Illuminations [CD]

For all Groban fans, this latest CD is an absolute must. Co-writing the majority of the songs on the CD, Josh Groban's rich baritone voice is more amazing than ever. I confess to having been a fan of Josh's since first spying him on Ally McBeal and truly with each CD (this is his fifth) he is growing in stature as an artist. From the wintery sounding 'Bells of New York' to the beautifully haunting Gallileo, this is a fantastic album and one which, I'm sure, if you've not listened to Groban before, you would still enjoy!

143 Records/Reprise Records presents "ILLUMINATIONS", Josh Groban's latest release has a variety of songs, thought provoking, which makes you think --- Had mixed feelings when I first heard this 13 track album --- Groban is missing the passion, emotion and sincerity he showed in his older work --- Am not too fond of the falsetto he uses on many of the new songs --- Feel that he and Rick Rubin are heading in the wrong direction.

ILLUMINATIONS (Track Listings & Times)
1 The Wandering Kind (Prelude) [2:38]
2 Bells of New York City [3:49]
3 Galileo (Someone Like You) [3:22]
4 L' Ora Dell'Addio [3:27]
5 Hidden Away [3:56]
6 Au Jardin Des Sans-Pourquoi [3:32]
7 Higher Window [4:37]
8 If I Walk Away [3:52]
9 Love Only Knows [4:43]
10 Voce Existe Em Mim [5:06]
11 War At Home [4:44]
12 London Hymn [1:56]
13 Straight To You [4:10]

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 3 Stars
Mixing: 3 Stars
Overall: 3 Stars [Arrangements & Song Selection]

Groban is a maturing musician and artist --- Must make mention he co-wrote and composed most of the album --- Overall, just okay. hopefully he will return to my favorite producer and arranger David Foster as that was some of his best work.

Total Time: 50 min on 13 Tracks ~ 143 Records/Reprise Records ~ (11/15/2010)

This album is most definitely more of a flying leap than a small step away from Groban's usual musical safety net of epic love songs, sung beautifully in a variety of languages. Most of the expected soaring orchestral arrangements coupled with big endings are absent from this album, to be replaced with folksy, pared-down arrangements, courtesy apparently of producer Rick Rubin's influence.

I wondered what the heck Groban was playing at after the first listen - why change from his tried and tested method of pop/classical crossover to something like this? But the more I considered the change, I began to wonder if perhaps he felt that if he didn't bolt for the door of musical change NOW, he would NEVER break free of the constraints of his hugely popular cover of "You raise me up" and all the songs which fit comfortably within that musical remit, ie. most of the songs on his previous four studio-released albums with some notable exceptions (Weeping being one such exception which springs to mind).

I was uncertain whether I liked this massive change of direction when I first listened to the album, I will admit. It seemed lacking somehow in the soaring power of previous efforts; many of the emotionally wrenching love songs such as Broken Vow, the songs which converted me from cynic to fan, were gone. I was unconvinced by the folk aspect of many of the songs. However, as I listen to it more, I realised I was really starting to enjoy it. There was a more personal, down to earth feel to many of the songs which did not appear on his previous albums much; in particular Higher Window, Bells of New York City and If I Walk Away. They speak not only of love but of heartbreak and occasionally anger. I quite liked this development, and whilst Groban will not be winning any prizes for his lyrics any time soon, I give him a 10/10 for effort. I can't think of anything scarier within the cut throat music business than baring your musical heart for all to see and analyse and waiting for the circling vultures to tear it apart.

One reviewer made the comment that the songs sounded like they came from a bad Andrew Lloyd Webber musical - whilst I can't agree about the "bad" part, I think they, perhaps unconsciously, hit the nail on the head. Groban's background is not classical music, it's musical theatre. This album, in my opinion, has that kind of feel to it, I believe that many of these songs would not be out of place on the West End or Broadway.

Here is my breakdown of the album:

The Good:

* The Wandering Kind - a lovely piece of folk music, laying the groundwork for the rest of the album. I am certain that some fans will wonder, however, why they paid good money for two and a half minutes of instrumental music when they bought the album of a singer. My personal belief is that Groban wanted to show of his songwriting talents here, and I think it works well.

* Bells of New York City - This is a highlight of the album for me. I love the piano riff at the beginning, and think the lyrics are really quite good. A quirky take on the classic love song.

* Galileo (Someone like you) - A strange song - a love song to beauty - but the lovely chorus more than makes up for the slightly twee verses. Showcases Gorban's considerable vocal talents very well.

* If I walk away - You get the feeling that this is a very personal song for Groban. Stripped down, no fuss. Groban shows off his wonderful voice again; no huge, epic key changes or fancy vocal trickery. Lovely.

* Voce Existe Em Mim - classic Grobanesque orchestral power song. His first song in Portuguese. Great stuff.

* Straight to you - This feels like it should be on the West End, sung to the girl who he just can't forget - and I think that's a good thing, personally!

* Higher Window - some slightly juvenile lyrics spoilt this otherwise lovely song. I get the feeling this is another hugely personal effort.

The Not Too Bad:

*Love only knows - nice song, another which you feel Groban has poured his heart into.

* Hidden Away - sweet lyrics, nice music, but not enough of the expected Groban powerhouse vocals to be successful as the first single off the album.

* Au Jardin Des Sans-Pourquoi - nice but not really up my street.

* London Hymn - can't quite work out what this is supposed to be, but a nice piece of music all the same!

* War at home - pretty but sad song; almost an anthem! Uplifting but again some slightly twee lyrics are not entirely to my liking.

The Forgettable:

* L'Ora Dell'Addio - I actually had to play this song again in order to remember what it sounds like. It's nice but it's not as good as his usual big foreign language epic love songs for some reason. Perhaps David Foster should have produced this one.

I swithered between giving this 3 or 4 stars and evidently I decided eventually on 4 as it is a good effort and in my opinion, worth the wait. It is a much more personal effort which shows Josh Groban is attempting to break away from the standard love songs which formed the basis of his previous albums, and for that I applaud him. Must have been a frightening thing to contemplate.