Noël

by

Josh Groban

Edit

I thought it was my imagination, but when I asked my sister who is a big JG fan and loves Christmas music...we both agreed that this one was a little bit of a disappointment for similar reasons! We did not get the feel of Christmas here. Similar to other major superstars like Barbara Striesand who's 2nd Christmas offering was not as great as her first.

Melissa Manchester's re-issue this year of Joy is STILL great...check it out!

I have the DVD edition of this product in which he says that he wanted to make a classic or timeless recording. I would agree with his idea, but he does not convey that in this recording. Surprisingly he uses men, women and children blogging about Iraq during his rendition of I'll Be Home For Christmas. I'm not saying that I do not like this song, because it is a great idea, but it should have been a single instead of part of this project. In time, it will sound as dated as Kenny G's Auld Lang Syne Millennium Mix.

I like the way he does Little Drummer Boy and I think is probably the best track. I also like his duets with Brian McKnight Angels We Have Heard On High and Faith Hill dueting on The First Noel. Ave Maria is done well, but I am tired of it on every Christmas CD, it's two different versions and at every wedding and funeral I go to!

I am not crazy about Panis Angelicus which is also done on Il Diva's Christmas CD.

I know this most people may not agree with me about this review. I would have given it more stars if it had included his stunning version of O Holy Night and his original classic Believe (from Polar Express) and the live version of I'll Be Home For Christmas available on I Tunes.