Album Of The Week – The Tenors “Christmas With The Tenors”

The Tenors (formerly known as The Canadian Tenors) are a vocal group consisting of Victor Micallef, Clifton Murray, Alberto Urso and Mark Masri.

The group is the creation of Award winning Canadian composer, producer and talent impresario Jill Ann Siemens. Originally a trio (Philip Grant, Paul Ouellette, and Ken Lavigne) the group debuted in 2004 in Victoria, BC.

In 2005, a newly envisioned version of the group consisting of Craig Ashton, Joey Niceforo and Leon Leontaridis released their self-titled debut The Canadian Tenors. Following the release of the debut album Siemens did a cross-Canada search to find four new voices for the group choosing Victor Micallef, Remigio Pereira, Fraser Walters and Jamie McKnight. They released their second self-titled album The Canadian Tenors in November 2008.

In January 2009 Clifton Murray replaced Jamie McKnight. The band released their first holiday album, the platinum selling Perfect Gift, in 2009. The Perfect Gift was released in the US in 2010 and peaked at #7 on the Top Holiday Albums Chart.

In July 2016, Remigio Pereira was fired from the group after he altered the lyrics to the Canadian national anthem at the 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in San Diego from “With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the True North strong and free,” to “We’re all brothers and sisters, all lives matter to the great”, and held up a sign with the phrase. Continuing on as a trio the remaining three members released their second seasonal album Christmas Together in 2017.

Toronto born Mark Masri and Italian singer Alberto Urso joined the group after Fraser Walters’ departure in 2022. To date 13 different men have at one time been members of The Tenors.

After an absence of six years The Tenors returned with their third holiday album Christmas With The Tenors in 2023. In 2024 the group will celebrate their 20th anniversary.

Album Of The Week – Pentatonix “The Greatest Christmas Hits”

Who: Pentatonix

What: The Greatest Christmas Hits

Where: Arlington, Texas, USA

Why: Pentatonix is an American a cappella group from Arlington, Texas, consisting of vocalists Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Matt Sallee, and Kevin Olusola. Formed in 2011, Pentatonix won the third season of NBC’s The Sing-Off, receiving $200,000 and a recording contract with Sony Music. Their debut EP PTX Volume 1 was released in 2012, followed by their first holiday release PTXmas the same year. Their third release, PTX Vol. II, debuted at number 1 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart and number 10 on the Billboard 200 in 2013. In May 2014, they signed with RCA Records and released their fourth EP, PTX Vol. III, and two full-length studio albums; the compilation PTX Vols. 1 & 2, and their second holiday release, That’s Christmas to Me. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2014 and double platinum in 2016, becoming the highest-charting holiday album by a group since 1962, and the fourth-best-selling album in the United States in 2014. To date Pentatonix have released eight Christmas albums in ten years including two compilation albums, the latest from 2023, the 31 track double album Greatest Christmas Hits

When: 2023

Album Of The Week – “Matangi” by M.I.A.

Who: M.I.A.

What: Matangi

Where: London, England via Acton, west London, via Phipps Bridge Estate, Mitcham, south London via Madras, India via Jaffna, northern Sri Lanka via Hounslow, West London, England

Why: M. I. A. is a British rapper whose music combines elements of alternative, dance, electronic, hip hop and world music through electronic manipulation and samples.

Her longtime collaborator Switch, known for his work with Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Chaka Khan, Santigold and Brandy, primarily handled production for her fourth studio album Matangi. The album title is a variant of M.I.A.’s real first name, Mathangi, and references the Hindu goddess Matangi. Interestingly, M.I.A.s first two studio albums were named after her Father (Arular) and Mother (Kala) respectively.

Throughout the near hour long album, M.I.A. channels the Hindu goddess considered to be the Tantric form of Saraswati, the goddess of music and learning. The goddess is believed to govern speech, music, knowledge and the arts. Her worship is prescribed to acquire supernatural powers, especially gaining control over one’s enemies, attracting people to oneself, acquiring mastery over the arts and gaining supreme knowledge.

The album’s lyrics feature themes particularly related to Hinduism including reincarnation and karma with a blend of Western and Eastern music styles

When: 2013

Record Of The Week – The Beatles “Now And Then”

Who: The Beatles

What: Now And Then/Love Me Do

Where: The Dakota, Manhattan, New York City, USA, Friar Park, Henley-On-Thames, England, Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California, USA, Hogg Hill Mill, East Sussex, England, Roccabella West, Los Angeles, California, USA, Abbey Road Studios, London, England

Why: The last Beatles song. “I can only tell you it’s a beautiful track and it (the new Beatles song) is moving because the four of us are there and they won’t be ever again” – Ringo Starr, July 7, 2023

When: 2023