Excelsis, Vol. 2: A Winter's Song | 
 enlarge | Artist: Various Artists
Label: Projekt Records
Category: Music
List Price: $15.98
Buy New: $10.20
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Rating:  7 reviews
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 92
UPC: 617026009223
EAN: 0617026009223
Release Date: July 6, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Guadete, Guadete | | • | We Three Kings - Hopkins, John Henry | | • | The Christmas Song - Brenna, Sean | | • | Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - Lennon, John | | • | Lord of the Dance - Laird, Michael | | • | Coventry Carol - Traditional | | • | Silver and Gold - Marks, Johnny | | • | The True Present - Canfield, Lynn | | • | Nerotai Hazarurim (Little Candles) - Traditional | | • | In the Bleak Midwinter - Holst, Gustav | | • | Silent Night - Gruber, Franz | | • | What Child Is This? - Dix, William Chatte | | • | Huraon Indain Carol | | • | O Little Town of Bethlehem - Brooks, Phillip | | • | I Believe in Father Christmas - Lake, Greg |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Do goths celebrate Christmas? Somehow, the image of somber neo-vampires with white face makeup and jet-black hair seems incongruous next to the cheery festivity of the holiday season. (Do they abandon their trademark dark clothing in favor of red-and-green argyle sweaters?) Well, Excelsis, Vol. 2: A Winter's Song proves you can have your fruitcake and eat it, too. Much like its predecessor, 1995's A Dark Noel, this album features a selection of holiday songs as interpreted by goth bands. Yet what sounds like a cheesy way to cash in on the Christmas-music craze is actually a pretty good listen, especially if you're tired of hearing "Jingle Bell Rock" for the umpteenth time. Predictably, the songs veer toward the liturgical, but there are also fresh takes on traditional carols and even a Hanukkah song (Sofia Run's bittersweet take on "Little Candles"--sung in Hebrew, no less). El Duende's stirring "Gaudete, Gaudete," Rhea's Obsession's Dead Can Dance-like "We Three Kings," Rasputina member Julia Kent's beautiful cello rendition of "What Child Is This?," and Lycia's eerie "Little Town of Bethlehem" round out a worthwhile collection. Now all you need to do is turn the lights down low, paint the Christmas tree black, and wait for Satan--er, Santa--to come down the chimney. --Steve Landau
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Labeled "Goth" should be labeled "Universal" December 20, 2006
CMH (Illinois)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm a 53 year old grandmother - It's a shame that this cd is labeled "Goth" as this will turn many potential buyers "off".
What to say - unusual, unique, beautiful, soul reaching, haunting, magnificent.
Done with reverance yet with a bit of bite this is truely "A Winters Song".
I bought the three set for 23.00 and it's worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY.
This cd gives a little bit different combination of rock and folk slant to "Christmas".
Absolutely love it............If you are a free thinking, different, not run of the mill INDIVIDUAL - you will cherish this collection.
Not just for the 20 something year old "Goths" - should be labeled "tribal earth".
 Complete Track List December 12, 2003
T. S. Hunter (Cedarpines Park, CA, United States)
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
1. El Duende - "Gaudete, Gaudete"
2. Rhea's Obsession with Athan Maroulis - "We Three Kings"
3. London After Midnight - "The Christmas Song"
4. The Cruxshadows - "Happy Xmas (War is Over)"
5. Unto Ashes - "Lord of the Dance"
6. The Machine in the Garden - "Coventry Carol"
7. Faith & Disease - "Silver and Gold"
8. Lynn Canfield - "The True Present"
9. Sofia Run - "Nerotai Hazarurim (Little Candles)"
10. Siddal - "In the Bleak Midwinter"11. Thanatos - "Silent Night"
12. Julia Kent - "What Child is This?"
13. Rhea's Obsession - "Huron Indian Carol"
14. Lycia - "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
15. Human Drama - "I Believe in Father Christmas"
Holiday music I can tolerate! December 5, 2003
CreepyT (Southern CA, United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I absolutely love this CD! Let me begin by saying that I am not the type of person who enjoys most Christmas music. I find that a lot of what gets played on the radio during the month of December to be rather out-dated and bland. This CD is definitely quite the opposite. This compilation is a great intermediate for those who enjoy gothic/darkwave music, yet don't want something too "dark" for the holidays. The music is ambient and ethereal, and creates a somewhat darker atmosphere than your typical Bing Crosby Christmas songs, but that's a good thing! Some good examples of these darker songs are "Lord of the Dance" by Unto Ashes, "O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Lycia, and "Coventry Carol" performed by The Machine in the Garden. However, there are many up-beat songs as well. Songs such as the Cruxshadows' version of "Happy Xmas," and the Hanukkah song "Little Candles" by Sofia Run serve to break up the at times bleak atmosphere created by some of the other tracks. Some standout tracks include the 16th century hymn "Gaudete, Gaudete" by El Duende, Julia Kent's cello rendition of "What Child Is This?," and "We Three Kings" performed by Rhea's Obsession featuring Athan Maroulis. True, this CD is put out by gothic and darkwave artists (under the renowned Projekt label), but that does not, by any means, imply that only "goths" will enjoy this album. There is definitely something for everyone on this compilation. If you are looking for some holiday music that is somewhat "off-the-beaten-path," so to speak, or even if you just want something a little different to place in your CD player this Christmas, then you NEED to buy this CD. You will not be dissapointed. Also, try to pick up volumes 1 and 3 as well! If you are like me and enjoy the creepier, darker aspects of everything, then you should definitely invest in Volume 1, A Dark Noel, in addition to this album.
More Hell's Bells! December 13, 2001
Aislinn N. Connolly (Sydney, Australia)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Where "A Dark Noel", was like an eerie, empty church, the second release "A Winters Tale", initially seems to be the polar-opposite of its predecessor. It is presented on crisp white paper and silver ink, with an angelic child sporting a halo and wings. When listening to this, despite being in the Southern hemisphere, I can imagine a fresh fall of sparkling snow lying outside the window, in a typical northern European winter landscape.The disk opens with El Duende's Oscar Herrera (the same vocalist behind Black Tape for a Blue Girl) performing a 16th century hymn "Gaudete, Gaudete".
One of my favourite bands, Rhea's Obsession, appear twice: firstly with "We Three Kings" (which interesting does not become stagnant despite Lycia's version on the previous disk) and a more percussive Huron Indian carol with the trademark Indo-Bulgarian style singing of Sue Hutton. Unto Ashes rendition of the traditional Shaker hymn "Lord of the Dance" also rates highly in my book. Lycia (again!) deliver a broken music-box rendition of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" with the doll-like voice of Tara Vanflower.
London After Midnight's "The Christmas Song" is an original and is actually rather nice (it also appears on their Oddities album) in a guitar-spangle shimmery way. I suspect there was a subtle irony intended in Siddal choosing to perform a wispy ethereal "In The Bleak Midwinter", penned by none other than 19th century poet, Christina Rossetti; sister-in-law of the original Siddal - Elizabeth, of Pre-Raphealite fame. A good companion piece to the original, but not as dark.
excelsis~excellent December 26, 1999
victoria (texas)
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
Wonderful ambient album (do we still call them that?). Proud to add it to my collection.
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