Customer Reviews

Christmas

5 star:		(205)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Christmas is an absolutely beautifully recorded and sung album by the velvety rat pack voice of Michael Buble. The arrangements are stellar featuring big band and full orchestra backings by some of the best musicians in the business with a great deal of input from Michael himself and genius producer David Foster. Additional production by Bob Rock gives an especially rewarding re-work of Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You. Michael slows the tempo way down and turns Mariah's festive version into a very romantic and longing song of desire and passion. What a great version of one of the best Christmas songs written in the last 20 years!

Also quite amazing is Michael's version of Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). Here he wisely sticks to Darlene Love's original arrangement though the brass and drums are recorded so well and sound so bright it might almost make you forget her original version which is also fantastic. Buble modestly said that he might not have her pipes but he sure made up for it with his own punch and swagger. Another classic is given the Buble treatment and the listener cannot help but get drawn into the singers desire to get his baby home as soon as possible.

There are an amazing 15 songs on this version which includes all traditional songs except for one original written by Michael and his piano player Alan Chang, Cold December Night, another romantic and well sung ballad that would go quite well with an eggnog sitting by the fireplace. There are spicy versions of Holly Jolly Christmas and Jingle Bells as well as an awesome duet with Shania Twain on White Christmas that borrows a great deal from the Drifters version featured in the Home Alone movie.

Michael sings a hauntingly beautiful version of Ave Maria where he really shows the richness and clarity of his amazingly beautiful diction and singing technique. Remember this is a guy who closes out many of his concerts by putting the microphone down on the stage and singing the last song without amplification. Silent Night features a tender brass arrangement at the beginning that segues into a beautiful children's choir that sings along with Michael.

Michael Buble's Christmas ranks right up there with the greatest holiday records of all time by Elvis Presley, Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis. This album is immaculately sung and well produced and is a timeless masterpiece for the ages.

Michael Buble's "Christmas" is a must-addition to your Christmas music collection. This collection of songs offers the traditional, laid-back feel that every Christmas album should embody and is reminiscent of albums from great crooners of the past. While many big stars attempt to rework and mangle Christmas song, Michael Buble chooses to showcase his talent by adding his stellar vocals to classic arrangements that need to be done justice, although the album also adds Buble's signature touch to songs such as "All I Want for Christmas is You." After getting this CD, I think Christmas is going to start early this year as I'll be enjoying Michael Buble's songs every day.

Reprise/ Warner presents "CHRISTMAS" (2011), featuring Michael Bublé, finally a singer under the age of 50 who actually listens to the lyrics he's singing and interprets them in a unique way --- Bublé has a rich, smooth, beautiful voice that gives these songs a new dimension --- And his diction...wow, there's a concept --- Listen to "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU" and "I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS" and you'll see what I mean, under stated arrangements with that special Bublé touch ~ the last track is "MIS DESEO/FELIZ NAVIDAD" (duet with Thalia), is a fun listen, as you can hear both of the singers enjoying the moment --- Just in time for the holidays a true gem for any Christmas collection.

'Christmas' (track listings/times)

1 It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas - [3:27]
2 Santa Claus is Coming to Town - [2:51]
3 Jingle Bells (featuring the Puppini Sisters) - [2:40]
4 White Christmas (duet with Shania Twain) - [3:37]
5 All I Want For Christmas is You [2:52]
6 Holly Jolly Christmas [2:00]
7 Santa Baby [3:52]
8 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas [3:51]
9 Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) [3:08]
10 Silent Night [3:48]
11 Blue Christmas [3:43]
12 Cold December Night [3:19]
13 I'll Be Home for Christmas [4:26]
14 Ave Maria [4:01]
15 Mis Deseos/Feliz Navidad (duet with Thalia) [4:24]
16 "This Is Michael Bublé Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas" [:04]

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Mixing: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Arrangements & Song Selection]

Special footnote: If you enjoyed this album, check out Let It Snow Let It Snow

Total Time: 50 mins on 15 Tracks ~ Reprise Records ~ (October 24, 2011)

I've been listening to this album for the past few days since I bought it.

I'm a big fan of Christmas music... This is THE BEST Christmas album EVER (Michael, you have replaced Elvis & Bing which were my favorite Christmas albums for the past couple of decades, so I'm serious here!!!).

Every single song is really well done. Each one just as good as the next. There's no skipping tunes here. It is a pleasure to listen to from start to finish, and start over again and again all day long.

Beautiful, enchanting, perfect.

This album makes me happy and brings back wonderful Christmas memories.

Thank you very much Michael!

I love Christmas music and love Michael Buble, but was a little dissapointed with this CD. However it is growing on me the more I listen to it. I LOVED the mini-CD he did last year "Let it Snow" so I was expecting more of the same on this CD, but it doesn't have the same umph. On a couple songs I feel like he departed from the original too much and my overall feel is it doesn't seem like he put the time into this one like he did the last one. BUT, having said that, I would definitely buy this CD again and I would definitely recommend getting the Target version with the 3 bonus tracks because they're some of my favorites on the CD. If you like Michael Buble, you will still enjoy this CD, even if it's not your favorite.

Hoping to listen to a high quality album deliver by an artist with high standard, the disappointment is big. As a audio engineer I can't understand an album with such a discrepancy in music production and sound quality. Some tunes sound good, some fine and some sound like a demo. The staff in this album is "Major League" supposedly but the true is that it's not. The Mastering is done in one of the finest houses there is but evidently the work has to be done and the tweak has to be made. Obviously the mixes are different from producer to producer. This is why records made by mayor labels are treat without any care and people and artist prefer to go independently. It's a shame because Michael performance is good and the repertoire is what you expect.

Michael Buble is one of the best singers and he is fabulous in this current Christmas CD. I play it over and over in my car and sing along as I drive. Buy it and enjoy the Christmas spirit!

Excellent music from the past...Buble sounds great and my 88 year old mother plays this CD every morning and sings along:)

I'm want to start by saying that I LOVE Michael Bublé. I've been listening to him for years now, been to his concerts...he's just amazing.

For the most part- I love this CD. One song I just don't like is his version of Santa Baby. I think it's kind of cheesy.

And like I said in my title- I HATE the song Feliz Navidad- but listening to Michael Bublé and Thalia (LOVE HER!) sing it, I absolutely love it. I listened to it on repeat on the way home from work.

Get the cd, it'll be a great addition to your Christmas collection.

As always, Michael Buble's voice is flawless. However, although beautifully orchestrated, his renditions of popular Christmas songs lack passion. My view was further enforced when I saw him perform the songs live. Seems like it's just a job to him.