Point of Grace has won the competition for bringing fresh inspiration to an old genre. With an enlivening collage of traditional hymns, rambunctious carols, and five new original songs, the beauty of the season is masterfully combined with the significance and majesty of the event that it celebrates. A Christmas Story delivers the pure magic of the season wrapped in a package of classic Yuletide sounds ranging from the bustle of horns and strings to the tranquility of harps and bells. These songs transcend the usual holiday tribute to happiness with a joy that is infectious. The hymns, which can too often be reduced to seasonal anthems, are freshly endowed with an element of spiritual intimacy. Still drawing on the vocal texturing that has put them on tour with Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, these four best friends emanate an ethereal quality through their sound. Precisely executed melodies and harmonies give the perception of one voice, while the gentleness of their tone recalls the comfort of holidays past. This is a beautifully crafted and produced album. It is not just Christmas music--the spirit of Christmas itself is imparted throughout the disc. --Israel Button