With a keen ear for a hook and an absolute devotion to God,
Chris Tomlin found a wide audience for his fiery brand of
Highwaymen-influenced country rock in the CCM circuit. Released over a decade into his career, 2009's
Glory in the Highest is
Tomlin's first stab at a Christmas record. The offerings are fairly straightforward, but far from unadorned (kids' choruses and flourishes buoy his gently spirited country rock).
Tomlin's earnest, over-the-top persona is a natural for the yuletide setting. As is consistent with his style,
Tomlin strikes a balance between familiar noels like "O Come All Ye Faithful," and straightforward songs of praise & worship such as "My Soul Magnifies the Lord." The mood lands somewhere between celebration and service on a lush, reverent record. ~ Jason Thurston