Dustin Kensrue
"This Good Night Is Still Everywhere"
2008
Vagrant Records

4.45/5 Stars
Consensus: Dustin Kensrue remains one of the strongest artists in the industry. His Christmas release is no exception, with powerful and moving covers and two originals, the album has few weak spots if any. One of the best Christmas albums you could listen to and an instant classic in my book.

1)Christmas (Baby Please Come Home): Dustin Kensrue(lead singer of Thrice) starts his solo Christmas album out with this catchy nostalgic cover. As a singer, Dustin Kensrue has one of the most appealing and wonderfully gravely voices out there, he puts it to good use in this cover (he puts it too good use in everything he does frankly...) where he sounds especially warm and unconditionally soulful. The cover includes a super tasteful use of organ, and feels comfortable and warm on all accounts. That said it is a cover so I'd feel uncomfortable giving it the full 5 stars it would otherwise get (originality being a big part of musicianship in my book) it is however a Christmas album and Dustin is hardly expected to write an entire album of Christmas music no one is familiar with. Especially considering how nostalgic the world is about Christmas music, generally. ****1/2

2)Christmas Blues: Another wonderful cover here, where again, Dustin's soulful voice is brought out in the best way possible. Considering the slow and deeply folk roots of the song Dustin does it more than justice, he owns the song as if it was his own. With gorgeous use of harmonica and deep beautiful vocalization this cover is both intriguing and endearing. It carries with it a soul piercing sadness that is accomplished wonderfully. *****

3)Blue Christmas: This is the most well-known song on the album thus far and Dustin again gives it more than justice, he owns the classic song and ads some swing to the previously low-key album. The guitar is smooth and sounds great, especially during gorgeous solos that reminisce of classic rock n' roll style with blues. Its not just a fair cover its a gorgeous cover. ****1/2

4)Fairytale of New York: I feel ignorant but had never heard the original of this song, so for me it was entirely new. But it is indeed a cover (of a "Pogues" song) and Dustin does a great job singing it. It starts off a bit slow, but as the song progresses it gets more and more enthralling and catchy. There are also points in the song where Dustin seems strained and appears to struggle to hit notes. These parts are brief and the song still comes together well. ****

5)This Good Night Is Still Everywhere: Possibly the least catchy on the album, its an original song and a well done folk tune, but isn't quite as good as the previous songs on the album (or any of Dustin Kensrue's originals for that matter). The lyrics paint a very pretty and vivid picture of Christmas, but the song ultimately drags and is probably my least favorite on the album. ***1/2

6)Hark The Herald Angels Sing: This cover of the classic French carol shouldn't have been done. Its very dull and too high for Dustin, he sounds strained, and does nothing but to remind you of far better covers of the carol. Or make you want to go caroling yourself, in a lower key, and with less power chords. It feels very "filler" like someone was like "dang! we've got to have 10 songs on this album, we need 1 more! Quick Dustin! What's your favorite carol not on here?" and he was like "Dang! Hark The Herald Angels is great! I throw some power chords together and record it real quick!" and.. so it was that the low point of this great album was put on. Its still Dustin Kensrue so its hardly the worst thing in the world, its fair, just the low point. ***

7)O Come, O Come Emmanuel: The low point on the album is quickly evened out by the high point. The deeply spiritual sounding and gorgeous rendition of this less known Christmas hymn is...breath-taking? Tear wrenching? All things good and holy? You can feel Dustin's religious convictions through both lyric and the feeling behind them. The entire feeling of Christmas is embalmed in this priceless cover and is by far a high point on the album. *****

8)God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: The high of the previous song is carried on wonderfully by a phenomenal cover of this well known carol. There is a nice build up to it and layer after layer of instrument add to the theatrical and classic rendition of one of the all time best Christmas carols. *****

9)O Holy Night: The song follows suit of the rest of the album. Its nice, slow, and sounds remarkably full for being just guitar (with effects) and vocals. Its a powerful cover and the last one on the album, its an appropriate end to the covers we hear and again reflects the deep spiritualism from the rest of the CD and feels very full for how little is actually going on. *****

10)This Is War: This original song is incredibly powerful and well done. It could stand on its own on a non-Christmas album, or in a church hymnal, or executed by Dustin's main project Thrice. All would be wholly suiting. It is hard to express the deep love I have for this powerful song, its again, deeply spiritual and sung with such conviction it could stand alone as hymn, or single, or both. The lyrics are worth taking to heart.
This is war like you ain't seen.
This winter's long, it's cold and mean.
We hang dark hearts we stood condemned,
But the tide turns now at Bethlehem.


This is war and born tonight,
The Word as flesh, the Lord of Light,
The Son of God, the low-born king;
Who demons fear, of whom angels sing.

This is war on sin and death;
The dark will take it's final breath.
It shakes the earth, confounds all plans;
The mystery of God as man.
*****