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A  Christmas Cornucopia Image
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings

  • Summary: The Christmas album from the Scottish singer who gained worldwide fame as half of the Eurythmics features a 30-piece orchestra and the African Children's Choir.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Nov 18, 2010
    80
    The result is a collection you might actually play at other times of the year, too.
  2. 80
    Annie Lennox is robustly reverent on A Christmas Cornucopia, putting the full and frequently rough power of her voice behind some of the sternest old carols, with devout verses that are often omitted.
  3. Nov 18, 2010
    80
    A Christmas Cornucopia is a real contender for best Christmas album of 2010.
  4. Mojo
    Dec 23, 2010
    80
    She was born on Christmas Day, but has an unsentimental take on the holiday. [Jan. 2011, p. 94]
  5. 80
    Technically unimpeachable, the layered harmonies of songs such as "Angels From The Realms Of Glory" and "The Holly And The Ivy" are rendered with razor-sharp precision, though there's a stridency to her delivery on some pieces.
  6. Nov 18, 2010
    70
    After almost a dozen similarly classic melodies being reworked so thoughtfully, the album's sole original-and secular-composition, the borderline-soft-rock "Universal Child," sounds remarkably bland, like a Yuletide "We Are the World." Still, Lennox seems more inspired on A Christmas Cornucopia than she has in years.
  7. Uncut
    Dec 20, 2010
    40
    One new track, "universal Child," fails to lighten the mood. [Jan 2011, p.94]

See all 9 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 1 out of 2
  1. Nov 23, 2012
    10
    This is so heartfelt and pure. In interviews, Lennox reports how personal this project to her, and it shows. Each arrangement breaths new lifeThis is so heartfelt and pure. In interviews, Lennox reports how personal this project to her, and it shows. Each arrangement breaths new life into the hymns. The inclusion of the African choir and other various styles, including country dance and folk, work, in a way few other compilations have, to remind us that these songs, like the glorious events and season most of them describe, are meant for all the world. This is simply beautiful, and seemingly more intentionally crafted than anything Ms. Lennox has done so far. Thank you for this! Collapse
  2. Mar 24, 2023
    0
    This album is an all-out assault on the ears at what should be a peaceful time of year. The vocal processing on the first few songs (the mostThis album is an all-out assault on the ears at what should be a peaceful time of year. The vocal processing on the first few songs (the most I could stomach before throwing this CD away) is overwhelmingly bad. The cover is so beautiful; the tracklist (while a little more religious than I'd normally go for) looks stately and reverent. But there is no purity here, unless that means auto-tuning. In that case, this is as pure as a bleak midwinter snow in the deep woods. Avoid at all cost unless you love Christmas robots. Expand