Noel

Josh Groban

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2007)
• Original Release Date: October 9, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: WEA/Reprise
• ASIN: B000V6Z0XA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (666 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #590 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Opera & Vocal
  #79 in	Music > Pop > Vocal Pop

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The Grammy-nominated, twenty-something, pop-classical phenomenon's fourth studio album is an expertly accomplished entry to the holiday marketplace. Noël 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

Product Description
Bringing Josh Groban’s majestic yet intimate voice to Christmas music is truly a gift this holiday season. The young Adult Contemporary star’s fourth studio album brings together the traditional such as Silent Night with the contemporary such as I’ll Be Home For Christmas and the new, Thankful. Featuring duets with Country’s Faith Hill and R&B’s Brian McKnight, and inspirational music’s master choir, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and produced by the illustrious David Foster the album’s wide appeal promises that a timeless Christmas music classic will be beneath the tree this year.

Josh Groban Photo

Josh Groban Merchandise

More from Josh Groban

Awake

Closer

Closer-Limited Edition

Josh Groban in Concert

Josh Groban

Josh Groban Live at The Greek

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

165 of 181 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NOT the complete Josh Groban Christmas!!!!, October 8, 2007

By	Daniel W. Kelly (Long Island, NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Wait For A Christmas Album is Over, October 30, 2007

By	R. J. Stewart "Book Nut" (Reno, NV United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Little Disappointing......., October 26, 2007

By	Judy A. Rush "chefjudy" (Kansas City, MO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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..............