Noel

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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

I've heard him sing, but this is the first CD I've purchased. I'm hooked! The $10 price tag was the cheapest I've seen. My favorite song is Ave Maria.

Wish the mixing were more even, too many highs and lows with the volume! No criticism whatsoever of his beautiful voice!

Good CD, although not as majestic or powerful as you would think something by Josh Groban would be. Pleasant, but pretty much slow moving. It's basically your traditional Christmas songs done in a laid-back style, like you hear most anybody doing them. Nothing to make this stand out from anybody else's Christmas CD.

This CD is really outstanding. For anyone who likes Josh Groban, I totally recommend adding this one to your collection.

What a beautiful collection of holiday music! Josh Groban makes all the old familiar songs seem new.