With that being said, not sure what some of you folks expected from this release... It is after all a Sting album, that followed a Lute album.... I myself think that it is actually very nice and am enjoying it as much as can be expected. I do like classical music at some times, so maybe I am biased. And I think that Sting does have a very unique voice that is very adaptable to many styles of music and that it is not at all out of place on this album.... This is a Christmas album playing traditional, and albeit old, music... I think that he sounds very good and I will definitely be happy to have it during the holidays. It is rather mellow, but I don't think that he was going to come out with this rocking solo album, even after the exhaustive tour that he did with the Police as many might have expected... I guess tht I appreciate it for what it is, another album that Sting took a lot of time and effort to put out, playing music about a season that he is very passionate about... I guess, take it for what it is worth. Just my opinion. Not knocking anybody for not liking it, because I think that it's probably not for everybody, just felt like I needed to stick up for the man...

PS- the beard is a little bit too homeless-like, but I imagine that is what he likes to have in the winter in Tuscany... hell, I have about 4 days of scruff on my face when I am off. If I didn't have to worry about shaving, I would probably sport a facial-rug like that too...