Type: Lyrics are included with the album, Enhanced CD-ROM
Genre: Vocal Music
Review
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)
Closer is the second studio album and third overall album by vocalist Josh Groban, released in November 2003. Much like his first studio album, half of Closer's songs are sung in English, with the remainder sung in various other languages (Italian, Spanish, and French).
The album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, selling about 375,000 copies in its first week.[1] In January 2004, the album rose from number 11 to number one in its ninth week on the chart, selling about 110,000 copies that week. This followed a sales campaign by Target.[2]
In Australia it reached a peak position of 25 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart. On the 13th June 2007, it re-entered the charts at 39.[3] As of June, 2009, the album has sold over 5,759,000 copies in the United States.[4] The track "You Raise Me Up" charted at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at #1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart also. The track "Remember When it Rained" peaked at #15 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Track listing
"Oceano" (Leo Z, Andrea Sandri, Mauro Malavasi) (Produced by David Foster, Leo Z, and Malavasi) – 4:03
