Only Men Aloud // In Festive Mood

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The winner’s of the BBC’s 2008 talent show, Last Choir Standing, returned at the end of November 2011 with their third studio album/1st album on their on label, titled In Festive Mood.

As you might have guessed from the title and release date, the album brings together a collection of some well known Christmas songs and performed in unique Only Men Aloud style. Opening the album with It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, you are thrown into the Christmas spirit with it’s upbeat and floaty feeling. Traditional hymn O Holy Night follows with Craig Yates taking a solo here. Wham! classic Last Christmas comes next with the group performing purely with vocals with very minor instrumentation.


Drummer Boy comes up next featuring Only Boys Aloud. Moving smoothly into a medley of Stille Nacht (Silent Night) and I'll Be Home For Christmas, with instrumentation only really used for the latter. Sleigh Ride appears with a fun upbeat tune before dropping tempo and mood for In The Bleak Midwinter. Continuing with the slow tempo is Santa Baby which features vocalist Katy Treharne.

The group wouldn’t be holding up their end without covering a classical piece, in this instance is Schubert’s Ave Maria. Next is a medley of songs titled Christmas Bells and includes Carol Of The Bells, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Tua Bethlehem Dref which really give the guys a chance to showcase their vocal talents. Quietening the album again comes the Welsh carol Hwiangerdd Mair (Mary's Lullaby). And to finish the album off is another medley aptly named Rule The World Medley and features Rule The World, Viva La Vida and Everybody Wants To Rule The World, which you know probably shouldn’t work, but it does well.

Overall, it is a great little Christmas album. Although roughly of all the same tempo (with a few exceptions) it seems right for this album. The songs are been well arranged to fully show off the vocal talents of the group. If you’re a fan of them, then this is well worth adding to your collection. Even if your not, it’s a great little addition to the Christmas collection

Rating: 4/5