Are you listening? This ain't no quiet thing
We're screaming out our lungs Well, hey, hey,
are you listening? This is a podcast exploring
the past, present and future of Christian music.
My name is Joel. I'm here with my good friend
Brandon, and we connected over a mutual love
of some particular bands, but we also have kind
of different tastes when it comes to things.
And so we get to experience some new stuff from
each other. while sometimes inviting some friends
along for the ride. Brandon, how are you doing
today, man? I'm doing fantastic. A little chilly.
It is cold here in the month of December in South
Carolina. Yeah, the low is like 20 today. How
did that feel for you when you walked out this
morning? Honestly, I thought it was going to
be colder. Like 10? I guess it was going to feel
colder. I don't know. Like I think I think you'll
understand this is that sometimes there's like
like 50 degrees. There's a 50 degrees that's
like manageable and there's a 50 degrees that
it's not. Yeah. So it's like if it's raining
or if it's windy. And so I guess or maybe it's
just what I wasn't outside. Maybe it was I was
bundled up. So pretty quick little trips between
car and yeah, like I thought I was going to be
in pain today, but I didn't feel any pain. So
it's a good day. There wasn't any frost on the
ground, but there was wind that was keeping it
cool. So yeah, it's cold, which is great because
it's Christmas time. And so we have another Christmas
edition today of Hey, are you listening? Brandon,
what's your favorite Christmas activity? Like
at Christmas time, what's the one thing that
you gotta do every year? You gotta open presents.
That's the reason. The reason for the season.
Yeah. I think for us, we do like a little book
and you get to sit down and just talk about,
it'll be like, what's the gift you're looking
for? And it's like a five year book. So you're
able to write down what you want like this year,
but then go back and be stuff like who are you
bringing for Christmas this year? So I think
just just having conversations with people. And
I know it sounds cheesy, but I guess just like
like growing up, I got to a point where just
Christmas is a very cynical time of year. So
I feel like it's nice getting to talk to people
who maybe they're having a rough Christmas. Yeah.
um and then like just talking and i think i think
just like out of just regular things like christmas
lights is something that like i think i've come
to enjoy because we go to places that don't have
long lines and i think as a kid it was this idea
of long lines was just like was there's too much
for me and now it's like we'll go at 10 o 'clock
at night no one's in line So you're not one of
the people that sees a line somewhere and you're
like, there's something good happening, I need
to be there. Oh, it's not worth it. Jordan gets
so upset at Disney. We'll go for a ride and I'll
go, 20 minutes. I don't think it's gonna be worth
it. Jordan will be like, Brandon, it is Disney
World. There's no line that's under 20. I feel
like every time we go to New York, it's like
we have to find the place where the line is happening
because that's like the cool thing that you've
got to have. So you're like, there's something
good happening on the other side of this. Yes.
Yes. And so you go stand in it as long as it
takes for whatever's on the other side. I'll
keep that in mind if you ever invite me to go
to New York with you. Yeah, I think for me like
I We've been we we Walk through like an advent
kind of activity every year to you But I think
just trying to create some intentional time with
my family has been good we're still kind of in
the throes of like midterms for the kids and
working through all that kind of stuff right
now. But I'm really looking forward to getting
to the other side of that and just being able
to slow down a little bit and kind of enjoy some
moments this season, which we've been able to
kind of pull some of those out. But watch a Christmas
movie, drink some cocoa, play some games, put
a puzzle together. Um, just some some gifts like
a christmas puzzle or what kind of puzzle? I
mean sure We have some christmas puzzles. I don't
have any thousand piece christmas puzzles though.
I got a couple of like 300s i'm imagining like
it's like a scene where it's like a Barn and
there's some like greenery and like a dog carrying
like a present or something We have like, um,
somebody got us these I think in the last couple
of years they're like, um That's I'm blanking
on the guy's name the painter the painter of
light or whatever Uh -huh Kincaid or something.
Oh, yeah, but like they're like scenes from like
Christmas movies And so it's like his style but
but like a scene from like home alone or whatever
that he's like painted and so as you describe
that I'm starting to thinking that I feel like
puzzles are just for people who like wish they
could have a line at home. I love, love having
like a Christmas movie on and working on a puzzle.
It's like one of one of the great joys of my
life. So hopefully I can make that happen at
some point this year before we get to two end
of things. Well, we're covering another Christmas
album today, and we always talk about how this
is a podcast on the past, the present, and the
future of Christian music. And I feel like today
is a moment where the past and the present come
together a little bit. Because today, we're going
to be covering the brand new first ever Christmas
album from Striper called The Greatest Gift of
All. this is kind of a huge deal. Striper's never
put out a Christmas album before. But yeah, I
think they're kind of made for it in some ways.
And so it'll be interesting for us to kind of
dig into that in just a little bit. But first,
let's spend a little time talking about what's
in the news. So Brandon, I don't know if you
saw this or not, but there is a surprise Christmas
album drop that happened over the last week.
Do you know what I'm talking about? Forrest Frank
dropped a Christmas album. Oh, yeah. Yeah, with,
I don't know how to say the other person that's
part of it, but with JVKE together, they put
together. this is what Christmas feels like.
And it's a Christmas album. I don't suppose that
you've checked it out yet, have you? I know you
mentioned it. I remember seeing it was released,
but I haven't gotten around to checking it out
yet. Sadly, I have not checked it out yet either.
And I don't know that my kids know that it exists.
Otherwise, it's probably the only thing that
would get played in my house right now. And so
which is maybe why I haven't mentioned it. But
yeah, I'm gonna have to check it out and see
what it's all about. But that happened and that's
a big deal. And I also think Forrest Frank's
going on like a stadium tour. That some dates
just got released and tickets went on sale. And
apparently like he's like selling out arenas
in like a second. Like tickets are gone already
and sold out for some of these places, which
is wild. And so good for him, good for him. All
right. I've got a little game that goes along
with our striper theme today and it's called
metal or myth. Okay. And so I'm going to give
you titles of potential striper songs and I want
you to tell me if it's metal, meaning that it
is a real striper song or myth that it's made
up. You ready? Yeah. All right. Let me just find
my notes here. Okay, we'll start off kind of
easy. So first one. Chains of the Crimson Knight.
Myth. Correct. To hell with the devil. Oh, metal.
You know that one. Battle Hymn of the Broken.
Myth? You're right. It's a myth soldiers under
command Myth that one's metal. Mm -hmm. Yeah,
that's a real one. That's actually a I think
the title track of an album soldiers or maybe
their first album that stuff. It's interesting
cuz like a Little side thing. I don't know if
you've seen but there's people that are kind
of upset with the Jeremy Camp skillet song they
did called like, No Survivors. So it's a lot
of like imagery about like, I'm paraphrasing,
but it's like, God like, you know, kill all of
the like, pride or whatever. It's like a lot
of imagery of like, I need this, drop this bomb
on this or whatever. And so like, people just
tell me how like nowadays you don't really find
that in the like, In like like a lot of things
about like oh being soldiers or whatever. Yeah
So when you said that I was like, oh, it's You
could have brought that up in the news. Yeah,
I should have alright Calling on you Metal yeah.
Yeah, that's that's a real one. That's off to
hell with the devil lightning in the sanctuary
Metal That one's a myth. Is it a real song or
is that a fake song? It's a fake song. Oh, okay.
Not real. It doesn't exist. I'd like to hear
it if it was a real song. Tears of the Lionhearted.
Myth. That's a myth. The Steel Wings of Zion.
That's gotta be metal. It's myth. More than a
man. Metal. Yeah, that one's real. In God We
Trust. Metal. Yep, that's the title track off
an album. Holy Fire Rebellion. I'm gonna go with
myth. Myth, yeah, that's a little too on the
nose. The Rock That Makes Me Roll. I feel like
that exists, but I don't think they sing it,
so I'm gonna go myth. It's metal. Heaven's Iron
Fist. Myth. That's correct. Myth, yep. Angels
and the Amplifiers. That sounds like a Family
Force V song. A myth. It's myth. Always there
for you. Metal. Do you know that song? No. Yeah,
that's one of the really popular Sharper songs.
It's like a pop song. So like an encore if there's
or? Uh, maybe. It's like one of their like few.
A mass view as if you've been like? One of their
few like acoustic songs. Oh, okay. That's pretty
well known. Obviously it's paper out of my pocket
so I don't keep crinkling. Uh, Crimson Thunder
Gospel. Um, CTG. Uh, I'm gonna go metal. It's
a myth. Yahweh. Metal. Yep. The gospel according
to volume. Myth. Yep. You're right. You're right.
You did pretty well. You probably got half or
maybe a little more of those. I should do a better
job keeping track so we know. But the viewers
outside will be like, oh, he only got 43%. But
it does just kind of prove that your striper
knowledge is Little limited. I need to go listen
to some more. That's what's happening. Yeah,
that's what needs to happen so that you know
I mean you should always there for you this classic
classic song All right. Well, let's talk real
quick about what we've been listening to lately
And then we'll kind of jump into talking about
the greatest gift of all. What's something that
you've been listening to lately? I've been listening
to Sorry while we were doing that. I was I just
found out something that was really interesting,
but I can share it later on. Okay Grace Graber
like I mentioned to you mentioned to you the
other day about her. Yeah so she's like been
doing like some original stuff and some covers
and Last week she came out with a punk version
of Forrest Frank's lemonade. Mm -hmm. I was pretty
interesting, but I think the one I enjoyed a
little bit more was she came out with a cover
of his favorite Christmas story. And I think
that is one of the most underrated Christmas
songs out there. It's by, I think it's Capital
Lights. And I was getting mixed up because there's
like Capital Lights and Capital Cities, and one
of them was this Christian band that released
like two bands, and the other one was like, I
think super big. So I was getting mixed up. But
yeah, it's I think it's a really underrated Christmas
story and I feel like she did a really good job
of Making a cover of it. So I've been listening
to both those a pretty good bit. That's cool.
That's awesome I haven't really been listening
to anything new I'm getting ready for next Is
it March or April when mxpx is coming to town?
And so I have a little bit of gap in my MXBX
listening that I listened from the very beginning,
like all the way through until the ever passing
moment, basically, and then stopped. And so I've
kind of picked up listening, I've been listening
to the album Secret Weapon by MXBX, just trying
to... Kind of fill the gaps in my knowledge.
So I make sure I know enough of the songs when
we get to see them live You're gonna have to
start listening to them. So you're not just there.
I know do you do you ever um Do you ever go to
setlist .com and check what the setlist is gonna
be beforehand? I should actually I I do that
before so many Um concerts like especially if
I don't know the band. Yeah um, because even
bands I know there's sometimes where they play
songs and it's like it's not until later on that
I appreciate the song. And like some bands like,
you know, they like need to breathe. They'll
throw in one or two. But I feel like it's nice
because you know what to expect. So then you
appreciate instead of spending three minutes
going, what are they singing? Yeah. I felt like
MXPX has so many songs and they're always doing
live streams of just playing like every song
they have. And so I feel like just because they're
playing something on a tour doesn't mean that
they're playing it. the night you go see them.
But yeah, that would be a helpful thing. And
I need to check that out to just kind of get
an idea of kind of what they're doing. But yeah,
eventually we'll cover some MXPX records so that
we can have Mike Carrera on the pod when he's
in town. But yeah, I've been listening to Secret
Weapon, so it's been pretty cool. All right.
So again, today we're covering The Greatest Gift
of All, the brand new Christmas album from Striper.
Here's some info that I pulled online about this.
So The Greatest Gift of All released on November
21st, 2025. And so it's only been out for a few
weeks at this point, fulfilling a long time fan
request for a full Christmas record. It's a 10
-track album that features five original songs
and five heavy reimagined Christmas classics
like Reason for the Season and Winter Wonderland,
delivering their signature power metal sound
with festive themes. It was released as a physical
release only and is not available on streaming
services. So that was an interesting thing for
us when we found out about this. I honestly,
when we talked about covering this, I'm like,
I'm just gonna pick that up. And so I just went
ahead and ordered it on vinyl because I wanted
to check it out. But I had no idea that it wasn't
gonna be on streaming until you were like, hey,
this isn't on streaming. Do you feel like if
it was streaming, you would have still bought
the vinyl? Well, I did before I even knew whether
it was or not. And I think just because it felt
like a little bit of novelty to me, like things
like a Striper Christmas album just kind of fascinates
me. And so I feel like that's like a piece of
history that I want to own and be able to hold
in my hands. I don't know why, but yeah, so I
did. But what's your take on that? Like, what
do you think about that? Just why would they
make this move? So when I first found that out,
I felt like it goes both ways. I think from a
business side, it in a way makes sense. Like,
it's kind of a risky thing, but you're making,
like, there's only so much supply. So, if you
want this, you gotta go buy it. You can't just
wait around to get it. I think from, like, a
ministry side, it's like, I feel like it's like
a church. Like, if you were to say, like, churches
that, like, charged for seats or whatever it's
like yeah people know but also you're like closing
the door for more people hearing about it yeah
um so i think for me it's like i like i get annoying
people don't do a physical release but i understand
it because like i want to look through the booklet
i want to buy the cd but i understand um but
i feel like it's weird to have where people don't
even have like a here's a download link or whatever
um but what's interesting about all of that is
that what i discovered while we were playing
our game is that it is now available on apple
music what okay so it's not available on spotify
yet but you can stream it now on apple music
so it is interesting out digitally i was How
does that make you feel that they said they're
because I think what you had read was there was
not going to be a digital release. Yeah, I think
in my head I was imagining that like they're
like this year we're going to do a physical release
only and that way we can sell everything and
then next year we'll release it on streaming
and it's almost like it gets two releases. You
know what I mean? Like they get two shots at
it coming out and catching an audience. They
pulled a goatee. So it's interesting that basically
it's been out for three to four weeks and now
they've like dropped it online. Which I guess
catches like all the fans to buy it first. Because
I think this is, it's actually charted. Like
it's done decently well, probably because it
wasn't available on streaming and you had to
go buy it. But it rubs me a little bit the wrong
way that they're like, this is gonna be a physical
release only. And then just a few weeks later,
they drop it on streaming. I'm not sure how I
feel about that, honestly. Dropping the breaking
news in the middle of this. You're giving me
some mixed feelings walking into this conversation.
But I think it's like, it is just interesting
because, you know, and I'm sure this is like,
this could be a whole episode, and I mean, I'm
sure that you could have people come on who are
like, dealing with this right now and discuss
this, but like, at the end of the day, like,
it is a business. And like, I know for me, there's
been bands that I've loved and they will trash
their record label when they leave. But they
start describing what happened and it's like,
yeah, our sales weren't good. So then they tried
to change our sound. And it's like, well, yeah,
I get it. As an artist, I don't think it's right
to be stifled, but also it's like when someone's
handing you $50 ,000 and they only get $10 ,000
back, they're going to make a change. I feel
like it feels dirty, but also it's like, you
know, like I think as a Christian musician, you
should, you know, it should be, oh, the music's
for free, or it should be like a new song where
it's like, pay what you can for this or whatever.
But at the same time, like, you look at someone
like Toby Mack, and let's say hypothetically
that he made $100 ,000 off of doing a show. Like,
you've got his band members. There's like 10,
12 of those. There's probably how many techs,
how much gas money. So it's like, Toby's not
walking around walking away with like $70 ,000.
Right. So I think that like, sometimes it's forgets
that like it is, there is a business aspect to
it. But I think that it, it kind of gets like
magnified whenever you're mixing like ministry
component to that as well. Yeah. Yeah, it's a
tough line. I mean, this is how people make a
living, like Stryper still makes their living
by doing this, which is wild that they're able
to after all these years. And a pretty cool thing.
But yeah, I understand that for sure. Let's talk
a little bit about Stryper. So what history,
if any, do you have with this band or? Nothing.
I think that I know their one song, To Hell With
The Devil, and that's about... like, I know they
exist, but like, other than that, never listen
to them, never... like, I know that for some
people they're divisive, especially back in the
day when it was like, you cannot be a Christian
and... go hang out with that band or this or
that. So, like, I think that I feel like legacy
-wise, and I mean, I'm not like a historian by
any counts or whatever, but I think it is interesting
to have a band that was reaching across the aisle.
And I know you were telling me earlier about
them touring with bands like Motley Crue, you
know, or whatever, that like back in the day
I hadn't heard of. It's like, you know, stay
in your little seat, cut your hair, go play in
church. And, you know, I think it's cool because
you have, you know, I wonder how many bands saw
that and they became whoever they became because
they were like, well, Stryper's out here and
they don't have to be Christian and put out bad
music. And they also don't have to like, give
up their faith to make good music. Like they
can be Christians, they can be very vocal about
Jesus. but also put out, like, songs that people
consider to be good. Yeah. They were able to
do that in a way that I think still few artists
have in the fact that they really were able to
be who they were, like, really, really, really
upfront about their faith and be huge in the
mainstream. And a lot of artists since then have
made big steps into the mainstream, but it's
been a little bit at the cost of like, we're
gonna change a little bit of our lyrics and whatever
it may be, the way that we talk between songs.
And that was just not the case for Striper. And
so it's pretty wild that they were able to find
the success that they found in that way. So I
had... I had definite exposure to Stryper growing
up, but I wouldn't say they were always earlier
than me. And so I listened to, I feel like a
ton of bands that probably were really directly
influenced by Stryper, but not, I didn't spend
a lot of time with Stryper themselves. I remember
in high school, I had, I just picked up a couple
of Stryper records somehow, maybe cheap on CD
somewhere like I think soldiers under command
and against the law or something and spent a
lot of time with those albums and I feel like
it was against the law which I think is one of
their like edgier kind of albums that I ended
up spending the most amount of time listening
to but but striper was just a band that like
everybody knew of because they made such a cultural
impact. And there were a lot of Christians that
didn't like it. And they were upset about it
and angry about it and called it evil. And then
a lot of people, I'm sure that were reached by
their music at the same time. And so definitely
a really important band in the history of this
whole thing of Christian music. but a very divisive
band at that same point in time. I don't think
today that a lot of people look at them in that
same lens. They're still making music today and
I feel like they're much more just entrenched
in this like Christian music world today in their
own little way. But still making music, still
releasing albums every couple of years. but not
really like controversial anymore. But we've
seen a lot happen between now and when they started.
So, yeah. Well, so this is an album that has
a musical theme. And just to kind of get into
some opening thoughts about it, I feel like there
are, there's some of it that feels actually like
decently modern in some ways that surprised me
and then a lot of it feels like it's out of the
80s but I do feel like it's a little bit of a
blend of like probably 80s striper and like just
more current melodic hard rock or metal and so
I was a little surprised with that it felt a
little more like of the time than I kind of thought,
even though a lot of it just kept kind of pulling
back. So I don't know, that's a balance that
I felt like they were walking a little bit with
this, this record. I think... I feel like my
only context for Christmas music in this vein
or style of music would be Trans -Siberian Orchestra.
And so I feel like that's the place where my
head kept going as I was listening to this and
I kept just comparing it to what I knew of Trans
-Siberian Orchestra. What were your kind of big
thoughts as you were engaging with us for the
first time? Yeah, I think that... I think it's...
It's easier and harder whenever you have like
this distinct sound like if you're just like
a Like folk artists kind of type thing. It's
easy just to go into okay It's just gonna be
me and acoustic guitar singing Christmas carols
I feel like it's harder because a lot of the
songs aren't written to you know turn into like
metal songs but also I feel like you have the
opportunity just to run with it and be like,
yeah, this isn't gonna... People don't want us
to try to have just a piano inside. No one wants
this to be an acoustic one. Everyone wants it
to be full on us. I remember years ago, there
was a band that I felt like they were really
fun and playful, and then they released a Christmas
album, and I'm like... There's nothing original.
It's like you guys were just like, well, everyone
else is doing this. So it felt more like a cash
grab for me. And I'm like, why didn't you put
out what I'm hoping for as an artist? It's like
if John Rubin just saying, go tell it on the
mountain. That's not what I'm looking for. I'm
looking for something original. I'm looking for
something silly. I'm looking for something super
serious, like on this or whatever. and um so
i mean i i feel like on on that end like they
gave they gave like the fans what they wanted
but i guess it's kind of like as we dive into
this it's kind of like you know if you're like
pizza's awesome but like can there be too much
pizza or too much ice cream for dinner or whatever
Yeah, I think that this is gonna run into you
I feel like honestly what I run into listening
to a full Christmas album by any artist Mm -hmm
is that it wears down on me as I get further
in it? Because I think I've mentioned this before
Like I'm just so used to listening to Christmas
music on a playlist and so the variety that's
there And so I feel like when a Christmas album
for me is track after track after track kind
of feeling the same way. I just it wears on me
a little bit and I'm ready for something else
and so I think this album and we'll get into
it but I think this album even honestly like
Amy Grant when we talked about Amy Grant it just
it wears down on me the further that we that
we get into it so. Well I can I go ahead and
jump into this. Let's do it. So the first one
we have is Greatest Gift That's the title of
that track, right? Greatest Gift of All. Okay,
I want to make sure I didn't start like cutting
it short. So Greatest Gift of All. I think for
me, like, I enjoyed it. I think it sets up the
album pretty well. You get a feel for, okay,
this is going to be what you expect. And I think
after hearing like a little bit more like striper,
because I think I was telling you that when I
think of metal, I think of like Screaming and
all yeah, and it was I know this is like an 80s
like type of like metal And I think it is smart
to begin with an original. Yeah, I think it's
smart to Because like, you know, it's like like
the joke is whenever you see like someone performing
at a restaurant or something It's like oh, he's
about to perform some originals. So I think it's
really smart to Start with okay here. Here's
an original. This is us. So like this is This
is our thing. This isn't going to be just us
doing Christmas covers. Right. So I personally
really enjoy that they started off with an original.
So yeah. And and I think it's it's a really actually
good and bold move that this whole album that
there's like it's half and half, like it's five
original songs and then five. Classics, I don't
think most artists would do that. Usually you're
probably gonna end up with seven or eight classics
and two or three originals on an album like this.
And so the fact that they were willing to go
half and half proves that they're investing in
this. They're putting energy into it, which I
think is really cool. And I don't know that anybody
would have expected that. Yeah, I like the song
too. I like the bells at the beginning just to
kind of kick the album off. And then the guitars
honestly were coming in and I was like, is this
like an 80s album or a punk album? There's like
some punk rock vibe to the guitars that were
happening. And I feel like almost every song
on this album has like a dual guitar solo happening,
harmonic guitar solo. And if there's one thing
that I'm really here for on this album, it's
that. I love that sound. And Striper's a band
that's done that forever. And they do it better
than almost anybody else. And I just love the
sound of it. And so getting that on this first
track was like, OK, I'm here. I like this. So
yeah, I thought that was fun. Um, we'll track
two go tell it on a mountain. Um, what were your
thoughts on the first cover? Didn't care for
it I don't know. I felt like um I wrote down
that go telling on the mountain isn't a song
that you give whatever treatment they do. It's
not like I wasn't sure um I feel like it's it's
a bold choice because when I think of go telling
the mountain I think of like it's best suited
for like country. This is a song Garth Brooks
is going to cover. So I felt like there was maybe
a better choice you could have put into there.
I feel like if I heard this live, I feel almost
like the crowd would be divided. We want we want
you guys, but I don't know if we want this song
and vice versa like we want this song But I don't
know if I want you like I want Crowder to yeah
sing this or whatever See it kind of left me
like scratching my head. Yeah, this wasn't my
favorite track either And I don't think I would
have put this as track number two. Mm -hmm It
didn't do anything like special it's a pretty
standard version of the song and there was nothing
Nothing like about it that kind of drew me into
a different space I like like the gang vocals
at the beginning leading into it They didn't
have like hand claps towards the end, which I
thought oh, that would be cool But then I don't
really think it helped it that much So yeah,
I'm with you. I actually really like the song
but I I don't really care for this version I
think that if you replaced it with like just
for a minute, like, close your eyes and imagine
if you go into We Three Kings. I feel like that's
a song that maybe, like, lends itself to, like,
I mean, I would think you could turn that into
kind of this. I feel like metal is almost this,
like, you're weaving this, like, story. Like,
it's about story books and all. This is the kind
of music you hear about, like, wizards doing
stuff. I can already hear the lead guitars in
my head playing the melody of We Three Kings.
I feel that. That's a valid point. Next we move
to Heaven Came On, Christmas Day. First off,
I'm wondering, is this an original? Yes. Yeah,
it is. Yeah, so this is kind of where the album
picks back up for me. I do like this song. The
gang vocals on the chorus are kind of fun. Obviously,
the message is strong. It's got another great
dual solo, guitar solo. And there's not a lot
about this one that I don't like. I think it's
probably one of the high points on the album
for me. And it's even got a down chorus at the
end. which was a good, like a really good change
of pace. And I'm like, all right, this song works
like well, big, but it also works well when you
kind of bring it down to like its basis. Yeah.
Yeah. I think that that's what I thought too,
is that I enjoyed that they went back to the
original route and I enjoyed when there was this
like slow down into there. And I think that's
what's cool with this like this genre is that
you can be like loud and fast but then it opens
the door to have these like little like slower
parts and for you to have these like guitar solos
that kind of just like go back and forth um so
yeah i i feel like the album picked back up like
you said a little bit yeah this honestly this
these these few songs that i feel like are right
here or or like the high point of the record
for me so um my favorite Cover song on this one
would be the next track for Little Drummer Boy.
I just kind of like what you were saying with
We Three Kings and imagining that in my head.
When Little Drummer Boy kicked in and the guitars
are going and doing their thing, I felt like
it just worked with the song. Just to have the
drums and those lead guitars carrying the melody
at the beginning. There's a key change that happens.
they do a cool like little timing change on the
Rumpa Pum Pums every time. I don't feel like
most of the covers on this record work very well,
but this one worked for me. Yeah. So yeah, I
don't know what you think. I really, I enjoy
the drums and I don't really know what it was
about it, but it just like I kept waiting for
it to like Shift in I guess that next year you're
gonna be like, okay, this is working Like I don't
know if it was maybe just already kind of feeling
like a little bit burnt out With like go tell
it on the mountain. It's a little early for that
already Brandon. Yeah, so I guess like I don't
know and one thing I've just noticed this year
is that I think out of our reviews and just my
personal listing like I appreciate like these
originals or like I said whenever you start combining
and I'll get into that later on here but like
I think I just enjoy when someone does something
that someone else hadn't done so maybe that was
it is just it was like like this isn't um like
if I start comparing it with little drummer boys
I've heard it's not the most rocking it's not
the like it just kind of feels like it falls
in the middle of like, yeah, it's good, but it
doesn't set itself apart. I guess maybe that's
the best way to describe it. Yeah. I hear you
there. I actually, now that this is on Apple
Music, this one's going to go on my Christmas
playlist. So I think that's also like part of
this is some albums, whenever they're on like
streaming, you can go back and listen to them.
But with this one, it was like I've got one listen
through to like or not like stuff. Yeah. So moving
into our next one, still the light or your thoughts
on this one. So this is my favorite song on the
record. I really like the. the opening guitar
riff, it's a little like darker tone than the
rest of the album, but I feel like it works really
well for that and for the message of the song.
Yeah, I like, like there's a line, a stable floor
was holy ground. I think the chorus is pure like
80s metal goodness. Just again, kind of the like
gang vocals and I just I felt like this one worked
a lot plus it's got like like um heaven came
it's got a down chorus uh -huh um which I thought
worked really well and then they went from that
down chorus into a halftime chorus um where it
picks up but it's like halftime um and um yeah
I just I I really I really like this one I think
this is what I expected when I'm going into this
album um I feel like it just continued the theme
of originals being like the strongest part of
this. I feel like all the elements were there.
Like the solo was really good. The lyrics are
great. And I think it was this song that I started
thinking like, oh, I think that like lyrically,
like it is it is pretty strong. Like I think
because thinking of a band from like the 80s,
when I think of like 80s Christian band. There's
just a lot going on there where I was like, I
feel like the 80s were just cheesy in general.
And then like you throw in like how cheesy Christian
music can be. And then you add in like Christmas.
So I feel like there's so many ways that they
could turn into this very cheesy. But I really
liked it. So yeah, that's good. This was definitely
the high point for me. And then for me, sadly,
moving into track six, the album takes a real
dive with Silent Night. What do you think about
that? I felt like it was a quality attempt. And
I think just I'm learning more and more that
it's just really hard to do anything with Silent
Night than what it's like. Meant to do like there
is right. It's it's one speed there is no like
like I think of like Like when you have auto
racing you have like they go in an oval they
go on road courses They do all this stuff. Whereas
like drag racing is like it's just straight Like
there is no turns like you're just gonna hit
the gas and go straight and I think with Silent
Night That's the best thing so it almost makes
me like I'm starting to think with Silent Night,
if you are going to want to do something different
with it, then I think that it would be such a
cool thing to throw into like the bridge of a
song. Or for it to be just like a little minute
long, like little interlude track going into
maybe this like slower original. Because I mean,
maybe like if this was 45 seconds long and then
you move into like on the Silent Night or something.
Maybe that's a little bit stronger than just
having like Silent Night on the Silent Night
and it's like is there gonna be another night
track after this or Yeah, I I Guess I'm thankful
that there was a change in pace sort of Because
like you said Silent Night has to be one way
and they definitely drop and try and pull it
off that way, right? Yeah and so it makes sense
for the song itself. I think that like And this
isn't like throwing any shade at Michael Sweet
because I think he was an incredible singer and
frontman and guitar player for this band for
years. But he's up there at this point. And I
think all the space left a lot of room for his
vocals to stand out. And I don't think that that
helped. You know what I mean? and so it's it's
Yeah, it just wasn't wasn't my favorite track.
Yeah i'll say too like I know that like there's
like I said a while ago There's a lot going on
where it can be like because there's a lot of
qualities where it's like I don't like a lot
of this stuff. Yeah, it's easy but like Like
even though some of the stuff's like negative.
I never found myself like like hating or being
angry at this album, you know or something like
You know, well, that's good to know Because I
feel like there's been albums where I start listening
and I mean case in point we go back to the five
iron frenzy For the first listen i'm like, hi,
this is this album is making me angry But then
after a couple of listens, i'm like, I really
like this band Oh man, yeah, it's interesting.
All right. What about track seven on this holy
night? What were your thoughts about that one?
I think that on this um Oh, that's I wrote down
on the silent night. I'm glad you that I'm glad
you corrected me. I really like this. I think
that the lyrics were strong. I think this might
have been my favorite one on the whole album.
I think it's it's a gamble to make a like serious
Christmas song sometimes because you can go overboard
into being really cheesy. But I think this song
does such a good job of kind of just, like, calling
out, you know, like, while we're in church celebrating
and all, like, you know, there's people out there
that are starving. There's people out there that
are dealing with lost loved ones. Like, it reminded
me a lot of, like, I really love the song, Rebel
Jesus, and I feel like it's got a lot of the
same stuff in it, is that it's like... you know,
hey, there's still poor people in February and
March and all. Like, it doesn't disappear, you
know, on Christmas Day or something. So, I think
that this might have just been the strongest
one because you add another element to where
you're trying to be serious now, and it can be
like too preachy or whatever. But I think that
this is probably the best track on the whole
album for me. That's cool. Yeah. It's so, I mean,
again, I like still the light. I think the best,
but yeah, this is a good one for sure. Um, just
about how we've, we've kind of maligned the name
of Jesus and we continue to do that at Christmas
time. Um, sometimes I think is, is a really important
thing for us to be remembering. And so I'm thankful
that they like tackled that. Um, and I think
the chorus is good. I do think though, that this
is kind of the point where. like the album started
to wear on me a little bit, and so that kind
of affects me moving forward at this point, but
I did enjoy this one, yeah. Next one we go to
Joy to the World. Joel, does this track bring
you joy? So this is kind of the more like poppy
side of Striper, like always there for you or
whatever it may be um from the past but it was
a good change of pace that you've got like this
combined acoustic and electric more of a traditional
kind of model for a song um but and it's got
a key change in it um but yet with all of those
things it just it wasn't doing it for me um i
think i was just i'm wearing down at this point
and it didn't really feel like um and It didn't
do anything special or kind of extraordinary.
And so it just kind of felt like it was there.
I think I need to remind all of the listeners
that we're all friends. I just don't know if
I like joy to the world. I like joy to the world.
I don't know if I like joy to the world. Don't
know like the more I listen to the song. I feel
like it's just not one of my favorite Christmas
songs and I think that everyone covers it so
like Hearing this. It's like I'm already kind
of like oh cool. You guys are covering another
Like song that everyone covers and You know,
we were talking earlier about like when you're
reviewing an album how Like how do you go about
it? And it's like you can say this isn't a vacuum
and it's like I've never heard the song before
How would I rate it right or you can think? Okay,
I've heard a hundred joy to the world How do
I or it could be okay out of all all Christmas
music? Where's it fall? And so I think for me
it just it was just kind of like there and maybe
it kind of just felt like filler And maybe that's
just because it's not one of my favorite Christmas
songs. Maybe that's why I'm feeling it. I do
agree with you is that I think that the first
half... I say that, but I feel like On This Holy
Night is on the second half and pretty strong.
But I feel like the first... Maybe like 70 percent
of this album like is where the strengths were.
Yeah. Um, so for me, it was kind of just there
um Next we move to your reason for the season
or your thoughts on uh, this one Yeah, so I think
this my understanding i'd have to do a little
more research and I didn't do it but my understanding
is this is uh A previously released striper song
that they're redoing for this album. Okay And
so that they wrote this years ago and now they're
doing a new version of it on here. I think it's
fine. Brandon, you're probably gonna make fun
of me for saying this because this is something
that I don't say very often. I'm realizing at
this point in the album that I want more production
out of this album. The four -piece metal band,
two guitars, bass and drums doing their metal
thing, they're occasional, like bells and hand
claps and whatever it may be on this album, but
it's so slight and so infrequent that I think
that's a big reason why I'm like, kind of worn
out on this towards the end. Like if there was
more production and more layers to it, then I
think it would like stick with me more. But I
think at this point, I'm like, I'm just, I felt
like I was kind of done. And I don't know, the
song just didn't really go anywhere for me. probably
for that reason. I probably didn't give it much
of a fair shake, honestly. I think that's interesting
you say that it was previous because I felt like
this was the one original that didn't hit. Yeah.
And honestly, that that would make a lot of sense
because, you know, we go back to the other ones
we're talking about, like, man, they're really,
you know, digging through the stuff and they're
throwing these like. These like lines out and
then you go to this one and it's you your life
can be a holiday Every day when he is with you.
Yeah, and like I hear that and I'm like this
just feels like it doesn't Like it feels like
it was written by someone else like they're covering
right someone else and um, I I feel like that's
interesting because it's someone who hasn't listened
to their work like it makes me wonder like oh
with age like their newer stuff isn't more biting.
Maybe because back in the day, I feel like the
idea of them just having long hair and singing
this was already like, whoa, that's edgy. Whereas
today it's like, you have Christian artists that
are cussing on their albums. So it's hard to
be a Christian artist and do something that's
like... Shocking or like gets attention, you
know when all these other people are already
doing this Yeah, I hear that Well, let's talk
about the last track on the record Winter Wonderland
this was actually the single that they released
first before this album Came out. So I don't
know. Does that impact your thoughts or feelings
on this? I so at first I am I I was like they
definitely put their own spin on this one and
I was like, this is just overboard. This is too
much going on. Um, but as the track went on I
started thinking that You know, we've talked
about how Well, I think that this one fits this
style or this one's more country or whatever
I feel like winter wonderland is a song that
you can do You it can be rap. It can be metal.
It can be country like it it kind of like It's
like elastic enough that it's like yeah, it's
not It's not weird if I heard like alan jackson
do this or toby mac or like, you know, Uh nf
or something, you know do one um So yeah, I I
felt like I found myself kind of rolling my eyes
but then being like I think this is Like a perfect
track to throw one to one because it is just
very much. It doesn't fit into this one category.
Yeah. I actually didn't like it as a closer,
just because it kind of like, yeah, the pace,
it was fun. It was fast. Like I just felt like
the pace was kind of different. And so it was
a nice little change of pace at the end. It didn't
like I wasn't. Over excited about it. Yeah, but
but I think it worked fine in that spot. So All
right. Well, let's kind of wrap up and talk about
maybe our closing thoughts on the record and
And maybe maybe where we scored this. What were
your thoughts Brandon? Um, I felt like going
into it like These ones are always like tricky
because you don't like I don't want to go into
a high expectations and then it be like oh I
was expecting more I don't like this, but you
also don't want to go into it like Expecting
it to be bad because then you're gonna look for
every flaw But I mean, it's it's another one
that I walked away from it Like I felt like it
was better than I thought like I found myself
enjoying tracks I found myself like If they ever
get around to putting it on Spotify, I'll probably
add it to a playlist. But for now, I guess I'll
just sit at my house and I'll think that one
time I borrowed that vinyl and it was good. Maybe
like it sounds like it's like 30 years ago or
it's like, maybe I might drive over to Joel's
house and borrow that vinyl, help him do some
yard work or something. I don't know. I love
that. So what do you, what do you think you land
for a rating for it? I I'll be honest. I think
that I think that the It not being Like as accessible.
I think I think it hurts the album score. Hmm,
and it's not like it's not from like a oh, I'm
on team Spotify standpoint or whatever but last
night I Remember as I'm listening to it. I'm
thinking to myself I'm playing this on my like
I think I think my record players may be like
15 years old and I mean it's like a cheap I think
it might be crossly but I mean it's it's something
I paid 80 dollars for 15 years ago and I'm like
this isn't the best like speaker so it's like
I'm not hearing everything yeah and it's even
me thinking like um you know you can plug headphones
into that thing Yeah, but I was I was in the
middle of work I was So I think I I think that
that like plays into it yeah, and I mean I I
would say that I think it's worth half a point
like deducting so I think that for the listeners
if you're thinking if you think that I'm lazy
and Should have used my headphones or just went
out and like bought a nicer record player I think
it's a 2 .5. I think that if you don't think
I'm lazy, I think I land on maybe a two for it.
I don't know. A two sounds harsh, but like I
said, I didn't. I felt myself enjoying it. I
think it was just... I felt myself thinking that
kind of adds to it, this being released. I guess
for you, did you... Which I guess you do listen
to a lot of vinyl so you're not in that same
position I do and i've got a good a good setup.
Yeah, so it actually sounds better For me listening
to it than probably Yeah, any other way. I mean
if I was using my good headphones On my record
player that would probably be the ideal Yeah,
like setup for me, but I was just listening to
it through like my my speaker setup um, yeah,
I So I thought it was cool for a while that this
thing was a physical only release. It felt grounded
and real. And I'm like, I actually, you asked
me this question before, does it help it or hurt
it? And I was like, I think it kind of helps
it. And then today when you told me that they
just released it on Apple Music, now I'm like,
I don't have... Quite the same feelings about
that anymore. You so like you also deduct So
you're like if they didn't really said you could
add a half point It's funny how we work opposite
in that way and so Yeah, I don't know. I think
I think as I like did my math for my ratings
I came up with a three point two for this But
I honestly feel like it's it's more of like a
three in my heart, just listening to it. And
so there was, again, there was stuff on here
that I really liked. I really liked Still Delight.
I really liked a little drummer boy. I mean,
that's, I thought that was a great take on that
song. And I know that that song has been done
a billion times by a bunch of people. But I thought
it was one of the better versions that I've heard.
And I thought it just fit really well with the
style that that Striper has. And so there were
some high points for me. Absolutely. Some really
good songs. And I liked most of the originals
a lot. But the covers overall, outside of Little
Drummer Boy, I just don't feel like any of them
really worked for me and landed for me. And so
I think that's where the struggle comes in for
this album for me. It's just that, that I wanted
more from the covers. And I think that that would
be the place where I wish they would have spent
more time and been more creative. And I think
that, I think it could have overall been in a
better spot. Yeah. I mean, like, like I said,
I'm not a like... It's like Striper. I say Striper
fan. There's nothing against I just haven't spent
time with their music. Yeah, but like I feel
like if you like them then Like it seemed like
it's more of a passion thing for the fans Rather
than let's get all of like the new people to
come join in. Yeah so I mean like I I kind of
see this album like I don't think you've ever
listened through it, but like Family Force V's
Christmas Pageant. And I think that that's an
album that when they released it, it was, I love
this. As a fan, this like they're singing about
like their little drummer boy is like, I'm gonna
bring my drum machine. I'm sure it's bonkers.
And so, I mean, it's an album that I... Like
I'd probably give it a 4 .5 today But I know
that for a lot of people that they don't know
anything about famous five It would be this is
terrible. They're like this is it's hard to like
Look by the first two tracks. They'd be like
I'm done with like this is just too too out there.
Yeah So like to me this is an album. I think
it would have been really cool to have someone
who like listens to striper I think it would
have been difficult for me to be like, oh, I
don't want to like be like negative about this.
But I think also it'd be interesting to see like,
you know, for them, is this what what they wanted
or is it something where they feel the same way?
And they're like, oh, I wish they would have
done, you know, like as a striper fan, I wish
they would have done like these different tracks.
So I think I'm going to be really interested
to see. Like as other reviews pour in to kind
of see like what are the thoughts from people
who have been with striper for the past? What
going on 40 like 50 years or whatever they've
been playing So like for me, that'll be really
interesting to see like how how close or how
far off like was it as someone who? Isn't familiar
with the rest of their stuff. Yeah, I feel like
from what i've seen so far it's Kind of a mixed
bag when it comes to reviews. I think mostly
positive Yeah, but maybe kind of landing in some
of the same places We are I think for me the
other thing is I mentioned this earlier Like
I think it just could have used a little more
production like Michael Sweet barely singer produced
this album. Mm -hmm It probably could have used
an outside producer. Uh -huh Taking what they
built but then building up on it and making it
just a little Broader. Yeah, I feel like probably
could have helped it. I just wanted a little
more of that trans -siberian orchestra kind of
sound and feel and where's the kids choir? I
don't know why. Where's the drama to the record,
you know? And I felt like, man, I could have
put it in a little bit of a better place. But
again, that's just my context for Christmas music
when it comes to this style. And so I feel like
maybe that's what kind of drew me in that direction.
So let's talk about what our lyric of the week
is for this one. So the lyric of the week this
week comes from my favorite song on here, Still
the Light. Um, it is not in gold or robes of
Kings, no headlines or angels wings. A mother's
cry in a quiet town while the world kept spinning
around a stable floor was holy ground. I like
that. I like that too. That's fun. Alright, well
we are super grateful for you guys for joining
us and we would love it if you engage with us
Online you can find us on Facebook. Hey, are
you listening at? Hey, are you pod on X? like
stuff Subscribe to the podcast, leave us a review.
We're just grateful that you're joining us for
the journey and we're looking forward to next
week. It's going to be a pretty fun episode as
we kind of look back at 2025. And so we hope
that you will join us for that and we'll see
you then.