I am so sorry I wasted my time reading your article. I'll steer clear in the future.

Interesting review. I do have one disagreement with you though. I've heard the entire album.. it's lovely, but the standout for me is Ave Maria. I didn't anticipate my emotional reaction to that song. I don't even know what is being said, but the beauty of David's voice and the sincerity and purity that is conveyed moved me to tears. Wonderful addition to my Christmas albums.

if christmas albums were of this caliber, darn tootin' we need as many as we can get. this one will make a nice and welcome addition to anyone's collection... david is one of a select f e w singers on the current pop scene who has the vocal gravitas, and the cajones, to pull of these selections.. and he does them very well. there is no autotune here, nor is it ever needed for david's vocals. there are still people out here who can appreciate the simple beauty of exquisite vocals, without having all those gimmicks most in the business employ to distract from what is mediocre, at best, singing ability.

get past your outdated idol mindset - david is no longer part of it, and has no support from it - that ship will no longer sail with him. this offering stands very well, on his and its own merits, as a great and ambitious undertaking for him. and he pulls it off. his age, youthful looks and religious affiliation matters not with a talent as formidable as this... the pleasure is in the listening...

i love the christmas from the heart cd.it was well produced and his renditions are superb.brilliant!!!

congrats david!you did ana amzing job with this album....a real gem!

OMGOSH! listening to the album on AOL til I can get it and it is EPIC! def gonna go to one of his Christmas concerts!

i agree and disagree. i did love the traditional songs and the way david sings them so reverently. i also am not so crazy about the original song although it fits i guess. but the rest of the album is wonderful. i was surprised to really like th choir on ave maria and i usually hate choir backings on songs. they are understated enough to not be distracting to david's beautiful voice on that beautiful song. also, pat a pan, which you left off of your review is both traditional and yet modern and in my opinion the best of the album besides ave maria.

Why not another Christmas album?, the world not only can handle, but need another. I agree with you this album is perfec for David now, his voice is just beautiful, but if you already heard the all full album you gonna find somes songs like Pat-a-Pan and Riu, Riu Chiu, this are songs not too familial for many people and David did a GREAT job , the arrangements for Joy to the worl and Silent nigth very original they keep the classical aspect but add the modern feeling with a touch of gospel/pop, Ave Maria and What Child powerful and sublime arrangements. Older people have already their operatic version of this songs, now everybody can have this fresh, young but traditional spiritual album in their collection perfect to reconnect young people with old traditions.I can see easily many youngs singing the Avemaria in Latin without get boring.The album just have David signature in the interpretation, Well done!

I love it! David's sounds amazing! I already ordered a whole bunch for Xmas presents and will also purchase itunes to download to my ipod. Melodies of Christmans is pure love, Christmas is supposed to be cheesy!

According to the CD liner notes he wrote, these Christmas songs are more like his gift from his heart for his fans, not for those who don't need Christmas album any more.

I collect a Christmas album every year which has been my family tradition since my kids were born. His voice is made for Christmas songs and I agree with your opinion on that.

But there are thousands of fans out there who love his young and handsome looks and his love songs (Crush sold almost 2 million copies).

Ms. Lewis, maybe he is too young for you but there are plenty of young people who have crush on him and moms who want to adopt him. Dads also want their daughters to marry him. For me, I utterly respect his prodigious talent. BTW, I was blown away by his performance at ALMA Awards singing a love song regardless of his young looks.

Wow i just wasted my time reading this BS.

Silly goose. I think Christmas is a heart-string tugging time of year. Why don't you sit down with a cup of eggnog, loaded with brandy, and just go with the flow. His Ave Maria is the bomb! One of the most accessible and emotionally connected versions I've ever heard...ever.

"the real question lies in whether the world really needs yet another holiday album." This is exactly what the world needs! Anything Mr. Archuleta does the world needs!

Tell David to clear his throat next time and buy Clay Aiken's CD instead.

David's age is a problem? FYI, music has no boundaries when it comes to David. His fanbase consists of all ages (children-senior citizens), genders and ethnic regions. David made 1.2 M last year, do you know that many 18 years old that make that kind of money? Do you know that many 18 yr old's who sell out concert venues in a matter of minutes? Apparently you haven't heard he is not affiliated with AI anymore either, he is with JIVE and Azoff Mgt. not AI. His album is outstanding btw, one of the best Christmas Albums I have ever heard. I am old enough to be his mom. lol Yes his fanbase is NOT just tweens, you can close your jaw now. lol You can hear his whole album on AOL Radio all this week at this link, and judge for yourself http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/#/2

Damned if you do, damned if you don't criticism is becoming such the norm, and your attempt at cleverness is more cringe worthy and over-performed as you accuse his album of being. Paragraph to paragraph, your critique is so just amateurish. Don't bother...I don't write for a living.
Do you even have an editor? Sorry, I'm making the assumption that you actually get paid for writing this. This is the web, after all, and it could just be a hobby? You pose and state several things that I find just...laughable and so...trite. I suspect that you don't even know that music used to be put out on a black disk made of vinyl, let alone know of the catalogs of music and musicians that appeared on it. The question lies whether the world really needs another critic?

His dad should sing have yourself a merry little hooker at a massage parlor...love David though.

This is an awesome album. All of it. Enough said.

This is a most ambitious project for young Archuleta. While I agree with you that certain aspects of the production are borderline overwrought, I give Archuleta kudos for tackling some pretty difficult songs (and arrangements)--and succeeding with flying colors. His voice is still developing, and while it retains its innocence and purity here, there is also a sense of meloncholy and longing which go beyond his years and which should sit well for many of his listeners during this Holiday Season. Overall, I'd say the good bits significantly outweigh the bad. An up and comer, this boy. Good lookin' out, David.

My wife and girls and I adore David Archuleta's music and can't wait to fill our happy home with the sound of his once-in-a-lifetime voice that, combined with his spirit, makes this young man one special human being. Who better to sing "another" Christmas album? Britney Spears?

I can't wait to get this album in my collection, I love David's voice!!

Thanks for reviewing this album. I'll llook for it in the stores, and it'll be THE Christmas album of the year for me. I do realize that an "Express" reviewer has to try to be "cool" and trash musicians like Archuleta, but it's telling that he made such an impression on you during that TV show that you remembered the way that the producers manipulated and portrayed him. Yes, he is young and looks young now, but I'd imagine that that image combined with his talent will lengthen his career in an industry obscessed with youth. I was a very young-looking teenager, but now I find it an advantage to be a young-looking thirty-something.

I absolutely love this CD!!!! David is amazing!!!! I love melodies of Christmas!! Christmas songs are supposed to be cheesy, or don't you know that. Your review is way off base.

I absolutely love this CD!!!! David is amazing!!!! I love melodies of Christmas!! Christmas songs are supposed to be cheesy, or don't you know that. Your review is way off base.

I absolutely love this CD!!!! David is amazing!!!! I love melodies of Christmas!! Christmas songs are supposed to be cheesy, or don't you know that. Your review is way off base.

i agree that david sang the songs really well. i also agree that the last song (its lyrics) on the album is a bit cheesy for my liking although i like the chord progression to the song. the tune is catchy. overall the album is the best christmas album i've heard so far in a long time. the other christmas album that i really liked was amy grant's a few years ago. between bob dylan's and david archuleta christmas albums out this week, david archuleta's is more pleasurable to listen to hands down. i have bought several copies to give away for christmas. the best tracks for me are the following:
1. ave maria - excellent! he doesn't sing this like an opera singer and i never expected him to. he sings it like he does a pop song which fits him just fine. i love the heart-tugging quality of his voice in this song. it's very heartfelt indeed.
2. pat-a-pan - this is done so beautifully. i love the arrangement. it's like hearing david sing a soundtrack to a movie.
3. riu riu chiu - he has done this really well. his spanish language skill is also amazing here.
4. what child is this - this is the first one i fell in love with when i listened to the whole cd.

well, good luck to this 18 year old. i hope he will go very far in his career. his voice is beautiful--smooth and just glorious.

i heard though that when he was recording most of the songs, he was sick with allergies and he was also on a tour with some disney starlet. so maybe that's the reason why in some of the songs, he sounded like he was stuffed. but overall, this doesn't affect my enjoyment of his singing. i love about 90 percent of the album. the other 10 percent could grow on me still.

How embarrassing for you. This is a masterpiece of interpretation and execution. I'm on my second listening, and having read your article, I realize that you are doing a review based off the snippets. How mortifying.

It's "canon," not "cannon." Do you all have a copy editor?

Oh, you mean like the other manifold artists who release albums in the last three months of the year?
Like Streisand? Mariah? Etc.?

What is transparent is the media need always to find something negative to say or imply about American Idol singers.

Idol was two years ago, David is no longer part of the "machine" nor supported by it, although he has said he is grateful for the opportunities it presented him. He is a loveley human being, still young to be sure, but he has touched many people because he is geniune and extremely talented. I hope that I will never throw anyone aside or discourage others to listen because I think the person is too old or too young. I would certainly never discourage a talent like David's. I love the CD! Thank you David and all those who worked with him for all of your hard work to make it so special to so many of us.

David spent 5 hours recording and rerecording Ave Maria. He is a perfectionist!! The album blows my mind, and if that album cannot change Washington DC to become a better and kinder place to live nothing will. David is truly an amazing person and he sings like an angel. You may try going to his concert in Baltimore on 12/15 and see him live.

My favorite quote:

"Mediocrity does not recognize excellence"

Never does, never will. Your loss.

Answer is simple, Yes, yes, and yes the world needs this album and the spirit David brings to each song. Will be a family treasure for us.

From someone who purchases Christmas music every year, these are by far the best renditions of these beautiful songs. David's voice, the lows, the highs, the runs, his rich tone all are front and center in every song. And I also love Melodies of Christmas, a perfect song for the holiday time, very catchy, stuck in my head.

Congratulations David Archuleta!

David's Christmas album is BRILLIANT! Ave Maria is the highlight--but I also like Melodies of Christmas becuz it's fun!!

Thanks for your mostly positive review. The carols are amazing. I brought out the good headphones for listening last night and I was flying. What a gorgeous sound! I love David's soulful touches and the Prague strings Kurt Bestor conducted. The only carol I had never heard before is Riu Riu Chiu and I am going to be wearing out that track! And O Holy Night - I think I hear Richard Parkinson's piano arrangement in there (that's how he met David a long time ago). It's so beautiful. Lovely album.

Christmas From The Heart
This is a Master Piece. David Archuleta is a Music Box. This kid can sing any thing.
AVE MARIA WOW AWESOME The best I have ever heard.

I think this album is AMAZING...traditional yet with David's spin- only he can do that. This is a keeper.

Yes, David is difficult to pigeon-hole - there lies his brilliance!

'Christmas from the Heart' is a CD to bring out every year (heck listen during the year).

Pat-A-Pan should be released as a single.

One of David's unique gifts is to portray the SPIRIT underlying the music, lyrics, performance, etc. In that, he is unrivaled!

I like David very much but haven't bought any of his CDs. I'm sure he does a wonderful job on the Christmas cd and I'm happy for his success. For me, the best Christmas cd is Clay Aiken's - it is simply fantastic and should be a party of everyone's collection.

Thanks for the review. I'm a huge DA fan and love his voice. I think given time he will continue to grow in the music industry and outgrow some of the perceptions laid upon him from Idol. As was already pointed out by others, he is no longer part of the "Idol machine". And with regards to do we really need another Christmas album, I say YES. What the world needs now..is love, sweet love.

Dear Ms. Lewis,
After reading your revciew of David Archuleta I could not beliieve my Iyes.
I don't know what hole you crawled out of but you really have a nerve putting your name on the rublsh you are distri buting, and I do believe the word slanderis IS not strong enough to fit the situation.
Young people of today are far more advanced then the past generation and I found your put down of David really rediculoua. I viewed a show last night put on A PBS CHANEL and the young man there was all of 16 years old, he was doing some girations, that reminded me of what Elvis used to do, and was a great hit David doesent even come close to this young man IN GIRATIONS and he is the Rage of Euriope. TRY OPENIING YOUR EYES AND MIND TO SOME GOOD THINGS,.GET WITH IT KID TIMES ARE CHANGING AND DAVID IS EXCELLENT.

I LOVE the arrangements of Ave Maria, Silent Night, O Holy Night, Joy to the World, O Come All Ye Faithful and Angels We Have Heard On High. Melodies of Christmas was also a perfect addition to the classics. Kudos to David AND to his Father. I don't care what news waas reported as the apple simply does not fall far from the tree. BRAVO! It will be one album I listen to every Christmas and Ave Maria will be listened to year round!!!!!

If you really knew your stuff, then you'd realize that... oh what's the point. I'm not going to waste another second typing anything. This was the only part of your review I liked: "sung excellently by Archuleta. Even without adding much new to these pieces, his performance sounds truly genuine and heartfelt"

Yes, the world needs David's Christmas album in a time when many people do not even know the true meaning of Christmas. In addition to David's amazing voice, he is a testimony of his faith by the way he lives and by the song choices that he makes. I pray that many will follow his example and experience the true joy of the season.

This cd is the best Christmas album I've ever heard because this is an artist that feels what he is singing, and makes you feel it too! I love how David keeps the songs traditional, yet adds his own flavor to it. This is a true testimonial to what Christmas is all about - go ahead, just enjoy it! David's vocals are beyond compare and it just makes you feel good. Merry Christmas!

Definitely one of the Best Christmas Album with my collection - SIMPLY AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL!

MY FAVORITE: ALL OF THEM ESPECIALLY, AVE MARIA, HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS AND MELODY OF CHRISTMAS.

Here's my advice:
I believe you need to move on with American Idol thing - It almost 2 years don't get stuck with the past like David Cook, Hahaha! you will never progress in life.

You need to listen to DAVID ARCHULETA CD - Chritmas from the Heart to have joy this Xmas Season and Good Therapy for you - STOP LIVING IN THE PAST YOU NEED TO MOVE ON ABOUT AMERICAN IDOL THING - YOU BETTER CALL DAVID COOK. DON'T GET STUCK.

My first thought after reading your review was, this person is defenitely someone who cannot comprehend how a a song sung beautifully can touch the soul . This is what David has accomplished with this Christmas Album. He sings the emotion and meaning of the lyrics and has brought tears to many people's eyes. That's what you call touched by the spirit. I hope you will take the opportunity to listen with real intent and experience the goodness of this masterpiece with an open mind and heart. I absolutley love it!

Archie is a very talented man. Name calling and profanity either against him or in defending him goes against everything he stands for. Can we please appreciate all that he has accomplished and his music?

Reading the review is a waste of time. It's better to listen to the CD right away. My fave. is "Ave Maria", even though the rest of the songs are so good. THis is the best Christmast CD I ever heard.

Palm to Heart_

"the real question lies in whether the world really needs yet another holiday album" _ C.Lewis

Yes! "Christmas From The Heart". The album is a praise in celebraton of the birth of Jesus. And David used many Styles to convey his praise. He also recognized the fact that he has fans world-wide Hince the languages. David is a remarkably considerate and talented musician. I'm sure the Angels will rejoice each time they hear one of these songs. This is not your same old tired holiday album and David isn't your same old tired singer. Happy Holidays!

Palm to Heart

Palm to Heart_
@boyet: David was on the nettie pot a lot during the production of "Christmas From The Heart". He has never let being ill stopped his work. Even on AI he performed two week with Strep Infection, and on the Idol tour he was at the point of sheer exhaustion, said a voice/music coach, yet he still met every date. David is fiercely devoted to music. And to have someone undercut his work is infuriating to say the least.

David always knows exactly what direction he wants his music to take. These songs are done exactly as he wanted to do them. David may be only 18 yrs old but he should not be overlooked as a genius with music.

Not only is his voice exception but so is his music knowledge. David isn't known as "The Human Jukebox" for nothing. What the writer of this review needs to do is spend a day in a music session with David. OR, just spend a few minutes talking music with him. I'm sure David would flabbergast you.

This Christmas CD will be among the classics, I haven't a doubt in the world.

And let me tell you why David did it to my thinking. Beside the fact that he adores his fans; David is quite aware of how fleeting life in the music industry can be. David is a young man who wants to experience all the industry offers while it's before him. He lives under no illusions. He knows tomorrow it could all be gone. Believe it or not he has a back up plan.
What he doesn't know is how good he is. OR at least he doesn't accept it. He fancy's himself another voice in a sea of voices. So of course if the chance to give homage to Jesus arises , he's going to jump on it like a duck on a Junebug. And the CD is brilliant. A carefully crafted masterpiece. Every level of David's voice is just where he wanted it. The young man has amazing control of his voice. Just amazing!
Thank you for pushing the sales of the album up. People can't believe your review so they're running out to buy the CD just to see for themselves.
"You're helping me, by hating me". The sermon from Sunday. How apropos...
_P2H

I love this album. David's pure,ethereal vocals capture the spirit of the Christmas season in every heartfelt song he sings. No need here for synthesizers and autotuning at all. I predict that we will be hearing much more from this gifted young man in the future. Bravo David! A++! Thanks for sharing your gift with us!

David's cd is outselling Dylan's, and all other releases, so far, according to data collected from Soundscan... granted, Dylan's legend is secured, and i'm sure it matters not one whit to him what his cd sells, but I think it is a huge psychological boost for the fans to see David's cd outselling one from a legend in the first week... still a long ways to go, but it doesn't pay to underestimate the attraction and the power of pure talent - it's so rare in the current music scene, and David's presence is filling a void. Good luck to this young man, and high hopes and best wishes for him to have a long, fruitful and successful recording career. I also think this cd is superb, by the way.

If David Archuleta has so many loyal fans why did he only sell 16,000 Christmas Cds? Jamie!