Glory in the Highest: a Christmas Record (CD - 2008)

Shane & Shane: Shane Barnard (vocals, guitar); Shane Everett (vocals); Jason Hoard (guitar, mandolin); Chris Carmichael (strings); Todd Cromwell (bass instrument); Bethany Dillon (background vocals).

Personnel: Joey Parish (drum).

Audio Mixer: Chad Copelin.

Arrangers: Shane Barnard; Shane Everett.

CCM duo Shane & Shane's Christmas album consists largely of low-key, sometimes torchy versions of traditional carols like "Away In A Manger," "Silent Night," "O Holy Night," and "O Little Town of Bethlehem." GLORY TO THE HIGHEST: A CHRISTMAS ALBUM also contains a spirited take on Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad," a playful "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas," and two original holiday songs: "Born To Die" and "Holiday."

The Texas duo seems completely at ease singing of Christmas in their traditional folk-pop vein. They sound more than comfortable in their own skin, and they pick tunes that allow them to float about vocally with confident mastery. This has its positives and negatives. The jazzy guitar work is fresh on opener "O Holy Night," but once they settle into a groove in the latter part of the record, little sounds new or enticing. The folksy near-country sound appeals to the group's core fans with a heaping helping of Southern charm and the right intensity at the right moments. But unfortunately it too often comes across as, "Yep, no surprises here." Following the duo's acclaimed Pages CD in 2007, it's a bit of a shame that their holiday record doesn't bear more of an impact. ~ Jared Johnson minimize