Artist: Citizens
Album: Repeat The Sounding Joy
Label: Mars Hill Music/BEC Recordings
Release: November 25, 2013
If you know me you know I am a HUGE Citizens fan and supporter of all things Mars Hill Music. Straying from the well loved contemporary “worship” sound, Citizens uses their love for Jesus, indie rock, electric guitars, synthesizers, melodic bass lines, and driving drums to create a new sound all their own. Their latest project is a Christmas EP that ain’t your mama’s Christmas carols of yore. Get ready to sing, dance, get down around the fire, have your stockings rocked right off the mantle, and repeat the sounding joy. Repeat it indeed.
Joy To The World // This timeless classic gets a twist and a swift tempo change. The intro has one of the coolest bass lines I’ve heard as of late ushering in the familiar lyrics. The end of the song is a joyful surprise as the gang vocals (made up of other Mars Hill Music band members) come in shouting and repeating “Glory to God in the highest!” The song is laid out simply and is easy to lead. If you want to surprise and please your congregation at your Christmas service or concert this year, try this one on for size. You won’t be disappointed.
Hark The Herald Angels Sing // Did somebody say Motown Christmas? I cracked a huge smile and started laughing out loud with joy the second the horn section came in with its 70’s era laden melody that you can’t help tap your foot to. Funky guitar, bass and piano lines layer the song throughout creating, quite possibly, the funkiest Christmas song an indie rock band has ever recorded. If you’ve got an orchestra at your disposal or some very apt horn players and you want get the house groovin’, then try this version of “Hark” this Christmas season.
Come And Stand Amazed // I really enjoyed this track because I had never heard this song before so I had nothing to compare it to. The intro has a very subtle and low synth riff which layers nicely underneath Bolen’s vocals in the first verse. After the first verse, piano chords bring more layering and start to help build a solid musical base for the song. Bolen passionately sings the third verse which declares:
“O Lord Jesus, God incarnate,
Who assumed this humble form,
Counsel me and let my wishes
To your perfect will conform.
Light of life, dispel my darkness,
Let your frailty strengthen me;
Let your meekness give me boldness,
Let your burden set me free;
Let your sadness give me gladness,
Let your death be life for me.”
It’s a great reminder that of what God has done for us in sending his Son. This may not be the easiest song to lead in a congregational setting, unless your keyboard player feels up to it. But as we always suggest, you can strip it down and use less instrumentation if it serves your congregation better. The lyrics alone make it worth the effort.
O Come O Come Emmanuel // Once again Citizens changes up the rhythm and puts their own funky indie rock flare into this classic tune. The melodic bass line carries the song, while bells and electric guitar saturate the entire song. There is also a great bongo drum breakdown with gang vocals singing “Rejoice, rejoice Emmanuel has come to thee”. This leads back into the funky rockin’ rhythm we heard earlier but with a fuller sound. The gang vocals continue as Bolen passionately shouts out names for Christ such as “Prince of Peace” “Kings of Kings” “Wonderful Counselor” “Mighty God”. Not only does he tell you about Jesus,but he does it like he means it. Once again, if you’re looking for some funk this Christmas and your bass player has been bored for a while, throw this their way.
Silent Night // People who like slow and classic Christmas music, never fear! Zach and the gang didn’t forget about you. Their rendition of Silent Night falls more on the classic side, complete with a soprano choir, mellow instrumentation including strings, piano and a very light drum beat to keep they rhythm. The strings and the vocals really drive this one so if you’ve got a violin or two, a cello, and great choir, try this out.
Well! I hope you’re as excited as I am to try these songs at your church! The gents in Citizens do a great job reminding us that Jesus’ birthday is a time to throw a party and celebrate the coming of the Savior of the world!
Check out the resources we posted for all the midi tracks, chords charts, and string/horn arrangements you’ll need to pull this off these songs this Christmas season at your local church.
Have a great season reminding your church body the reason for our hope and let them have a little fun this year.
Enjoy and God bless.
Merry Christmas!
-Miles
[…] We had the opportunity to have a conversation with Zach and Adam from Citizens. We covered so many great topics that we can’t wait for you to hear but for this post we’ll talk about their latest project, “Repeat the Sounding Joy.” Be sure to check out our review of the album here. […]