Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I dunno what it is about this guy. I'm 5 decades old, been singing in amateur vocal ensembles that perform challenging music for more than 30 years, been around loads of wonderful, highly trained operatic voices and I agree with many of the criticisms written elsewhere of this album (the brit version at any rate; not many reviews of the US version so far, too early). I agree there are some production issues on this CD; I agree the guy has some technical issues that should be addressed as he matures as an artist. He can be a little thin & forced, esp in the high register. There are a few pitch problems, again mostly up high. I prefer his Italian to his English -- I think his English diction is a little odd actually. And given the rush to production, coming on the heels of a personal whirlwind, I can't help thinking the pressure and the tiredness had some effect on the finished product. And yet, and yet -- what is this "hair standing up on the back of the neck" thing? From his throat to my autonomic nervous system, without requiring a pass through the brain. It is an amazing gift that this man has, to elicit such a profound emotional reaction in the listener. The Nella Fantasia is just heartbreakingly lovely. The last note on "Music of the Night" is absolutely beautifully rendered. I also liked the Cavatina a good deal. I can (and do) greatly admire the recordings of many more technically perfect singers. My brain tells me I should naturally prefer listening to those recordings. My gut just tells me to keep this one on the CD player and hit the replay button again....