Christmas in Diverse City
Studio album by
tobyMac
ReleasedOctober 4, 2011
Recorded2011
GenreChristian hip hop, Christmas music, R&B, CCM
Length48:14
LabelForeFront
TobyMac chronology
Tonight
(2010)		 Christmas in Diverse City
(2011)		 Dubbed and Freq'd: A Remix Project
(2012)

Christmas in Diverse City is TobyMac's first full-length Christmas album as well as his fifth studio album. It was released on October 4, 2011.[1]

A re-release of the album, excluding a few tracks and including two new tracks 'Bring On The Holidays' and 'Can't Wait For Christmas' featuring Relient K was released in 2017 under the name 'Light Of Christmas'.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
CCM Magazine[3]
The Christian Manifesto[4]
Christian Music Zine[5]
Cross Rhythms[6]
Jesus Freak Hideout[7]
[8]
Louder Than the Music[9]
New Release Tuesday[10]
The Phantom Tollbooth[11]

Christmas in Diverse City garnered a positive reception from music critics. At CCM Magazine, Grace S. Aspinwall rated the album four stars and called the album "a fun-filled romp through holiday magic."[3] Lins Honeyman of Cross Rhythms rated the album seven out of ten and said that the release was "undeniably accomplished", noting that some listeners may not like the part-time performance by the artist.[6] At Allmusic, Steve Leggett rated the album four stars and said that the artist was "doing what he does best, mixing rock, pop, soul, hip-hop, and urban sounds into memorable songs with an edgy but positive spirit" of the holidays.[2] Sarah Fine of New Release Tuesday rated the release four-and-a-half stars and affirmed the album to be "the most creative" of the holiday season.[10] At Christian Music Zine, Tyler Hess rated the album the same as Fine, writing that even though the artist steps back on the project the release is still a worthy one.[5]

Jono Davies of Louder Than the Music rated the album a perfect five stars and highlighted how TobyMac put his own spin on the festive songs that are going to be played at holiday gathering near and far.[9] At The Christian Manifesto, Calvin Moore rated the album three-and-a-half stars, affirming the album as "an acquired taste."[4] Jamie Lee Rake of The Phantom Tollbooth rated the album the same as Moore, and felt that the effort "doesn't disappoint".[11] However, Ryan Barbee and Roger Gelwicks of Jesus Freak Hideout were mixed toward the album, both rating it three stars and Barbee said the album "cannot be easily dismissed nor easily accepted."[7] Gelwicks stated that "Pairing Christmas spirit and TobyMac's musical genius could have been a classic combination, but the outcome seems to prove otherwise. To be fair, Christmas In Diverse City does more right things than not, but given Toby's pedigree of inventive composition and pleasurable atmosphere, the middle-of-the-road result is disheartening overall."[8]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Diverse City band member who created workLength
1."Christmas This Year" (featuring Leigh Nash)Cary Barlowe, Jesse Frasure, Toby McKeehan 3:31
2."The First Noel" (featuring Owl City)Traditional 3:32
3."Mary's Boy Child" (featuring Jamie Grace)Jester Hairston 2:35
4."O Come All Ye Faithful"Traditional 3:54
5."Little Drummer Boy"Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone 3:37
6."This Christmas (Father of the Fatherless)" (featuring Nirva Ready)Randy Crawford, McKeehan, Jeff Savage 3:01
7."Carol of the Kings" (featuring Gabe Real & Liquid)Michael Allen, Victor Oquendo, TraditionalDJ Maj3:56
8."Birth of Love"Benjamin Crespo, Brian Haley, Sarai SiddiquiSuperHErose4:17
9."What Child Is This?"TraditionalArch Nemesiz2:45
10."It Snowed"Tim RosenauTim Rosenau4:14
11."Angels We Have Heard on High"TraditionalNirva Ready4:40
12."Santa'scomin'baka'round!"Derrick "D.O.A." Allen, Todde Lawton, Doug Lovelacetoddiefunk3:51
13."Christmas Time"Byron Chambers, Tamara Chambers, Ivan SantiagoByron "Mr. Talkbox" Chambers4:29
Total length:41:58

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[12] 84
US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)[13] 16
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[14] 6
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard)[15] 2

References

  1. ↑ "Christmas in DiverseCity Track Listing". TobyMac. August 25, 2011. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Leggett, Steve (October 4, 2011). "Christmas in DiverseCity - tobyMac". Allmusic. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Aspinwall, Grace S. (December 1, 2011). "tobyMAC: Christmas in Diverse City (ForeFront Records)". CCM Magazine. p. 32. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Moore, Calvin (December 5, 2011). "TobyMac | Christmas in Diverse City". The Christian Manifesto. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Hess, Tyler (October 4, 2011). "Tobymac – Christmas In Diverse City (Review)". Christian Music Zine. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Honeyman, Lins (October 24, 2013). "Review: Christmas In Diverse City - TobyMac". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  7. 1 2 Barbee, Ryan (October 3, 2011). "TobyMac, "Christmas In Diverse City" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  8. 1 2 Gelwicks, Roger (October 2, 2011). "TobyMac, "Christmas In Diverse City" Review: Second Staff Opinion". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  9. 1 2 Davies, Jono (October 14, 2011). "Reviews - TobyMac - Christmas In Diverse City". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  10. 1 2 Fine, Sarah (October 11, 2011). "Christmas is delightfully different here". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  11. 1 2 Rake, Jamie Lee (November 30, 2011). "Toby Mac - Christmas In Diverse City". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  12. ↑ "tobyMac Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  13. ↑ "tobyMac Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  14. ↑ "tobyMac Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  15. ↑ "tobyMac Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
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