Calista Flockhart. Sarah Brightman. Now, himself.
While Josh Groban has skirted with fame previously, he’s now striking out on his own with a gem that shouldn’t be overlooked.
“Josh Groban” introduces the new artist with a debut album that, while a little different than what you might be used to hearing, will provide a listening experience that will take a person away content with the knowledge that money did not go to waste.
Groban’s first album will draw a lot of comparisons with another artist. For years, Sarah Brightman has pushed the envelope of what pop music can be. Coming out of a career on Broadway, her CDs provide a mix of different languages and musical styles.
She lays on top a unique voice that has created a new niche that toes the line between pop music and something you might hear on a Broadway stage or opera CD. Consider it icing on a very rich cake.
Josh Groban does the same here. His voice has a power that could make him a powerhouse in a musical or in a famous aria, but fits well onto a small disc.
Indeed, Groban performed onstage with Brightman during her recent La Luna tour, even making his way onto her live DVD concert which showed a glimpse of what his voice truly had to offer. With his CD, Groban performs an eclectic mix of music that would make many artists envious.
Some of the gems on this album are “You’re Still You,” a ballad that has beautiful orchestration, a positive vibe, and of course Groban’s powerful voice carrying the tune despite such high production values.
A more uptempo song can be found with “Canto Alla Vita,” a collaboration with labelmate The Corrs, which pulls two talented acts together and, using their combined strengths, creates a masterpiece showcasing both groups in a light that is a bit different than what you’d find on either of their albums elsewhere.
First single “To Where You Are,” written by Richard Marx, another pop music name, demonstrates how a single targeted at radio can still sound as great as a song plucked from Bach’s distinguished library.
A duet with Charlotte Church is closer to the CD, with “The Prayer.” The pairing of young voices is something to behold, with another great orchestration and a tune that is only fitting for this pairing.
Josh Groban’s career may be short, but it is distinguished.
Discovered by David Foster, whose label released his CD, Groban was signed after a private performance where he showed his vocal grace.
Along with pairing with Brightman on stage, he also appeared on Ally McBeal in late 2001, presenting a performance that turned a lot of heads.
Groban’s debut pulls songs from a variety of different sources, like Brightman’s efforts, and melds with great ease. All of the songs belong here; there are no strays that are powerful by themselves but just don’t fit.
This is a CD that was constructed thoughtfully and showcases Groban in prime form. Not bad for a debut album.
In today’s musical world, it’s rare where the music, the voice, and the songs all come together with the creativity and style that this CD does.
Too many of today’s CDs are a merging of synthesizer-driven beats , vocal effects, and very methodical editing that create an “eh” song out of a producer’s talent, not the artist’s.
While the producers should have a role, the singing on this disc will make a listener realize that music can be so much more.
While Brightman may have pioneered this new niche of music, Groban has continued its excellence with a pristine disc. Circuit City is featuring it as a great deal… head out and expand your musical horizons.
Speaking of Brightman… Sarah Brightman, whose sales have been rising as more people discover her, released recently a disc combining some of her classics with new selections.
“Classics” is designed to showcase Brightman’s range of music and display her at her best, but long-time fans will love the new offerings that can be found on this disc.
Much of this CD, unlike some of the others, is more weighted at foreign language selections, but this shouldn’t deter you.
Brightman’s voice and the quality of the music will be enough for you to enjoy and the language doesn’t matter as much as the power behind many of these pieces, such as “La Luna” and “Nessun Dorma.” A collection of her material has been long overdue, and the result doesn’t disappoint.
This is Brightman’s latest effort since her last all-new album of material, “La Luna,” which cracked the upper levels of the Billboard Top 200 albums chart when it was released. The label she’s on, while smaller in size, has proven that this niche is one they won’t ignore and puts a lot of muscle behind each release. It’s a good thing, considering the state of music today leaves so little room for it.
With “Classics,” new listeners will get yet another chance to be introduced to gems that hold up to the album’s name.
Like Groban, Brightman’s CD requires an open mind, as this is not your normal Britney Spears, Ludacris or Creed. But both CDs will take you to a place where music hasn’t been and you’ll discover it’s a world that should have been discovered long ago.
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