Noel by Josh Groban (CD, Oct-2007, Reprise)

I rushed out to Target ASAP on 9 Oct to buy this CD (with the Target exclusive DVD), and had to go to another store to buy it because it was sold out at the first one. My efforts were rewarded, and on the first note Josh sang it was more than worth the money, gas, and time. "I'll Be Home for Christmas", featuring messages from American troops deployed overseas, is so touching that you'd have to have a heart of stone not to be moved to (or almost to) tears. His take on "Ave Maria", an already ethereal and beautiful song, is jaw-dropping. His duets with Faith Hill and Bryan McKnight are quite good, and the inclusion of a rather obscure (in the US) French song ("Petit Papa Noel")--included because Josh thought the song title was "so cute" (his words, verbatim)-- and the stand-out guitar work on "Little Drummer Boy" added that something extra and unique to otherwise mostly familiar songs. This is the album you've been waiting for for the last 6 years. You won't be disappointed.