Prime Cuts: Easier (The Song of the Wiseman), Rest (The Song of the Innkeeper), Children Again

How can we say anything fresh about Christmas? With the perennial Christmas albums released each year, almost every angle to articulate something meaningful out of the Christmas story has been exhausted. Thus, a large cadre of contemporary Christian artists have resorted to straddle between the path of nostalgia singing about snowfalls and sleighs and the occasional stroll down the worship direction with a sonic nod to the birth of Christ. Gray could have easily gone that direction and still sell like many of his peers do. But as evident by his Bible-centered testimonial songs inspired by his own life of suffering (Gray has a speech impediment problem), this is not what you would expect from Gray. The coda of the album title 'Repeat the Sounding Joy" is a good indication of the direction of this record. This is a collection of songs about "joy." Joy not because there is an absence of war or disharmony, but joy because the Lord is present in our perilous circumstances. For the 9 originals, Gray tells the story of Christmas from the eyes of the characters of Christmas (Joseph, Mary, the inn keeper, the shepherds, the angels and so forth). And in his re-telling, he shows us how joy is still possible despite the characters' struggles, selfishness, busyness, fears and doubts. Just like well-crafted and Spirit-filled sermons, at the end of the day, these tracks really are more than just about the Christmas characters. They are about us: how the presence of Jesus can truly bring joy in the midst of our struggles and fears.

One thing that is most praiseworthy about this disc is that this is perfect interweaving of Scriptural truths and creativity. Instead of just looking at the major characters surrounding Christ's birth story, Gray tries to weave scriptural truths out of the peripheral individuals. And these are the tracks which he excels particularly "Easier (The Song of the Wiseman)." Here Gray steps into the shoes of the wise men and wonders if they ever thought that what Jesus wanted was their worship rather than just their gifts. Brilliantly interweaving the tag line "fall on your knees" (from "O Holy Night") Gray actually invites us to worship rather than just "hiding behind our gifts." With whistles and claps, we are invited to celebrate with the shepherds on the jovial "Gloria (The Song of the Shepherds)" the birth of Christ after they had received the good news from the angels. Most spiritually piercing is "Rest (The Song of the Innkeeper):" on this first person narrative, Gray tells the Christmas story from the innkeeper's perspective. Here he paints the innkeeper in darker shades than the Bible presents. Most telling is that the innkeeper is not too foreign to each of us: like the innkeeper we too are "restless" because we refuse Christ to "rest" in our lives when we would not allow Christ to room with us shaking our fists in defiant saying "the only empty bed is mine."

The minor characters are not only the ones honored. "Ave Maria (The Song of Mary)" is a worshipful response of Mary. Here creativity takes a front seat as Gray interjects the Latin hymn "Ave Maria" with newly written words to make it contemporary and more engaging. "Forgiveness is a Miracle (A Song for Joseph)" is a swampy bluesy number appropriate for depicting the struggle Joseph was experiencing after hearing that Mary was pregnant. Though the tune drags a little the message is indispensable. God gets his own perspective with the formerly released "I Will Find a Way (The Song of Emmanuel)." Other than the gorgeous lyrics of how God tries to reach sinful human beings, the song would benefit from a more seasonal touch.

Nicole Nordeman shares with Gray both her pen and voice on "Children Again"-a cymbal and stringed decorated prayer for a childlike faith in the Christ Child again. Like many proud parents often do, Gray brings him his son Gus to sing "Christmas for Jesus." Cuteness aside; unfortunately Gus has still a long way to go in following in his dad's footsteps. Of the copious Christmas releases this year, "Christmas Stories: Repeat the Sounding Joy" is a treasure trove of well-crafted stories that remind us that the joy of Christmas is not the absence of physical woes and troubles. But even in the midst of pain, hurts, doubts and fears, there is joy--joy that comes from the presence of Jesus among us.