The Christmas album is now a staple in the modern artist's album repertoire. And if you are a veteran songwriter like Phil Wickham, you will likely even have a few in your arsenal. With two very good Christmas records already in his history, Wickham's Hallelujah! It's Christmas has a high bar to reach. And thankfully Hallelujah delivers on this good track record. With a slightly ambient tone overall, the album has a mystical feel that matches this most important of stories very well.

The opening "Here We Come a'Caroling" takes the familiar old English melody and washes it with an ambient bed of music and a slightly distorted vocal that actually lifts the familiar tune up and gives it an interesting twist. The extended instrumental opening of the song is also a nice way to start the album. Things get more familiar with second track, "Angels (Glory To God)," in which Wickam uses the now familiar 21st Century worship music trick of welding a new chorus onto a familiar hymn. But this now-familiar blending works well on this celebratory Christmas hymn and creates something fresh and familiar at the same time. A Pentatonix-esq choir graces next song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" quite well and complements Wickham's voice nicely. The haunting harmonies here give a spooky feel to this old, old song. The ambient approach even works for the classically campy "Deck The Halls," which is turned into a somber melody that somehow works and fits within the feel of the album.

Original song "Shepherd Boy" sits well with the familiar songs around it and finds Wickham writing poignantly from the simple perspective of those to whom the angels announced the heavenly news to first: "This kind of thing shouldn't happen to me / I'm just a boy who watches the sheep / But I saw a miracle / A star like the morning lit up the night / A choir of angels filled up the sky / They sang of a miracle / Glory to God in the highest / Peace to His people here on earth / For the Savior is born / Emmanuel, God is with us / And He will reign forevermore / Jesus Christ the Lord of Lords / Yeah / Jesus Christ the Lord of Lords." The simple, sing-song melody is effective here and conjures the scene from a child-like view. Other standout songs include a few numbers with Wickham's children adding a hand, like "A Cradle In Bethlehem" and "Winter Wonderland." Not every moment here is glorious ("Silent Night" is presented in its classic form, and while it's a beloved song, it does not match the feel of the album as a whole), and some of the interlude moments here rely a bit too much on snatches of familiar songs, as if Wickham is attempting to mash every Christmas song in existence together.

But on balance, Hallelujah! It's Christmas is not just another slapped together Christmas album with an artist sleepwalking through familiar tunes. Wickham and company have crafted a unique soundscape and story here and found refreshing ways to present ancient carols. Hallelujah indeed!