Christmas From the Heart Is a Sincere, Reverent Effort From David Archuleta

My friend Libbie and I have been American Idol fans from day one. We’ve watched nearly every episode, though some seasons have been decidedly better than others. Last year was one of the best. While my favorite contestant in the 2008 group was squeaky-clean, Carly Simon-esque Mormon Brooke White, I also loved Libbie’s favorite, equally innocent David Archuleta, a pure-voiced wunderkind who also happens to be a Mormon.

Given his respectful demeanor and his old-school song choices, I shouldn’t have been surprised that his Christmas album would lean heavily toward the traditional, but I was afraid that his producers might have forced a more contemporary sound on him. Instead, this album is deeply spiritual and perfectly displays the control young David has over his powerful voice.

1. Joy to the World - Sets a gently reverent tone for the album. The rich vocal abilities that David demonstrated as a contestant on American Idol are in full force here, particularly toward the end of the song, when he takes a slight departure from the melody to show off his chops.

2. Angels We Have Heard on High - Another chance for David to demonstrate his incredible range and control. He also throws in a snippet of Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. Like the first track, this comes across as very worshipful and sincere.

3. O Come All Ye Faithful - Fairly straightforward until just before the repetition of the first verse, when David really lets his voice soar. Another very nice traditional offering.

4. Silent Night - Aside from some subtle violin accompaniment, it’s just David here, so it almost seems like an a cappella rendition at times. Understated and lovely.

5. First Noel - Heavy on the piano and strings. David sticks strictly with the melody for most of the song, except during brief soulful “oooh”-ing interludes.

6. O Holy Night - I’m always on the lookout for the “definitive” version of this song; I’ve heard so many nice renditions but none that I can firmly call my favorite. David’s is surprisingly straightforward; most pop singers seem to use this song as an opportunity to show off as much as possible, but he doesn’t really add any embellishment until the final chorus. I like that he does more than just the first verse, and I love the sense of quiet majesty that comes across throughout this entire track.

7. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - A nice duet. His voice blends well with Charice Pempengco, who sings a good chunk of the song herself. I don’t know if they’ve sung together before, but their voices complement each other wonderfully.

8. I'll Be Home For Christmas - The album’s two homey tracks are back-to-back, right in the middle, a slight departure before returning to the album’s overall religious tone. Now that David is embarking upon a music career, this song may hit especially close to his heart. I imagine all those weeks away from home with American Idol were difficult; hopefully he is still able to be with his family for Christmas, at least.

9. Pat-a-Pan - I like the beginning of the song, which is sung in French, but once he launches into the song in English, an odd dance-beat percussion kicks in, and it sounds rather out of place. There’s some odd voice sampling too; the track almost sounds like techno. My least favorite track.

10. What Child is This - There’s a slightly Celtic flavor to this one, and David sticks pretty close to the melody most of the time. This one ends in a rather surprising way that is nonetheless very pleasing.

11. Riu Riu Chiu - I’d never heard this song before, and it’s in Spanish, so I had to do some hunting around to have any idea what it’s about, but the vocals and strings come together beautifully. David sounds especially earnest here in this reflection on the first Christmas, and the slight musical homage to Carol of the Bells is a nice surprise.

12. Ave Maria - David is joined by a pristine children’s chorus on this ultimate operatic offering. Barbara Padilla blew me away with her rendition of this on America’s Got Talent over the summer; I’m not sure David quite outsings her, but he’s able to do a much longer version, and he does do a glorious job, assisted by the haunting children’s choir.

13. Melodies of Christmas - Only the second song on the album I’m not familiar with, this one was co-written by David himself. It incorporates all the different aspects of Christmas: cozy time with family, Santa Claus and, most especially, the Nativity. There are overt references to several songs, including O Holy Night, Deck the Halls, Silent Night and O Come All Ye Faithful. It’s essentially a one-song summary of what this album is all about. Though it might have made even more sense to put this at the beginning of the album to give listeners a sense of what’s coming, leaving Ave Maria to linger in their minds at the end, it is a very fitting way to wrap up.

I’ve been listening to new Christmas albums all week, and while most have been lovely, David Archuleta’s is my favorite discovery. Christmas From the Heart is everything I could have hoped it would be and more. Though it’s hardly a hip album, it demonstrates that this is a talented young man who really gets what Christmas is all about.