Release Date: 11/13/15
Rating: [usr 9]
Jon and Valerie Guerra are a husband and wife duo from Chicago, Illinois. Jon is currently touring with Matt Maher on the Saints and Sinners tour. Jon and Valerie recently released a special Christmas album, which is their first project as a duo. The album is called It’s Almost Christmas and has the foundations of becoming a Christmas classic for many.
Jon and Valerie include a good mix of original tunes, along with classic Christmas tunes with their own unique twists. Some of the classics they include on the album are “Winter Wonderland”, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, “White Christmas”, “The Little Drummer Boy”, and “Auld Lang Syne.” Each song is filled with the familiar classic lyrics, but infused with unique twists and beautiful harmonies.
The title track “It’s Almost Christmas” has a very fun, unique vibe with the wide variety of instruments included throughout the track. The song talks about various activities that people do around Christmas time in their hometown of Chicago, Illinois.
“The Way You Look Tonight/ I’ll Be Home For Christmas” is a beautiful mash-up of two classics. Valerie begins the track with a beautiful rendition of The Way You Look Tonight which blends into Jon singing I’ll Be Home For Christmas. The exchange and blending between the two voices and songs adds a beautiful complexity to each song that feels so warm and inviting.
They also cover the well-known “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music. A song not usually associated with Christmas, the duo definitely found reward with this risk. The delicate feel of the song mixed with their beautiful harmonies really gives the song new life.
“Beginning To Feel Like Christmas” begins with a very fun, upbeat feel. It really puts listeners in the mood for Christmas, which is what the song talks about. Towards the end of the song, we lose the fun and upbeat feel, and transition into a more inspirational and thoughtful vibe. The song talks about the reason for Christmas, and celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour.
“Will I See You At Grandma’s House?” carries the fun, playful vibe that listeners have been falling in love with throughout the album. The song celebrates the gathering of family during the holiday season.
“Lord Remind Me” really ends the album with an honest, and vulnerable feel. The song is calling out to God to remind us of the importance of Christmas. The emotional track really pulls at the heartstrings. The song talks about how we can’t get caught up in all of the fuss of Christmas, and we need to really focus and remember the beauty and meaning of this special time of year.
Overall the album carries a very fun, and playful feel, but definitely still celebrates the reason we celebrate during this time of year. Both Jon and Valerie carry such powerful, and beautiful voices, that blend together so well.
Buy It’s Almost Christmas on iTunes here
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