Customer Reviews

Noel

5 star:		(575)
4 star:		(95)
3 star:		(39)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

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.

After hearing "O Holy Night" and "I'll be Home for Christmas" last year, I was disappointed that he didn't have a Christmas album out. So naturally when I saw "NOEL" had been released, I had to purchase it.

As always, Josh is spectacular. But being a bit old fashioned I had hoped the music would be straight forward traditional, like his "O Holy Night" and the original "I'll be Home for Christmas". Josh has such a strong, clear, beautiful voice that can carry with little background accompaniment. But instead of emphasizing the beauty of this man's voice, many of the arrangements have him competing with the overly loud instrumental/chorus accompaniments.

I would have much rather had "O Holy Night" on this CD than "The First Noel" duet with Faith Hill. As a stand alone artist Faith Hill is okay. But to pair her with Josh was a mistake. Next to him she sounds like a coyote howling in the background and is only another noisy distraction.

Overall - I still have to give this five stars because it is a beautiful CD that I will listen to over and over again (yep...8 times already). I hope he puts out another one next year...but finds someone other than David Foster to arrange and produce it.

I love this CD! I know I will be repeating a few things others have said, but here goes. Josh's voice is unbelievable! I have loved him since the first time I heard him. He is the only artist who's CD I have to buy the day it comes out. This was no exception. Love it! Love it! Love it! There are only two things that could have made it better. One, to include "O Holy Night", which is my favorite Christmas song. His is THE BEST cover of that song, I've heard - ever.
Two, to not have sung "The First Noel" with Faith Hill. I love Josh's part of this song, and wish he had sung it alone, or maybe with someone like Martina McBride. To pair such an exquisite voice as Josh's is, with a totally ordinary voice, is not doing justice to him. She is o.k. when singing her own songs, but she doesn't have the voice to improve previously recorded material. She soured me on her cover capabilities when she completely butchered "Open Arms" by Journey, at a Tim MacGraw concert I was at.

But back to "Noel", a must have for any Josh fan!! Love it! Go get it today!

I've been hoping that Josh Groban would release a Christmas cd ever since I heard him sing O Holy Night. Well, finally, he has made a Christmas cd! It's full of beautifully produced songs. I'll Be Home For Christmas, with the messages from soldiers overseas, is especially touching. My only complaint is the duets with Faith Hill and Brian McKnight. Both of them are good singers on their own but their voices don't match well with Josh. If you buy the cd at Target, you get a dvd that has behind-the-scenes stuff of making the album.

Josh's voice is truly a gift from God. His voice packs a punch, can send chills down your spine, and then his voice can become tender as a baby's. His voice exudes passion one moment, and then heavenly serenity the next. His emotional range (for being so relatively young) is amazing. This CD is a must have for the holiday season. This will definitely put you in the Christmas mood.

Also recommended:
Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices--a touching story about the impact of kind acts of service--plus, on product page, an Amazon mp3 link to the book's great song.

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.

As an avowed fan of Josh Groban from the beginning, and a member of his fan club, I waited an indeterminable amount of time for this album. Now that 'Noel' has finally arrived, I am a bit disappointed for a few reasons:

1) I love the song "The First Noel", one of my personal faves at Christmas time but the version on this cd is too 'country' and being a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas carols and songs, I did not care for it all. When I copied the cd to my ipod I left the whole song out - it just did not appeal at all, especially since Josh does not sing in a country style and Faith Hill does. Not good, and not a worthy rendition of this particular carol.

2) As mentioned, I prefer my holiday music traditionally arranged, so leaving out first verses and lines goes against the grain, so to speak. I do think however, that "O Come All Ye Faithful" is one of the best versions I have heard, in spite of the way it starts out and I love the grandiose ending!

3) I also agree with other reviewers who contend that Josh should sing alone. His duets with other female singers, Charlotte Church, Sarah Brightman, Celine Dion etc. are good, but for this album, I think it should have been just Josh. His voice can carry any song and I like the multi-tracking that was done on this cd; plus solo singing with his own voice as an enhancement would have been so great and much more personal, IMHO.

4) It would have been so nice if "O Holy Night", "Believe" and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" had also been included to make this one spectacular cd, as all of these songs are beautiful examples of the range of Josh's wonderful and glorious baritone.

On the bright side, the Latin hymns, "Panis Angelicus" and "Ave Maria" are excellent and bring out the best in Josh's voice. I like the little French song, "Petit Papa Noel" and the new song "Thankful" as well as the other Christmas carols. I know that the cd will sell well and many fans have been waiting for Josh to record one, but I do wish it was more traditional and just him singing. Perhaps on the next one..............

This CD has musics that many other artists have already recorded, but Josh Groban performs them with such beauty, softness, and delicateness that is impossible not to fall in love for them all over again. The music will fill your home with all the good memories of Christmas, it will touch your heart. Highly recommended.

Josh Groban did it again. He has the voice of an angel, a voice that is ment to sing beautiful Christmas music. So many singers alter these songs and make a big mess of them. I watched his DVD also, I believe he said he would not do another Christmas album, I hope he changes his mind
and does another beautiful album with O Holy Night on it.
Thanks Josh, Love Ya

I have a huge collection of Christmas albums from the Mills Brothers and Bing Crosby's 43 version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" to The Carpenters and the Four Seasons to Jewel and Clay Aiken. This is one of my absolute favorites. It is NOT overly dramatic and the wonderful orchestral arrangements do NOT take away from the intimacy of the songs. There are some that are more intimate than others but they are all in keeping with the story that they celebrate - the birth of the Savior - and the message of the song. Little Drummer Boy is great. Great arrangment that makes it fresh. I like it even better than the Bing Crosby/David Bowie version.

I read some of the other reviews and am appalled at the ignorance of people like "Psychologist" (tend to think she needs one rather than is one) in her comments about "I'll Be Home For Christmas". She clearly does not have any compassion for these people or know the history of the song and how it was intended as a message for servicemen and their families. The messages are timeless. Iraq is mentioned exactly once but the messages are still timeless. It is a WWII song and was used in Korea and during the Cold War and Viet Nam. What she completely missed is the ending messages from children to their fathers that closes the loop. It's perfect! It really brings home the meaning of the song. As a Viet Nam veteran I found it very moving. It's wonderful that someone has the compassion and sensitivity to do this. It's great that those who stand in harm's way for us have this small gesture sent their way. Bravo, to Josh and all invovled with the album!