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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Mac Powell and The Family Reunion, December

Mac Powell and The Family Reunion
December

Street Date: November 27, 2018
Style: Christmas / Country / Southern Rock
Official Site: Official Website
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: Amazon Music



Rejoice Third Day fans! Mac Powell, the legendary baritone lead singer of that classic band, shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. With several country music albums under his belt now, Powell and his new backup band, The Family Reunion, have quietly released one of the best Christmas albums this year. And thankfully, you don’t have to be a modern country fan to appreciate December. There are elements of blues, rock and roll and folk music present, and all fit the holiday mood just right. And tying all those loose genre strands together is the familiar, soulful and mighty bellow of Mac Powell.

Kicking off with the folksy title track, Mac and his crack band harmonize up a storm (sounding a bit like something from the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack) and have created a song that will sound great every time that Christmas month rolls around. Taking a down-home look at the journey of Mary and Joseph, “December” sets the tone for a great batch of songs that follow. Highlights include the great folk-rock mashup of “Away In A Manger” and “Joy To The World” (featuring guest vocals from Brandon Heath), the fine cover of Merle Haggards devastating country music standard “If We Make It Through December” and the most rocking versions of “Silent Night” and “Merry Christmas Baby” you’ll hear in many a season.

With December, Mac Powell & The Family Reunion have accomplished something truly unique in that they've managed to successfully write a few very good seasonal holiday songs (the New Years song is a particular delight), put them alongside a few classics and make the whole affair cohesive and fun at the same time. Holiday albums need not be hackneyed, rushed affairs or blatant cash-grabs. Sometimes one comes along that feels lived-in and authentic to the season. December is just such an album.

- Review date: 12/20/18, written by Alex Caldwell of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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JFH Indie Spotlight Review . Record Label: None
. Album length: 11 tracks: 36 minutes, 47 seconds
. Street Date: November 27, 2018
. Buy It: iTunes Buy It: Amazon Music

  1. December (3:25)
  2. Away In A Manger / Joy To The World (feat. Brandon Heath) (2:25)
  3. Happiest New Year (4:16)
  4. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (2:32)
  5. Everything You Want For Christmas (3:25)
  6. Blue Christmas (2:19)
  7. If We Make It Through December (2:51)
  8. Silent Night (3:27)
  9. Christmas in Dixie (3:39)
  10. Merry Christmas Baby (2:38)
  11. One More Silent Night (5:54)

 

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This Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
AOH Music BEHOLD (Acoustic Live), Vol. 1 (independent)
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Vince Gill 50 Years From Home: I Gave You Everything I Had - EP [UMG]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]
Megan Woods The Truth EP [Fair Trade]

SINGLES
Elevation Worship Jesus Be The Name - Single [Provident]
F'rael God's Wheel (ft. TRYBISHOP) - Single [Syntax]
Brandon Lake When A Cowboy Prays (Amazon Music Songline) - Single [Provident]
LEON Undefeated - Single [El Rescate Music]
No Vain Glory UNLEADED - Single [Syntax]
Park 7 The Hope Is On The Way - Single (independent)
Rave Jesus & Gracie Binion Need Your Love - Single [Provident]
REFVGE, Cyfë II & WAY? U P W A R D S ft. Bianca Silver & Josh LeCroy - Single [Syntax]
Rhymes In Harmony & MAYIA My Sister - Single [Syntax]
Rock City Worship Gravestone - Single [Capitol CMG]
Anton Scholl Born To Love You - Single [Near Kingdom]
Nathan Sheridan Don't Lose Hope - Single [WieRok]
SNT. VINCENT Feast of the Saints - Single [Syntax]
Vertical Kings Faith In Stereo - Single [Covenant]
Vic Lucas, Essence Natay & Ashleey Barnes Let it Rain - Single [Syntax]
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)
Aaron Williams Abide (feat. CAIN) - Single [Integrity]

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]


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