By Andy Argyrakis

THIRD DAY ON DVD

Even though Third Day’s rockin’ on the road during this fall’s monumental “Music Builds Tour,” fans can also flashback to its recent Christmas Offerings concert on Essential’s DVD souvenir. The 2007 project was the latest chapter in the band’s acclaimed Offerings series and found the group putting a southern spin on cuts like “Do You Hear What I Hear?” “What Child Is This?” and  “Angels We Have Heard On High.” Add in some holiday originals, plus an encore with hits “God of Wonders and “Creed,” and this installment serves multiple shoppers looking to check off a quality collection.

MORE CHRISTMAS COLLECTIONS

In terms of Christmas CDs, Casting Crowns leads the pack with Peace On Earth (Beach Street/Reunion), supported by a tour featuring Natalie Grant, Denver & The Mile High Orchestra, Avalon, Michael English and PureNRG. Indie favorites turned recent Essential act Annie Moses Band drop This Glorious Christmas, while Sixpence None the Richer comes out of the woodwork to offer the like-minded The Dawn of Grace (Nettwerk). That latter act also promises a proper full-length in support at the tip of 2009, sure to cement its highly anticipated reunion.

ANOTHER NEW LOOK AT OLD U2

It’s also beginning to look a lot like Christmas for U2 fans, and no, that doesn’t mean the Dublin-foursome is finally releasing a holiday project. Instead, Bono and the boys are continuing their remastered, re-release tradition, this time dusting off the classic concert film and subsequent soundtrack Under the Blood Red Sky (Island). For those needing a quick refresher course, this was taped against the breathtaking backdrop of Colorado’s Red Rocks and also marked the band’s first-ever live recording. The set list is also strewn with several faith-inspired selections, like “Surrender, “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” and most overtly, “40.”

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