Smitty
's third
holiday
album was epic in scope, with four choirs and a 65-piece orchestra offering plenty of
Christmas
grandeur. Close to half of the album is instrumental, which drew comparisons to 2000s
Freedom
. The vocal numbers like
"The Promise"
and
"Christmas Morning"
draw
Smith
's trademark personal touch. The album falls somewhere between 1989's
and 1998's
Christmastime
, utilizing the full sound of the backing groups to its greatest extent. In its best moments, the album exudes the same mastery of the
adult contemporary
sound as
Jim Brickman
's
The Gift
. Give credit to this
contemporary Christian
vet for adding so richly to the
songbook at a point in his career that so few reach and at which even fewer make meaningful contributions to their respective genres. ~ Jared Johnson