine job executing the well-known holiday classics here (especially “Oh Holy Night”), this album (for me) is all about Pierce's excellent originals. This release is a true treat, although at 35 minutes, the beautiful musical experience was all too brief. When the singers end It Must Be Christmas Time with a cheery “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” I definitely felt the holiday spirit strong within, and I'm confident you will, too. Bravo, Sarah Pierce!”

—Carol Swanson, christmasreviews.com, 2005