print: GOSPEL MUSIC REVIEW: A Mary Mary Christmas (Mary Mary) | November, 2006 on BlackGospel.com

A Mary Mary Christmas
Columbia/Sony

November 2006 on BlackGospel.com - Review by Em Fergusson

This holiday season, take home more than just a stocking stuffer; make it A Mary Mary Christmas with enough music to fill the room with holiday cheer. Gospel music’s reigning duo - Mary Mary - has released a brand new Christmas project, adding joy and jubilee to the festive season. These vivacious, multi-talented young women of the Word have been spreading the Gospel through their fresh, hip and bona-fide sacred sounds since the new millennium kicked in. And as Christmas quickly approaches, the sister-sister act have delivered yet another blow packed with blessings for everyone in the Christmas frame of mind.

On their new Christmas album, Mary Mary encourages listeners to get into the spirit of giving, instead of expecting gifts. After all, giving is the true spirit of the season. There is nothing more gratifying than offering gifts of love to family members, friends, or those in need of a charitable gesture.

From African-inspired rhythms, such as the infectious, ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, to the tender, by-the-fire soft-tempo, ‘California Christmas’, Mary Mary delivers a consecrated message of love, with a West-coast tone and tenor to the song. The blend of diverse musical styles creates a refreshing effect, while encouraging the listener to worship the Savior in spirit and truth. In conjunction with the welcoming cultural musical style on ‘O Come All Ye Faithful,’ the words of this traditional hymn will have the entire family singing along under the Christmas tree.

Quiet, peaceful holiday gems include the worshipful ballad, ‘Still The Lamb,’ a particularly emotive song with the assistance of their pastor, Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, a song that gains momentum with each passing moment, and the melodious, ‘The Real Thing.’ This song talks about the most important kind of gifts, such as receiving the immeasurable gift of Jesus Christ in life. Having Christ in your life is indeed the ‘real thing.’ This is truly the gift we all ought to embrace and celebrate this season.

Mary Mary break away from their cool and contemporary mix of music with a song called ‘Call Him Jesus’, a song that’s undeniably rooted in the C.O.G.I.C. tradition Erica and Tina know so well, as faithful church girls growing up in Inglewood, California.

In classic Mary Mary style, various tracks are interwoven with unique musical contemporary blends. Similar to ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, ‘Hark The Herald Angels Sing,’ is an auspicious, creative song, incorporating a few seconds of the traditional version. This effect creates a compelling holiday treat. The lyrics center on glorifying God, ‘offering joy and triumph of the skies,’ once more, emphasizing the importance of thanking the Savior for His many blessings.

On the track, ‘Only One,’ the duo ministers about the birth of Christ. He is the only Savior, He is the only King, ‘…they call Him Emmanuel, Messiah/The son, he’s the king…” Other tracks include the seasonal winter wonder of, ‘Merry Little Christmas,’ featuring Dontae Wilson and the up-beat, ‘Tis The Season.’ The album concludes with a remix of ‘California Christmas,’ rejoicing in the joys of the holiday.

The thematic 11-track album does more than offer a delectable and fun album. Mary Mary demonstrates that in a society where commercialism is the focal point of the Christmas season, celebrating the gift of Jesus Christ is an essential part of the season. The celebration of his birth is demonstrated through praising and worshipping God and offering gifts to those we love as well as those in need of love.

Produced by Warryn “Baby Dubb” Campbell for My Block Records, A Mary Mary Christmas, is a festive, merry collection of songs, in typical Mary Mary fashion, but it’s so much more, emphasizing the importance of celebrating Christ, the gift to the world, this holiday season.