Released 10 years ago this October
A Pentatonix Christmas
Pentatonix · 2016
34 min · 11 tracks · a cappella
A vibrant celebration of holiday classics, harmonizing traditional carols with contemporary a cappella flair.
Top tracks — play these first
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O Come, All Ye Faithful Start here — establishes the festive mood right away
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Hallelujah — This rendition transforms Leonard Cohen's classic into an emotionally charged a cappella performance, highlighting the group's vocal range and harmonic complexity. The arrangement captures both reverence and contemporary relevance during the holiday season.
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White Christmas — Pentatonix reimagines this timeless song with intricate vocal layers that evoke nostalgia while maintaining freshness. Their unique interpretation showcases not only their signature sound but also their ability to uplift well-known melodies.
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God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen — This track stands out for its upbeat tempo and innovative vocal arrangements, transforming a traditional carol into an engaging, rhythmic experience that invites listeners to rejoice. The energy displayed here exemplifies the group's creative reworking of holiday classics.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong vocal arrangements and a mix of tempos, making it distinctive within the holiday genre.
What we noticed
- The album features intricate vocal arrangements where each member takes on distinct roles, creating a rich tapestry of sound without instrumental accompaniment.
- Several tracks incorporate unexpected tempo changes, such as 'Hallelujah', which shifts from a slow ballad to a more upbeat section.
- The final track, 'Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays', serves as a high-energy conclusion, contrasting with the more somber tones of earlier songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- festive sing-along moments
- steady holiday cheer flow
- warm family gathering ambiance
- heartfelt reflections on tradition
- vibrant vocal harmonies throughout
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy beats
- prefer standalone tracks only
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Pentatonix's popularity in the holiday music genre.
- Career context
- Released on October 21, 2016, this album marks Pentatonix's first full-length Christmas record following their rise to fame after winning 'The Sing-Off' in 2011. By this point, the group had already established themselves as a leading a cappella ensemble, following successful albums like 'PTX, Vol. III' and 'That's Christmas to Me'. Their popularity was further solidified as they began to dominate holiday music charts.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Home Free· Straight No Chaser· Naturally 7
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Hallelujah
The moment shifts from a reflective tone to one of soaring hope as the vocalists harmonize beautifully in unison.
This transition emphasizes a release of emotion, contrasting introspection with exuberance and deepening the listener's connection to the narrative.
Tracklist
- 1 O Come, All Ye Faithful Start here 3:35
- 2 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 2:29
- 3 White Christmas 3:19
- 4 I’ll Be Home for Christmas 3:27
- 5 Up on the Housetop 2:15
- 6 The Christmas Sing‐Along 3:16
- 7 Coventry Carol 3:02
- 8 Hallelujah 4:28
- 9 Coldest Winter 2:28
- 10 Good to Be Bad 2:07
- 11 Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays 3:57
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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