Josh GrobanNoelReview

The 26-year old American with the golden vocal chords finally gets around to doing what any middle-of-the-road musical theatre/classical crooner HAS to do at least three times in their career - makes a Christmas album. It’s easy to be sniffy about this kind of thing, but Noel, released in October in the states has already notched up over 2 million sales. To some that may be a lot of schmaltz, but to his obviously huge fan base it's just the ticket.

Produced by longtime collaborator, David Foster, Groban here tackles all the usual suspects with aplomb and just the right amount of reverence. Having stood in for Andrea Bocelli, his classical crossover appeal is achieved with ease on tracks like ''Ave Maria'', and ''Panis Angelicus'', accompanied by Foster's lush string arrangements. A couple of guests drop by to share the eggnog and mince pies: Faith Hill duets on ''It Came Upon A Midnight Clear'' and The Mormaon Tabernacle Choir graces ''O Come All Ye Faithful'' to predictably awe-inspiring effect.

Groban wisely, never goes to far out of his comfort zone. Apart from a delicately acoustic rendering of ''Angels We Have Heard On High'' or the celtic lilt of uillean pipes on ''Little Drummer Boy'' this is deftly handled traditional fare that should weather both taste and time for many a year. Only on ''I’ll be Home For Christmas'', with its real messages from US troops to their loved ones, do you feel that the sentimental button has been pushed a little too hard. But overall Noel is as perfect a yuletide present as Groban could have given his fans.