With Halloween behind us and Thanksgiving on the horizon, there is obviously only one genre of music worth listening to: holiday music. Over the Rhine is a folk band consisting of husband and wife duo Linford Detweiler (pianist/guitarist/bassist) and Karin Bergquist (vocalist/guitarist) who just released Blood Oranges in the Snow, a folk album which takes a new perspective on holiday music.
If you are looking for jolly and upbeat music you will not find it on this album. The couple takes classic songs like “Silent Night” and “Auld Lang Syne” and folds them into their folky yet somber sound. They call this style “reality Christmas music.”
These songs are a warm blend of the classic melodies and new rhythms that are seemingly made for the purpose of swaying near a toasty fire while sipping hot cocoa. Two songs that I highly recommend that also exemplify this idea are “Another Christmas” and “My Father’s Body.”
Another highlight is found in the song “Snow Birds,” which is more of a jazzy ballad in which Bergquist sings in hopes of spending the winter with her love. This track has more soul than the rest of the album.
Generally the lyrics to these songs are a lot deeper (and at times darker) than what would typically be found in holiday music. Many of the songs reference the more religious aspect of Christmas as a holiday. For instance “Bethlehem” includes lyrics about the city of Jesus’ birth and his mother.
By and large, I love this album. This kind of music is perfect for the chilly weather we are having. If you like more low-key music for relaxing and reading a book while you embrace the upcoming holiday season, Blood Oranges in the Snow is the album for you. That said, I might suggest waiting until after Thanksgiving to check it out—it’s still a bit early for Christmas tunes. The talented duo in Over the Rhine left their unique mark on these holiday classics.
Rating: A+
