REVIEW: Awake-Josh Groban

When it comes to Josh Groban, I melt. His first two albums has gotten me through stressful times and this one is no exception. The past month has been a trying time for me and my family, and I had trouble staying positive. Heck, there are times when I am bitter to the core.

Enter You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up). This was released as his first single, and I first heard it Before The Great Storm and thought it too pop for The New York Times’ “The New Boy Wonder of The Voice”. After The Great Storm, it’s my anthem. The lyrics are uplifting and if you are a spiritual person, you would say that this song is like God’s song to you. Ah, who else to sing it than Josh, who has thankfully stayed grounded, down to earth and forever grateful to his gift. Unlike Charlotte Church.

But that’s another review entirely.

If a reassuring and comforting hug were to be translated to music, this would be it. Songs like You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up), Machine (Josh’s attempt in funk jazz with Herbie Hancock which turned out great) and Lullaby (his acapella collaboration with Dave Matthews and co-sung with African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo), fits this category.

If sensuality, romance and love were to be translated to music, this would be it. When it comes to these themes, every Groban album including this one is peppered with romantic Italian, Spanish and English love songs that is sure to make you swoon. This is an album that every lonely single woman like me should purchase. In days of feeling unloved, Josh Groban comes to the rescue, and quite fittingly, because he is just so good looking.

A little critic and stab at politics and opression is also present. Enter “Weeping”, a sad, yet hopeful song that chronicles South Africa’s bout with oppression. Josh harmonizes wonderfully with the group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who also sang the same song with his favorite singer Paul Simon in the album “Graceland”.

I won’t critic each and every song but instead write down songs which are standouts in its various ways. I will instead also tell you which one I have on repeat.

1. Mai
2. You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up)
3. Un Dia Llagera (repeat)
4. February Song (he wrote it and co-composed the music)
5. L’ultima Notte (repeat)
6. So She Dances (repeat–favorite song because i’m a frustrated dancer)
7. In Her Eyes
8. Solo Por Ti (repeat)
9. Now or Never (with Imogen Heap) (repeat–my next favorite song in which by now i’m in a state of bliss)
10. Un Giorno Por Noi (repeat–added state of bliss)
11. Lullaby (produced by Dave Matthews) (repeat)
12. Weeping (a South African song he sung with Ladysmith Black Mambazo about the turmoil the country was experiencing) (repeat)
13. Machine (a great attempt at jazz funk, IMO, with Herbie Hancock) (repeat because i really appreciate the departure from popopera)

If his 2nd album Closer was a slight departure of his popopera genre, then Awake is one or two steps up the departure of the genre. With collaborations with Dave Matthews, Imogen Heap (lead singer of Frou Frou), and African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo among the usual tandem from his past work, the cd came together musically pleasing and eclectic enough without alienating the classical fans that Groban has and at the same time pleasing those who, like him, would like to spice things up.

I give it 5 stars, because:

1. I LOVE JOSH GROBAN

2. He made a great effort in putting this cd 

3. In appreciation of him “stretching his wings” and exploring new ways to make music.

4. For respecting his fans and his gift and not going all out pop like Charlotte Church.

5. I LOVE JOSH GROBAN

Oh I know he wants to be a popstar, but Josh Groban is too good for that genre and too versatile to be boxed in.