Steve Recommends...

The CD recommendation will be another recurring post on my blog, and today's recommendation is Todd Agnew's new album Do You See What I See. Yes, it is early for Christmas music, but this is really a good one. (Also...Third Days, Christmas Offerings came out today, but I haven't listened to it yet).

This CD is absolutely wonderful and paints a very personal non-traditional picture of our Saviors birth. Below I've posted a review of the CD that describes it way better than I can. If anyone wants a listen, let me know. (If there are any record executives reading this, I will not illegally reproduce the CD... I don't even know how to work the CD burner thingamajiggy). :-)

Aug 24, 2006
Todd Agnew's Christmas Retake
Posted by Kevan Breitinger
Todd Agnew has crafted an epic retelling of the Christmas story on his upcoming holiday release "Do You See What I See?," which releases October 3, 2006. "Do You See What I See?" tells the Christmas story from the personal perspectives of the eyewitnesses to Christ's birth from the innkeeper to the Magi to the angels.

"Last Christmas, God led me to really study the Christmas story," explains Agnew. "For six months, everyday piece-by-piece I studied the birth of Christ. I prayed through it, asking God to reveal it to me. He made the Bible come to life---it became not only true, but also realistic. Realizing that we look at Christmas from more than 2000 years later and that those individuals involved were not able to fully understand the big picture of what was happening like we can is remarkable."

Painting an audio picture for the listener, he created a musical, not just a collection of seasonal songs for his project. In addition to Todd's solo performances and duo with Ardent Records newcomer Joy Whitlock as the innkeepers, Vince Lichlyter (Jonah33) is featured as Joseph, Christie Nockels (Watermark) as Mary, Shelley Jennings (Passion) as Elizabeth, Mike Weaver (Big Daddy Weave) as Simeon, Anthony Evans as the angel and Michael O'Brien (recently of NewSong) as the shepherd. There is also a multi-artist finale of the much beloved classic, "In the First Light."

Agnew and friends want to stress that this project is about the whole perspective surrounding the birth of Christ and not a typical holiday CD, but an eyewitness depiction. "It seems like this Christmas record will be set apart from so many others that are about candles and wreaths," shares guest soloist Shelley Jennings. "I don't know how much the individuals who were involved in the first Christmas really knew about what God was doing with them, but I think they knew it was something really big. The song I sang, 'Sleep Well,' is from the perspective of Elizabeth, who herself was carrying a significant life and who knew that Mary was carrying the Lord. The beautiful melody and poignant lyrics of this sweet lullaby are like a calm before the storm." To celebrate the Christmas season, Todd and a select group of friends will be performing this Christmas project on "The Christmas Hope" tour, co-headlining with NewSong and featuring Rachael Lampa and NY Times best-selling author, Donna VanLiere.

(From: http://christianmusic.suite101.com/blog.cfm/todd_agnews_christmas_retake)