Rating:
Genre:
Vocal Music
Release Date: 11/11/2003
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.
~Aaron Latham, All Music Guide
Chris Boardman - Conductor
Chris Boardman - Orchestration
Chris Boardman - Orchestral Arrangements
Jeremy Lubbock - Arranger
Jeremy Lubbock - Conductor
Jeremy Lubbock - Orchestral Arrangements
David Foster - Piano
David Foster - Arranger
David Foster - Keyboards
David Foster - Producer
David Foster - A&R
Joshua Bell - Violin
Terry Bradford - Choir, Chorus
Alexandra Brown - Choir, Chorus
Angela Brown - Choir, Chorus
Jorge Calandrelli - Conductor
Jorge Calandrelli - Orchestral Arrangements
Joey Diggs - Choir, Chorus
Peter Doell - Assistant
Felipe Elgueta - Engineer
Felipe Elgueta - Synthesizer Programming
Mark Eshelman - Assistant
David Fall - Drums
Roy Galloway - Choir, Chorus
Humberto Gatica - Engineer
Humberto Gatica - Mixing
Mark Hammond - Arranger
Mark Hammond - Keyboards
Mark Hammond - Producer
Mark Hammond - Synthesizer Programming
J'Anna Jacoby - Violin
Pierre Jacquot - Engineer
Pierre Jacquot - Mixing
Mortonette Jenkins - Choir, Chorus
Jay Landers - A&R
Mauro Malavasi - Producer
Marco Marinangeli - Vocals (Background)
Marco Marinangeli - Vocal Producer
Kenny O'Brien - Pro-Tools
Rafael Padilla - Percussion
Richard Page - Vocals (Background)
Dean Parks - Guitar
Mark Portmann - Arranger
Mark Portmann - Keyboards
Mark Portmann - Programming
Mark Portmann - Producer
Mark Portmann - Engineer
Dave Reitzas - Engineer
Dave Reitzas - Vocal Engineer
Dave Reitzas - Pro-Tools
Alejandro Rodriguez - Engineer
Alejandro Rodriguez - Assistant
Paul Schwartz - Arranger
Paul Schwartz - Programming
Paul Schwartz - Producer
Paul Schwartz - Drum Programming
Paul Schwartz - Orchestral Arrangements
Ramon Stagnaro - Guitar
Wil Wheaton - Choir, Chorus
Eric Rigler - Uillean Pipes
Simon Hale - String Arrangements
Simon Hale - Orchestral Arrangements
Simon Hale - Direction
Michael Hart Thompson - Guitar
Eric Mouquet - Arranger
Eric Mouquet - Keyboards
Eric Mouquet - Producer
Suzie Katayama - Music Preparation
Walter Afanasieff - Arranger
Walter Afanasieff - Keyboards
Walter Afanasieff - Programming
Walter Afanasieff - Producer
Adam Jackson - Choir, Chorus
Sandy DeCrescent - Music Contractor
William Ross - Arranger
William Ross - Conductor
William Ross - Producer
William Ross - Orchestral Arrangements
Jules Chaikin - Music Contractor
Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff - Art Direction
Mick Haggerty - Art Direction
Mick Haggerty - Design
Matthew Dellapolla - Scoring Consultant
Olaf Heine - Photography
Patricia Weber - Assistant
Debbie Gates - Choir, Chorus
Andrea Sandrei - Vocals (Background)
Alan Mason - Assistant
Vlado Meller - Mastering
Adam Michalak - Assistant
Michael Nouri - A&R
Joe Wohlmuth - Engineer
Joe Wohlmuth - Pro-Tools
Nita Whitaker - Choir, Chorus
Josh Groban - Piano
Josh Groban - Vocals (Background)
Klaus Derendorf - Arranger
Klaus Derendorf - Producer
Neil Devor - Engineer
Neil Devor - Coordination
Neil Devor - Synthesizer Programming
Filippo Zecchini - Engineer
Bryan Clements - Assistant
Christian Robles - Pro-Tools
Courtney Blooding - Vocals (Background)
Courtney Blooding - Pro-Tools
Jorge Vivo - Pro-Tools
Kathy Frangetis - Production Coordination
Alberto Amendola - Piano Technician
Alberto Amendola - Piano Tuner
Norbert Gallo - Guitar
Rich Davis - Production Coordination
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