Downloads Revisited

We here at mwbh would like to recommend three other albums for MP3 download, in time for the Christmas season, recorded by artists who are a breath of fresh air to the genre.

John Roberts and Tony Barrand (born 1940s) are two English-American folklorist-musicians who have been together since 1969, when they were graduate students in psychology at Cornell. They form half of the quartet known as Nowell Sing We Clear, whose performances consist of yuletide stories and music, and (lest we forget) a Mummers Play. their nine albums as an ensemble are available on CD at Golden Hind Music. Their latest was recorded and released in 2008, entitled Nowell, Nowell, Nowell!

Sixpence None the Richer can best be described as a latent Christian pop-rock duo, currently a collaboration of vocalist Leigh Nash (born 06/27/1976) and songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Matt Slocum (born 12/27/1972), both of New Braunfels, Texas. The band's name is inspired by a passage from the C S Lewis book Mere Christianity. Their 2008 release for this blessed season is entitled The Dawn of Grace.

Sufjan Stevens (born 07/01/1975) is a guitarist-singer-songwriter who mixes autobiography, religious fantasy, and regional history, to create folk songs of grand proportions. A preoccupation with epic concepts has motivated two state records (Michigan and Illinois), with plans to eventually complete such tributes for every state in the Union. Born in Detroit, he currently lives in Brooklyn. His 2006 compilation of five extended-play CDs is entitled Songs for Christmas.

Download these puppies in time for Christmas, and as family and loved ones gather and hear what is in the background, you are guaranteed to start a conversation, and end with memories of a unique celebration.