S P E C I A L E D I T I O N : A special edition of Closer includes two new tracks, the EPK and exclusive footage of "the making of" the album.
Thanks to a fortuitous intersection of talent and fate, 22-year-old Josh Groban hasn't finished his senior year in performing arts school but has already released his sophomore effort on a major major label. Fans of the young vocal phenom's debut will find much to enthrall them here, even if it nudges the singer closer to the center of producer/mentor David Foster's MOR pop sensibilities. Eschewing much of its predecessors more overt classic-lite pretensions and pop-rock covers for a slate of dramatic, Eurocentric ballads that serve as a showcase for the singer's inviting baritone, Groban shrewdly positions himself as the American alternative to the Bocelli-Watson crossover axis. "Caruso" may find the singer falling short of its operatic inspiration, but "Oceano" and "My Confession" quickly showcase the singer's true dramatic range (which seems to all but yearn for a bona fide Broadway musical challenge), while a vocal take of Bacalov's graceful "Il Postino" theme uses classical virtuoso Joshua Bell's violin flourishes to good effect. To his credit, Groban displays some promising efforts at songwriting collaboration on the bittersweet "Per Te" and "Remember When It Rains," while the ambient/ethnic soundscape of Deep Forest's "Never Let Go" offers a teasing alternative to the record's otherwise melodramatic production formula. Groban has found commercial triumph via Foster's mentoring, but there remains a nagging sense here that he hasn't truly pushed himself as an artist--yet. --Jerry McCulley
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Heart-felt music and voice!:
I started to enjoy vocals a few years ago. When I heard Josh Groban. I started to like it more. There is this relaxing and innocent tone to his voice, one of the best voices out there. I highly recommend his music.!!!
beautiful:
No other words to express this album,,,the artistry is superb. would recommend to anyone, this album makes me glad I am a music lover, it is inspiring
simply amazing...:
This was my first Josh Groban album and definitely not my last. I've never been fond of opera for the simple reason that I disliked not knowing the words. Clearly that is not really the problem because as far as I'm concerned Josh can sing to me any language he wants. He has a rich smooth sound that reaches deep inside. I initially purchased this CD for "You Raise Me Up," and discovered a wealth of inspiring music. In mi mancherai (il postino), the duet with Joshua Bell is heart rendingly beautiful. My... more info
Golden Voice!:
This album has inspired me to begin learning Italian. I learned the words to "Oceano" by heart almost immediately. Not a single song on this album do I not like. Josh is an incredible singer--one of the best voices I have heard in a long time. This is actually the second time I have purchased this album, because I wanted to get the accompanying "Making Of..." DVD.
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