Noel

1	Silent Night 4:11
2	Little Drummer Boy / Andy Mickee 4:20
3	I'll Be Home for Christmas 4:15
4	Ave Maria 5:17
5	Angels We Have Heard on High 3:32
6	Thankful 4:50
7	The Christmas Song 3:54
8	What Child Is This? 3:53
9	The First Noël 4:34
10	Petit Papa Noël 4:05
11	It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 4:13
12	Panis Angelicus 4:19
13	O Come All Ye Faithful 4:38

Barnes & Noble

Pop-classical sensation Josh Groban gets the Christmas spirit on his fourth studio album, Noel, a superbly produced, holiday-themed showcase for the 26-year-old's smooth singing. Veering between pop-oriented and lush classical arrangements, the album delivers a delightful variety of approaches to Yultetide favorites. "Silent Night" kicks off the set in classic style, assisted by the boys' choir of Magdalen College, Oxford, with majestic accompaniment from the London Symphony Orchestra. Next up, "Little Drummer Boy" gets a contrasting rhythm-driven treatment, with guitarist Andy McKee supporting Groban's rich vocals. Further pop-styled tracks feature duets with Brian McKnight ("Angels We Have Heard on High") and Faith Hill ("The First Noel," with the added boost of a gospel choir), while "I'll Be Home for Christmas" mixes in touching messages home from soldiers serving overseas -- a device that risks sounding maudlin but instead tugs genuinely on the heart strings. Wrapping things up in a neat bow, Groban channels his inner Andrea Bocelli on "Panis Angelicus" -- perhaps his most operatic-sounding track ever -- and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir helps to send it thrillingly over the top on the album closer "O Come All Ye Faithful." Produced by hitmaker David Foster, with expert arrangements from Bill Ross and others, Groban's first collection of seasonal songs is sure to be a Yuletide smash. EJ Johnson

All Music Guide

Vocalist Josh Groban delivers his first Christmas themed album with 2007's Noel. Once again produced by longtime "man behind the curtain" David Foster, the album features more of Groban's dewy, supple vocals set to Foster's cinematic orchestrations. As per the holiday theme, these are primarily classic tunes of the season including such chestnuts as "Silent Night," "Ave Maria," and, of course, "The Christmas Song." However, also included are a few lesser-known traditional songs as "Panis Angelicus" and "Angels We Have Heard on High." Similarly, while most of the productions here should appeal to longtime fans of Groban's particular classical-crossover sound, some cuts like soft rock inflected "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" and the Celtic folk leaning "Little Drummer Boy" do expand upon the Groban/Foster palette in a pleasing way. Notably, also showcased here are guest appearances by country superstar Faith Hill, R&B stalwart Brian McKnight, and perennial holiday backing band the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Matt Collar

Toronto Star

1/2 Groban is in excellent form. John Terauds

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The disc is masterfully produced with crystal-clear arrangements and beautiful singing.... A worthy addition to your holiday collection. Rosa Colucci