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The Gift
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The Gift Image
Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 11 Ratings

  • Summary: The mezzo-soprano singer from Scotland has a second album of orchestral Christmas carols and various non-holiday song selections that showcase the voice that had even Simon Cowell singing her praises.
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Top Track

Hallelujah
Now I've heard there was a secret chord That David played, and it pleased the Lord But you don't really care for music, do you? It goes like this The... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. BBC Music
    Dec 8, 2010
    70
    The Gift wins at warming the heart in a time of reflection and recession, ringing subtly--via an impressively less-than-mechanical recipe--in the slushiest part of our brains.
  2. The New York Times
    Feb 9, 2011
    70
    Mostly she and the producer Steve Mac render traditionals--"Auld Lang Syne," "O Come All Ye Faithful" and more--in unerringly gorgeous, if wrenchingly polite, arrangements, performances that smooth flat the many creases in Ms. Boyle's sometimes erratic public persona.
  3. Billboard.com
    Dec 8, 2010
    66
    The Gift, the second release from famed "Britain's Got Talent" contestant Susan Boyle, is a bit of a tweener: mostly a holiday album and partly a follow-up to last year's massively successful "I Dreamed a Dream."
  4. Dot Music
    Dec 8, 2010
    60
    There are a couple of songs so overfamiliar that Boyle can do little to revitalise them, including a predictable trudge through 'Auld Lang Syne' and the saccharine overdose of 'Away In A Manger', but Boyle herself once again emerges from trashy circumstances with class intact.
  5. AllMusic
    Dec 8, 2010
    50
    For the most part, The Gift is indeed predictable in its sound--a continuation of the glassy, stately march of I Dreamed a Dream--and songs, relying on carols, not secular seasonal tunes.

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Shiira
    Mar 10, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I can't believe they let you go. They made a mistake. They are idiots. Whoever they are. Wherever you are. Wherever you are is the best place to be at any given moment.… Expand
  2. OfficialCarlo
    Nov 29, 2010
    10
    Honestly, People have forgotten the very essence of music which is singing. Throughout the album, Susan gave us sweet melodies for a pleasantHonestly, People have forgotten the very essence of music which is singing. Throughout the album, Susan gave us sweet melodies for a pleasant Christmas without shouting/screaming/belting high notes. In fact, people today have forgotten that true singing (with less style and good vocals) is an art. Although, it might sound too adult contemporary but still is real music… Expand
  4. Turine
    Apr 9, 2011
    8
    After listening to it a few times, it starts to sound really, really christmas type of music. Enjoyable, and pleasant, soothing tunes whichAfter listening to it a few times, it starts to sound really, really christmas type of music. Enjoyable, and pleasant, soothing tunes which may gradually be a christmas album remembered for a long while.… Expand
  5. DoctorKilla
    Nov 23, 2010
    5
    My mother can't stop listening to this so-called "Christmas album". It's overly repetitive gospel/pop/slow old not-classic rock mixture stuff,My mother can't stop listening to this so-called "Christmas album". It's overly repetitive gospel/pop/slow old not-classic rock mixture stuff, and lacks any form of creative spark. Is the genre even definable?… Expand

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