Music review: Josh Groban – 鈥楤ridges鈥�
A world-renowned singer with the unmistakable baritone voice, Josh Groban is back with a new album of assorted musical offerings containing covers and original tracks of sophisticated charm orchestrated to engage, encourage and entertain.
鈥淏ridges鈥� demonstrates the 37-year-old Los Angeles native鈥檚 infectious charisma as Groban provides plenty of jaw-dropping moments on the 12-track set.
The uplifting 鈥淕ranted鈥� opens the album in dramatic fashion with an encouraging message of making the most of each day and a reminder that it鈥檚 never too late to write your own story as he declares, 鈥淚f you have a dream go chase it/If you feel hope don鈥檛 waste it/If you find love embrace it/And never take a single breath for granted.鈥�
鈥淪ymphony鈥� follows with moments of longing and heartbreak as a result of a long-distance relationship and the struggles of keeping love alive while so far apart.
Feelings of desperation, reflection and redemption are addressed on 鈥淩iver.鈥� I couldn鈥檛 help but be reminded of Bruce Springsteen鈥檚 title track from 1980鈥檚 鈥淭he River.鈥� Both songs use the river as a place of confession and contemplation as the constant flowing waters attempt to wash away the worries and disappointments by serving as a place of familiarity and comfort with Groban singing, 鈥淪o I walk down to the river/Where the troubles, they can鈥檛 find me/Let the waters there remind me/The sun will be there when we wake.鈥�
Flamenco guitar maestro Vicente Amigo contributes his skills to the fiery Spanish number 鈥淢usica Del Corazon,鈥� while Italian vocalist Andrea Bocelli performs a soaring operatic duet with Groban on 鈥淲e Will Meet Once Again鈥� and Canadian siren Sarah McLachlan joins Groban on a moving cover of Snow Patrol鈥檚 鈥淩un.鈥�
Other highlights include a duet with Sugarland鈥檚 Jennifer Nettles on the country-tinged 鈥�99 Years鈥� and a breathtaking performance on the Simon and Garfunkel classic 鈥淏ridge Over Troubled Water.鈥�
The deluxe edition also contains a splendid version of Billy Joel鈥檚 鈥淪he鈥檚 Always a Woman.鈥�
Groban comes to Pittsburgh鈥檚 PPG Paints Arena on November 16 with very special guest Idina Menzel.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.