Noel - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

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Amazon.com
The Grammy-nominated, twenty-something, pop-classical phenomenon's fourth studio album is an expertly accomplished entry to the holiday marketplace. Noel tackles the familiar sounds of holiday music with a charmingly eclectic array of guest vocalists and a wide range of material. The songs range from the sacred to the secular, while Groban--buoyed in spots by none other than the London Symphony Orchestra--soars in his duets with Brian McKnight, Faith Hill, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. There's even a song with a gospel choir directed by Kirk Franklin. Produced yet again by crossover maestro David Foster, the arrangements never overwhelm the songs. Groban's smooth and supple vocals can be hard to categorize--seeing how his range is somewhere in-between a high baritone and a low tenor--but he always finds and emphasizes the emotional core of these songs. And whether they have origins in pop or classical music seems not to matter. The addition of messages from troops stationed in Iraq on top of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is undeniably heart-wrenching, while the album's highlight is its most spare song, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," which finds Groban alone at his piano, sounding very much like some kind of angel. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews: Read 599 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

NOT the complete Josh Groban Christmas!!!! October 9, 2007
142 out of 158 found this review helpful

I'm thrilled to finally have a full Josh Groban Christmas CD, which I've been waiting for practically since he first appeared on Ally McBeal at Christmas time years ago. But this CD could have (and should have!) been expanded to include his version of "Oh Holy Night", which has appeared on various compilations over the past few years, as well as his song "Believe" from the Polar Express soundtrack. That would have pushed the album over the top, and consolidated all of Josh's Christmas recordings onto one CD.

4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable October 17, 2007
82 out of 117 found this review helpful

First, let me say that I am a total Josh Groban fanatic and when he is on tour I follow him throughout the country because I love him that much. For me everything Josh Groban records is stunning, and "Noel" is nearly there. Josh's voice is perfection, and the song arrangement logical and pleasing. I enjoyed "Silent Night","Petite Papa Noel" and "Panis Angelicus". His version of "Ave Maria" was good, but not thrilling as I had hoped it would be.

My personal disappointment regarding this CD centers around the utterly unpleasant, shrieking gospel singers; Faith Hill's coarse voiced and out of synch duet; and most of all I disliked the inclusion of various soldiers and kids yakking it up on "I'll be Home for Christmas". IMO it will instantly date this CD once the Iraq war ends, if ever! Speaking strictly for myself I wish that the production would have been free of this sort of bombast.

Next, although I love David Foster's work on Josh's other CDs, particularly "Awake", on this album the overblown, mega arrangements are just overwhelming, specifically on "O Come All Ye Faithful" in contrast with the intro music on "Silent Night" which was superbly "spatial", clear and sparse and created a sense of standing in quiet reverence while looking at a starry night. It was entrancing until the mega arrangement came in and blew away the moment. I cannot give this CD a 5 star rating although I will always give Josh Groban a Gazillion Stars Plus for the exquisite quality of his voice. He towers as a GIANT over other popular singers in the current music market. Every concert that I have attended was sold out and a total lovefest for Josh. That tells it's own story of how much he is revered worldwide.

4 out of 5 stars

Overly dramatic October 9, 2007
61 out of 80 found this review helpful

I gotta say, I'm sadly underwhelmed by this album. Josh sings all of the songs beautifully, but the arrangements take away from the intimacy of a lot of the songs (Silent Night) due to David Foster's overly dramatic style. Not everything needs to be a power ballad. His work on Celine's Christmas album was much better. I did enjoy a number of songs though. Particularly "I'll Be Home For Christmas" where soldiers serving over seas got to send Christmas wishes back home. I thought that was very nice that they got to be a part of something that will be listened to by millions of people for many Christmases to come.

1 out of 5 stars

Lone voice in the wilderness October 22, 2007
27 out of 45 found this review helpful

I am probably the only person who was totally disappointed in this album. There can be no arguement that Josh Groban has an incredible voice. But it certainly not suited for what he attempted. I honestly find only one cut that equalled his talent. Panus Angelicus was brilliant. The rest were woefully lacking. How is it that a man with such a heavenly voice could mangle so many Christmas carols? Why is it that he seemed incapable or unwilling to stick to the melody of the music. Most of these carols have been around for hundreds of years for a reason. They aren't broken so don't try to fix them.
Oh well, I can always hope the next album will be back to the standards we have grown to expect from such a master.

1 out of 5 stars

David Foster's Accountability November 20, 2007
22 out of 30 found this review helpful

The arrangements on this CD are too much. Sometimes sticking with an established melody is the best decision. As song such as "The First Noel" was so beautifully written and arranged the first time, there is no need to make a mess of it. I think that this can be said of the entire CD. I think that this CD could have been so much more, if only it had been well . . . less. Josh has a great voice, showcasing that voice should be done in a manner that pays greater respect to the material.

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