Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer

Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer
Studio album by
Relient K
ReleasedOctober 23, 2007
Recorded2007
Studio
Genre
Length48:15[2]
LabelGotee
Producer
Relient K chronology
Must Have Done Something Right EP
(2007) 		Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer
(2007) 		The Bird and the Bee Sides
(2008)

Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer is the second Christmas album by Christian rock band Relient K. It was released on October 23, 2007, and was produced by Mark Lee Townsend and Matt Thiessen. The album peaked at No. 96 on the Billboard 200.

Release

[edit]

On August 22, 2007, Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer was announced for released in two months' time.[3] It was released on October 23, 2007. The album is a re-release of the band's Christmas EP, Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand, but with seven new songs and some other changes, such as track listing and a new ending to one song.[4] The album was produced by Mark Lee Townsend and Matt Thiessen.[5] Guitarist Matt Hoopes said the album features a variety of influences, such as the "jazzy, '50s, dancy kind of feel" on "Sleigh Ride", while other tracks are more rock.[6]

"Silver Bells" was posted on the group's Myspace account on November 7, 2008.[7] A re-issue of the album was released on iTunes on November 18, 2008. It included Relient K's renditions of "Silver Bells", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and "O Holy Night", as well as a music video for the band's version of "Sleigh Ride".[8] The songs were eventually pulled from iTunes, but have since then been added to Gotee's 2010 Christmas compilation CD: 'Tis The Season To Be Gotee.[9]

The band's video for "Sleigh Ride" was released on November 10, 2008,[10] made by Funny Pages Productions and directed by Rob Corley and Tom Bancroft.[11] It is an animated video, and the band had mentioned in recent years that they always wanted to do an animated video. It features all of the band members as rabbits in winter. The Matt Thiessen rabbit fails to get the attention of a girl rabbit, which leads the other four band members to steal Santa's sleigh so that he can impress her. After the two take off in the sleigh, Santa tries to get it back by using a giant snowman. After some close calls, the other band members build a snowwoman to draw the snowman off. In the end, they give Santa his sleigh back, and the Ethan Luck rabbit sneaks a present from Santa's sleigh for Matt to give to the girl rabbit.[12]

In August 2014, the group announced a vinyl release for Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer.[13]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
IGN7.2/10[15]
Jesus Freak Hideout[2]
Sputnikmusic[16]

The album was met with positive reviews from music critics. Andrew Leahey of AllMusic stated, "it's still nice to hear the difference a few years can make, as Relient K has aged rather quickly (and rather well) since the group's previous Christmas offering [...] a solid record for returning fans, and a harmlessly appealing listen for everyone else."[14] Chad Grischow of IGN wrote, "Though it is a bit uneven, Relient K's second go at a Christmas album has more than enough to enjoy. It would be a bit more interesting if they did not play it so safe on the newer covers of classics and if they stripped some of the flabby piano ballad originals, but Christmas and a little extra padding go well together."[15] John DiBiase of Jesus Freak Hideout remarked, "Relient K approaches Christmas from just about every angle for a well-rounded celebration. Being a little rusty in its compilation, Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer feels just a bit askew (perhaps approaching the project with the new tracks plus acoustic renditions of some of their past recordings may have helped pull it together as an all-new concept), but still manages to be the Christmas rock album of the decade and all-around one of the better modern Christmas projects you can find today."[2] Sputnikmusic described the album as "a very diverse record because it manages to capture all the elements of Christmas."[16] AltSounds called the record, "an excellent Christmas album," highlighting "Silent Night/Away In A Manger" as "the best" played piano medley.[17]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks not written by Matt Thiessen are public domain. New verses on tracks 6 and 11 written by Matt Thiessen.

Tracks 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16 appeared originally on the 2003 release Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand. Track 9 originally on the Apathetic EP.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane2:11
2."Sleigh Ride"Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish3:32
3."Merry Christmas, Here's to Many More"Matt Thiessen3:51
4."Angels We Have Heard on High"Edward Shippen Barnes1:55
5."Deck the Halls"Thomas Oliphant1:21
6."12 Days of Christmas"Frederic Austin3:33
7."Silent Night/Away in a Manger"Joseph Mohr, Franz Xaver Gruber/William J. Kirkpatrick,James Ramsey Murray2:18
8."I Celebrate the Day"Thiessen3:17
9."In Like a Lion (Always Winter)"Thiessen3:44
10."I'm Getting Nuttin' for Christmas"Sid Tepper, Roy C. Bennett1:39
11."We Wish You a Merry Christmas"Unknown2:12
12."Santa Claus Is Thumbing to Town"Thiessen2:43
13."Handel's Messiah"George Frideric Handel1:09
14."I Hate Christmas Parties" (performed by Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes)Thiessen4:34
15."Boxing Day"Thiessen3:37
16."Auld Lang Syne"Robert Burns2:53
17."Good King Wenceslas" (hidden track)John Mason Neale, Thomas Helmore3:17
Total length:48:15
2008 iTunes re-release bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
1."Silver Bells"3:04
2."God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"2:05
3."O Holy Night"2:34

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.[18]

Charts

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ Leahey, Andrew (April 2, 2016). "Let It Snow Baby... Let It Reindeer Review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c John DiBiase (September 2, 2007). "Jesus Freak Hideout - Let It Snow Baby...Let It Reindeer Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
  3. ^ Paul, Aubin (August 22, 2007). "Relient K plans Christmas album". Punknews.org. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  4. ^ "Let It Snow, Baby...Let it Reindeer". newreleasetoday.com. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  5. ^ "IGN - Music - Relient K Bring Christmas Early". IGN - Music. August 20, 2007. Archived from the original on August 22, 2007. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
  6. ^ "Interview: Relient K tells Chimes about its Christmas release". The Chimes. December 14, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  7. ^ "Relient K post "Silver Bells"". Alternative Press. November 7, 2008. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  8. ^ Johan Wippsson (September 11, 2008). "Relient K Announces Fall Tour; Re-releases Christmas Cd With New Tracks". Melodic. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  9. ^ "'Tis The Season To Be Gotee review on Jesus Freak Hideout". Jesus Freak Hideout. December 26, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  10. ^ "Sleigh Ride by Relient K". chriskennett.com. November 13, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  11. ^ "Relient K - "Sleigh Ride"". MTV. December 8, 2008. Archived from the original on January 21, 2009. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  12. ^ "Relient K Heads Out With TobyMac on 'Winter Wonder-Slam Tour Launching November 13th". Jesus Freak Hideout. October 31, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  13. ^ "Relient K to release Christmas album on vinyl". RadioU. August 21, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "AllMusic Let It Snow, Baby...Let It Reindeer Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  15. ^ a b Grischow, Chad (December 19, 2007). "Relient K - Let It Snow Baby... Let It Reindeer". IGN. Archived from the original on December 23, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  16. ^ a b "Sputnikmusic Let It Snow, Baby...Let It Reindeer album review". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  17. ^ "Relient K - Let It Snow Baby, Let It Reindeer". AltSounds. December 19, 2008. Archived from the original on April 13, 2009. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  18. ^ Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer (booklet). Relient K. Gotee Records. 2007. 509995 08202 2 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ "Relient K Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  20. ^ "Relient K Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  21. ^ "Relient K Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  22. ^ "Relient K Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  23. ^ "Relient K Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  24. ^ "Top Christian Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
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