Awake
Josh Groban
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Engineer: Humberto Gatica, Alejandro Rodriguez,
Producer: Eric Mouquet, Glen Ballard, Marius De Vries, David Foster
Reprise, 2006
1 CD
Catalogue #: 9362444352
EAN: 0093624443520
UPC: 093624443520
You save: 20%
Personnel include: Josh Groban; Michael Thompson , Tim Pierce (guitar); Sean Hurley (keyboards); Nathan East (bass guitar); Matt Chamberlain, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Marius De Vries (programming); Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Recording information: 2006.
Expectations for vocalist Josh Groban's third release ran high, especially given the phenomenal success of his sophomore effort, CLOSER, which reached number one on the Billboard charts. Like Andrea Bocelli, Groban treads the line between classical, operatic singing, and crossover pop. AWAKE manages the synthesis beautifully. With its strong batch of songs, and Groban's voice continuing to develop, the album may even best its predecessor.
Opener "Mai," sung in Italian, sets the tone for the album. Highly romantic, stirring, and couched in tasteful orchestral arrangements, the song is the perfect canvas for Groban's heart-melting delivery. "February Song," which finds the artist accompanied only by piano, is more reserved and plaintive. Other album highlights include "Machine," with a funky, jazzy backdrop provided by Herbie Hancock, and "Lullaby" and "Weeping," which feature the South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mombazo.
Tracklist
Josh Groban
Part of a wave of classical-pop crossover artists around the turn of the century (Charlotte Church, Bond, Andrea Bocelli), Josh Groban achieved massive worldwide success straight out of the gate with his 2001 debut album. In fact, he veers considerably closer to pop than the aforementioned artists (can you picture Andrea Bocelli tackling Ultravox's "Vienna?"), but maintains enough of a classical/opera comportment and flavoring to appeal to stragglers on either side of the fence. His photogenic appearance and acting experience don't hurt his popularity either.
