98A° - This Christmas

Attention teenage girls: As vocal guy bands go, 98 Degrees sing and snap their fingers with the best in contemporary pop. And while This Christmas is not as engaging or musically adventurous as other holiday albums from vocal tour de forces such as the Persuasions, Take 6, or the Blenders, it is a respectable, if predictable, seasonal effort targeted to their teen audience, chock full of standards and three radio-friendly originals. Those include two versions of "This Gift," a Christmas version that merely adds some sleigh bells and a pop version, sans bells. Their a cappella reading of "Ave Maria" shines above all else, with soaring four-part harmonies in a stirring, awesome arrangement. But just when you think these adolescent heartthrobs have climbed the stairway to heaven, they follow up "Maria" with that cliché-riddled lyrical and musical toss off called "This Gift" (the pop version). Talk about not having your (sequencing) priorities straight. --Martin Keller Amazon.com

Surprising

I have to say I was not expecting much from this CD. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's become one of my favorites. Although I usually only care about the Christmas classics, I really like the original songs on the album, "If Every Day Could Be Christmas," and "This Gift." They also do a great job with some of my all-time favorites, especially "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "I'll be Home for Christmas."

I would recommend this wonderful CD to anyone, not only fans of 98 Degrees. October 13, 2006

Love 98 degrees, but...

The only songs I appreciated were This Gift and Christmas Wish, which were orginals, and very good. The others were all so different in styling, they clashed. You'd get really slow, then it would get lively, then it would get suddenly morose and too serious; I don't appreciate the barber-shop flavor, either. The vocal arrangements didn't suit Christmas at all. I read one reviewer say this album was too slow and sad, and I agree. It's not a 'happy' cd. Really a one star -- one star for effort which I'm sure was present. 98 degrees is a great group, and no one's perfect, but I hope they make a more jolly Christmas one one day. Their beautiful, sincere voices could be so well-suited to Xmas cheer with the right musical line-up. Try Tony Bennett's Christmas Album for a perfectly jazz-ish, jingly Christmas CD. November 22, 2002

Sacred harmonies

These boys prove that talent is a gift from God and they've gotten that gift. Their exquisite harmonies and gorgeous voices just make this album absolutely brilliant. I recommend this for all Christmas music fans! January 8, 2002

An awesome CD to listen to at Christmas time

1. If Every Day Could Be Christmas 5:04
2. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 4:36
3. Christmas Song 4:08
4. I'll Be Home for Christmas 2:04
5. O Holy Night 3:20
6. This Gift 4:06
7. Little Drummer Boy 3:25
8. Christmas Wish 3:49
9. Silent Night 3:09
10. Ave Maria 1:56
11. This Gift (Pop Version) 4:08

If you enjoy listening to adult contemporary music or teen pop music, then you may like this cd. The members of 98* are Nick Lachey, Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre and Jeff Timmons. Its tone of music is sensual, sexual, intimate, stylish, elegant and/or earnest December 9, 2001

This goes beyond "boy band" appeal

This is a very listenable Christmas record for all ages, not just the teenage fans. The traditional carols are sung with feeling and reverence, while the newer ones do have actual meaning to them. I do wonder though if anybody feels there's a strong similarity between this album and Lonestar's "This Christmas Time" CD. Not that unusual to have three songs in common on Christmas albums, but the "Little Drummer Boy" interpretations seem rather similar, as well as the general pacing. December 4, 2001

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