Remember when Matthew West made his acting debut in a Hallmark Christmas movie, starring Candace Cameron Bure? That was circa 2011 when he released his first seasonal album that shared the film’s name, The Heart of Christmas. In 2016, he dropped a follow-up, Unto Us: A Christmas Collection. Now, five years later, the award-winning songwriter is issuing his next festive installment. And after another 12 months rife with more uncertainty, the fitting album title says it all come December: We Need Christmas.
WATCH NOW: “We Need Christmas” (Official Music Video)
An understatement at best, We Need Christmas serves up 11 tracks filled with nostalgic holiday cheer. Peppered with bits of brass and strings in true Vince Guaraldi fashion, the record lives up to the dapperness worthy of the suit West sports on its cover. Known for cranking out hits for both himself and other artists that quickly rocket to the top of the charts, West gets playful with his musical style on an album that gives him permission to branch out from his classic pop formula. Regardless of the sonic diversity, however, West’s warm message of hope rings true.
“These past couple of years have felt like peace is in short supply, hope has been hard to find, and love and joy have been lost for so many. Christmas is a time when our hearts can be powerfully reminded that the peace, hope, love and joy we all need can still be found in a Savior,” shares West of the inspiration behind the new project. “We Need Christmas combines my love of the classics…with my love for writing and composing songs I hope will be new classics for years to come. Holiday albums give me a chance to be eclectic in musical styling; and hey, it was even fun to get dressed up in a tuxedo! My wife said I clean up good. So this Christmas album is already a win for me!”
With the exception of the piano-led, string-laden title-cut, which he penned with AJ Pruis and country duo Maddie & Tae, West hunkered down with longtime collaborator Pruis to craft the album’s additional originals. The K-LOVE Fan Award winner heralds the birth of Jesus on horn-filled celebratory track “Make Way” and fondly recalls holidays past on “Christmas Through The Years.”
We Need Christmas also includes 2020’s “The Hope of Christmas,” a beautiful reminder of what really matters; as well as West’s recent viral smash, “Gobble Gobble,” his hilarious tribute to the often-overlooked holiday.
“The Hope of Christmas” (Official Music Video)
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“Gobble Gobble” (Official Music Video)
The hitmaker adds a regal chorus to “Away In A Manger (Love Came Near)” and puts his best vintage Christmas stamp on standards like “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland.” The collection concludes with three live recordings pulled straight from The Story House, his office/studio space in Tennessee, captured during one of West’s numerous livestreams in 2020.
He kicked off the 2021 holiday season by serenading a large crowd at his hometown tree lighting in Franklin, Tenn. Following a string of in-person holiday tour dates, West will cap the year with eight virtual shows running Dec. 21-25, live from Nashville and presented by nonprofit organization Every Home for Christ.
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