Classical pop singer Josh Groban is back after three years with his fifth studio album, Illuminations. Groban wrote 11 tracks inspired by his personal life. Unlike his previous albums where he worked with producer David Foster, Groban partnered with producer Rick Rubin (best known for his work with The Beastie Boys, Johnny Cash and the Red Hot Chili Peppers).
As heard on his previous albums, Groban stays true to his classical sound and use of real instruments. His soft and soothing voice is captivating, especially on slow tempo tracks that highlight Groban’s vocal range.
Illuminationshas a variety of songs, from hymns to modern classical pop tunes. Showing that his music isn’t confined by genre barriers, Groban offers four songs in three different languages: “L’Ora Dell’Addio” and “London Hymm” are in Italian, “Au Jardin Des Sans-Pourqoui” is sung in French and “Voce Existe Em Mim” is in Portuguese.
At times, Groban seems to be forcing the lyrics to flow with the background music, like on “Galileo (Someone Like You)” and “Straight to You.” His execution of these tracks can distract listeners from concentrating on the overall lyrical content.
On “Hidden Away,” Groban evokes anguish in the chorus: “Reaching out for someone I can believe in/All I really need today/I want to feel your love.”
Groban expresses many emotions that listeners can feel—and though he’ll touch many listeners with Illuminations, his 2003 cover of “You Raise Me Up” still stands as one of his best tracks.
