Josh Groban - The Josh Groban Collection (2015) [Official Digital Download]

Josh Groban is among the most popular singers straddling the classical and pop genres. It can be said his voice does some straddling as well, ranging from upper baritone well into the tenor range, making classification somewhat problematic. What is not problematic for the listener is the warm, mellifluous sound produced by it, the chief reason for Groban's meteoric rise. His first solo album, the eponymously titled Josh Groban, was released in 2001 and was an instant hit, auguring international stardom. He has had a number of gold and platinum recordings… This collection includes the albums: Josh Groban (2001), Closer (2003), Awake (2006), Illuminations (2010), All That Echoes (2013).

Producer, record executive, and songwriter David Foster has a long history of trying to wed commercial considerations to the lighter elements of pop music, and in young Josh Groban, whom he adopted as a protégé in late 1998 when the singer was 17, he is trying to get in on the classical crossover market effectively occupied by the likes of Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman, and Charlotte Church (who duets with Groban on "The Prayer" here). On his eponymous debut, Groban has a rich voice that falls somewhere between a low tenor and a high baritone, and Foster has crafted or commissioned music that will sound classical to the ears of non-classical fans, much of it with lyrics in Italian to complete the effect. "Gira con Me Questa Notte," for example, is a slow ballad that sounds like it may have escaped from a minor opera, but in fact was composed by Foster and songwriter/producer Walter Afanasieff (best-known for his work with Mariah Carey). Groban is also given some ballads in English, with songwriting credits that include such Southern California pop-meisters as Richard Marx, Albert Hammond, Carole Bayer Sager, and Foster's wife, Linda Thompson. The result is an ersatz classical crossover record that won't fool the experts but could easily find its way into households that welcome Celine Dion and other sub-operatic emoters of her ilk. Groban is certainly not to be blamed for taking his chances with Foster instead of staying in college or pursuing a classical career, and his first album is enjoyable even if it doesn't live up to its pretensions.

Tracklist:

01 - Alla Luce Del Sole
02 - Gira Con Me Questa Notte
03 - You're Still You
04 - Cinema Paradiso (Se)
05 - To Where You Are
06 - Alejate
07 - Canto Alla Vita (feat. The Corrs)
08 - Let Me Fall (from Cirque du Soleil)
09 - Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)
10 - Un Amore Per Sempre
11 - Home To Stay
12 - Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (feat. Lili Haydn)
13 - The Prayer (with Charlotte Church)

In a short period of time, Josh Groban went from being a talented vocalist ready to enter college to the new prince of romantic music with a best-selling debut album and highly rated PBS special. The successful combination of his classical crossover croon, boyish good looks, and association with überproducer David Foster helped Groban become a sensation. His sophomore studio disc, Closer, stays comfortably within the boundaries built by his debut collection as Foster once again helms a modest set of pseudo-classical pop songs dreamily sung in various languages. Listening to Groban, it is easy to understand why this MOR style suits him so well as his maturing voice is not grand enough to fully embrace operatic material yet remains too rich and technical for typical mainstream pop music. On Closer he works within his limitations and the result is a more consistent listen than the scattershot debut with his voice sounding comfortable performing these emotional European-inspired pop songs. The best tunes bookend the disc as the atmospheric opener, "Oceano," sets an ominous tone while the mysterious "Never Let Go" is a welcome collaboration with Deep Forest that allows Groban to successfully move away from the saccharine ballads and grow as a vocalist. However, there is still plenty of romance included for the PBS crowd as "When You Say You Love Me" painfully cries out like a rejected Celine Dion cut and the Celtic-infused bombast of Secret Garden's "You Raise Me Up" plays like the sequel to his debut's most famous song, "To Where You Are." In addition to his improved vocals, Groban contributes three co-writing efforts that include "Never Let Go," and shows that there is a future for him to evenly match his skills as a vocalist and a songwriter. Although the disc still focuses on bland rose petal confessions, its highlights point in the right direction and bring Groban Closer to creating an album that eliminates the sick sweetness while remaining a tasty, satisfying treat.

Tracklist:

01 - Oceano
02 - My Confession
03 - Mi Mancherai (Il Postino) [feat. Joshua Bell]
04 - Si Volvieras A Mi
05 - When You Say You Love Me
06 - Per Te
07 - All'Improvviso Amore
08 - Broken Vow
09 - Caruso
10 - Remember When It Rained
11 - Hymne A L'amour
12 - You Raise Me Up
13 - Never Let Go (With Deep Forest)

Longtime fans of Josh Groban should be pleased to know that the vocalist's third studio album, Awake, features more of the polished, well-crafted, and emotionally grand classical crossover pop he has become known for. In fact, the album is perhaps his most appealing and deviates little from his previous outings. Here listeners get a mix of original songs – some co-written by Groban – that trade between more classical/opera-oriented songs sung in Italian and more pop-oriented songs in English. Interestingly, the tracks co-penned by Groban are some of the most compelling, and showcase his knack for a kind of '60s Scott Walker baroque pop meets '80s Diane Warren adult contemporary vibe. This brings up the only problem with Awake, which is that as Groban's music has moved closer and closer to pop, the necessity of utilizing Italian becomes increasingly nebulous. Truthfully, barring any awkward translations, most of these songs would sound fine sung in English and generally come off as very good Italian pop songs. So, despite being quite listenable, from a mainstream pop point of view the use of Italian is great for lending the album a sheen of pan-European classical regality, but in some ways limits the emotional impact of the songs to only those who understand Italian. None of this really matters, though, to fans of Groban, who justifiably respond to his superb technique, silky tone, and bedroom eyes. It doesn't hurt either that he's brought along some unexpected guests this time around in the African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, appearing here on two tracks, as well as legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, who shows up on the angular and half-funky "Machine." It's also great to hear Groban dig into an adaptation of "Un Giorno Per Noi," Nino Rota's theme to Franco Zeffirelli's classic 1968 film Romeo and Juliet. The song, as Awake itself, is a grand collision of pop culture and co-opted classical themes from then and now, and perfectly embodies everything that has made Groban so successful.

Tracklist:

01 - Mai
02 - You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)
03 - Un Dia Llegara
04 - February Song
05 - L'Ultima Notte
06 - So She Dances
07 - In Her Eyes
08 - Solo Por Ti
09 - Now Or Never
10 - Un Giorno Per Noi
11 - Lullaby (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo)
12 - Weeping (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Vusi Mahlasela)
13 - Machine (with Herbie Hancock)

Stars hire Rick Rubin for one thing: to achieve a purity of essence. When it comes to singers like Johnny Cash or songwriters like Neil Diamond – even rock bands like Weezer – Rubin’s approach feels natural, as he strips away the varnish that’s clouded over the years, but Josh Groban is an odd choice for the Rubin maneuver. Not a singer/songwriter in the classic sense but rather a classical singer who dabbles in pop, Groban doesn’t need to be stripped to his essence because bombast is a crucial part of the equation. Smart guy that he is, Rubin doesn’t eliminate surging melodrama from Groban’s bag of tricks but he does limit and mute the palette, making sure the strings don’t soar so high and that the singer doesn’t bellow. These subtle adjustments, which include hiring Semisonic’s Dan Wilson as a co-writing partner for Groban, wind up having a drastic effect on the flavor of Illuminations, turning it into something warm, burnished, and intimate, a spell only briefly broken by the cacophonic clatter of the Portuguese “Você Existe em Mim.” Its presence is a testament to Groban’s curiosity but Illuminations is best when he plays close to the vest, which means this is another instance where Rubin succeeds by illuminating his subject’s essence.

Tracklist:

01 - The Wandering Kind (Prelude)
02 - Bells Of New York City
03 - Galileo (Someone Like You)
04 - L'Ora Dell'Addio
05 - Hidden Away
06 - Au Jardin Des Sans-Pourquoi
07 - Higher Window
08 - If I Walk Away
09 - Love Only Knows
10 - Você Existe Em Mim
11 - War At Home
12 - London Hymn
13 - Straight To You

Vocalist Josh Groban's sixth studio album, 2013's All That Echoes, features more of the crossover classical music that has become his trademark, while pushing further than ever toward the pop end of the spectrum. This is largely due to producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day, Goo Goo Dolls, Paramore), who frames Groban's burnished croon in sweeping alt-rock arrangements that layer atmospheric guitar lines against grand orchestral segments. It also doesn't hurt that with every album, Groban has garnered more co-writing credits, adding to the intimate and personal vibe of All That Echoes. Tracks like leadoff single "Brave" and the dramatic ballad "False Alarms" bring to mind the yearning uplift of bands like U2 and OneRepublic, albeit helmed by Groban's crisp vocal intonation and soaring, resonant style. And as with all of Groban's releases, he has made great choices for songs to cover. Here, listeners get impassioned takes on such songs as Glen Hansard's "Falling Slowly" and Stevie Wonder's "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)." Though he's known for his mainstream appeal, Groban has never shied away from trying new and unexpected songs, and All That Echoes is no exception, featuring a moody and contemporary reworking of the traditional Celtic song "She Moved Through the Fair" as well as a truly inspired reading of Jimmy Webb's "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress," which turns the soulful ballad into a heartbreaking Broadway-style showpiece. Also adding to the album's quality are guest appearances from trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and Italian singer Laura Pausini. While all of Groban's albums are immaculately produced affairs, All That Echoes is one of his best.

Tracklist:

53 - Brave
54 - False Alarms
55 - Falling Slowly
56 - She Moved Through The Fair
57 - Below The Line
58 - E Ti Prometterò (feat. Laura Pausini)
59 - The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
60 - Un Alma Mas (feat. Arturo Sandoval)
61 - Happy In My Heartache
62 - Hollow Talk
63 - Sincera
64 - I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)


Thanks to the Original customer!