“Hallelujah! It’s Christmas” isn’t Phil Wickham’s first seasonal effort, but it might just be his best, which is saying a lot considering his excellent holiday repertoire. While his 2024 release does house former singles like 2022’s celebratory “Behold (feat. Anne Wilson )” and 2023’s poignant “Manger Throne,” the remainder of the 15-track collection showcases a treasure trove of new songs.
Rather than opt for straightforward arrangements of beloved carols, Wickham took the unconventional route on “Hallelujah! It’s Christmas” choosing, instead, to masterfully stitch choruses of well-known holiday selections into brand new compositions. The result is a creative, unpredictable Christmas set that feels both timeless and fresh all at the same time.
Wickham bookends the tracklisting with atmospheric mashups of some of the classics on intro “Here We Come a’Caroling” and outro “Merry Christmas.” The artistic move makes the album feel like an experience unto itself, as if the project was made to be savored front to back.
Following the pristinely stacked vocals on “Here We Come a’Caroling,” Wickham harnesses as much energy on the frenetic, upbeat “Angels (Glory to God)” as he does across the majority of his latest studio endeavor, “I Believe.”
Where the Christmas covers are concerned, Wickham does them justice, even if they don’t sound like the vintage versions. Joined by a choir, the West Coast native puts his unique stamp on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” serving up an urgent, triumphant arrangement. Meanwhile, “Silent Night, Holy Night” — the project’s most traditional turn — reveals Wickham employing the rarely explored lower register of his voice to craft a solemn, reverent rendering of the hymn.
Later on, he enlists his daughters for a jovial, lighthearted tromp through “Winter Wonderland.”Additionally, Wickham teams up with indie rock duo CHPTRS for a synth-filled rendition of “Deck the Halls.”
Furthermore, for the first time, the father of four delivers a cozy Christmas version of “Holy Forever.” Originally recorded and stewarded around the globe by Chris Tomlin, the transcendent ballad, which isn’t normally reserved for Christmas, fits snugly into the tracklisting, offering a stripped-back moment of unvarnished worship. A credited writer on the offering, Wickham penned the 2024 Dove Award-winning Song of the Year with Tomlin, Brian & Jenn Johnson and Jason Ingram.
Midway through, the title-cut might appear to be a new song, but instead, it’s another mashup — this time a vibrant interlude that combines “O Come All Ye Faithful” and the “Hallelujah Chorus.”
While his distinct iterations of familiar Christmas hymns are on point, Wickham’s originals are where the K-LOVE Fan Award winner really exhibits his ability to resource the Church with new anthems to sing, no matter the time of year.
Together with his brother, Evan, Wickham brings a slow, stirring ballad to life that paints a vivid portrait of the nativity story on “A Cradle in Bethlehem.” Moreover, on shining gem “Shepherd Boy,” the singer/songwriter inserts himself among flocks of sheep as he details the announcement of the Savior’s birth from the viewpoint of a humble herdsman.
Another standout, “Worth the Wait,” begins with an airy version of “The First Noel” before bursting into an all-new worship chorus, tenderly proclaiming, “Jesus, You are worth the wait.” Buried near the end, the penultimate “O Christmas Tree (Greatest Story)” finds the respected artist at his pinnacle. While he maintains the recognizable melody of “O Christmas Tree,” he wraps brand new lyrics around the carol like a beautiful strand of twinkling lights around an evergreen. “O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, ribbons of red upon you. To point to Him who brought us light and tell of His great sacrifice,” he sings. “O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree. You tell the greatest story.”
With multiple holiday releases already in his arsenal, “Hallelujah! It’s Christmas” might just go down as Wickham’s most innovative. It’s a present to be enjoyed slowly, allowing his experimental melodies and rich lyrics to wash over the listener with a long-awaited measure of equal parts joy and peace. Unwrapping one song at a time, Wickham ushers the masses into the holiday season with both whimsy and worship, ever reminding us that the Christmas story is the best story.
“I know Christmas can harbor a lot of different emotions and memories for different people, but I pray that the true meaning of Christmas would awaken like never before in your heart as we step into this special season,” Wickham shared upon the record’s release. “That in the craziness of life, there would be some still moments where you can soak in the greatest reality: that God loves you. That He went to the greatest lengths to save you, and that He will never leave you or give up on you.”
Keeping with tradition, “The Jesus Way” singer will headline his annual Christmas tour across Southern California this year, with special guest TAYA.
