So much of the Christmas season, for me, is all about the music. I have no problems with you if you want to start your Christmas celebrations a little early. After Halloween seems excessive. After Thanksgiving is fair game. Then let’s bring on the real Christmas songs and the fake ones, too. I don’t discriminate. From Dec 16-31, it’s all Christmas music playing on Mental Jukebox.

Over a five-year period, Future of Forestry put together their Advent Christmas EP series. Out of that came a collection of highly reflective, meditative Christmas songs that are more suited to listen to in solitude than in a crowded shopping mall or holiday party. “O Come All Ye Faithful” keeps the reason for the season central, sung and performed in undeniable reverence. The intricate layers of instrumentation are a thing of beauty as the song ushers the listener into a state of adoration. But it’s at the 2:34 mark where my mind is blown with an unexpectedly vigorous guitar-led conclusion.

“SING, CHOIRS OF ANGELS. SING IN EXULTATION. SING, ALL YE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN ABOVE. GLORY TO GOD. ALL GLORY IN THE HIGHEST. O COME, LET US ADORE HIM.”