Josh Groban - Closer

Title: Closer Artist: Josh Groban Release Date: 2003 Label: Warner Bros. Records Duration: 406:40 Album Type(s): lyrics/libretto, Enhanced CD-ROM UPC: 093624845027 Genre: Crossover Total Copies: 18 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Oceano
2. My Confession
3. Il Postino (The Postman), film score
   - Mi Mancherai (Il Postino)
4. Si volvieras a mi
5. When You Say You Love Me
6. Per te
7. All'improvviso amore
8. Broken Vow, song
9. Caruso, for voice & orchestra
10. Remember When it Rained
11. Hymne a l'amour
12. You Raise Me Up (Por Ti Seré), song
13. Never Let Go

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

Name Credits Adam Jackson Choir, Chorus Adam Michalak Assistant, Assistant Engineer Alan Mason Assistant, Assistant Engineer Alberto Amendola Piano Tuner, Piano Technician Alejandro Rodriguez Engineer, Mixing Assistant, Assistant Alexandra Brown Choir, Chorus Andrea Sandrei Composer, Vocals (Background) Andrea Sandri Vocals (Background) Angela Brown Choir, Chorus Angie Passarella Guitar (Classical), Guitar (Acoustic) Brian Avnet Management Bryan Clements Assistant Engineer, Assistant Chris Boardman Orchestration, Orchestral Arrangements, Conductor Christian Robles Pro-Tools Courtney Blooding Pro-Tools, Vocals (Background) Cristián Robles Mixing Assistant Dave Reitzas Vocal Engineer, Engineer, Pro-Tools David Fall Drums David Foster Arranger, Piano, A&R, Keyboards, Producer Dean Parks Guitar Debbie Gates Choir, Chorus Devis Marotti Whistle (Human), Flute Eric Mouquet Producer, Arranger, Keyboards Eric Rigler Uillean Pipes Felipe Elgueta Synthesizer Programming, Engineer Filippo Zecchini Recording, Engineer Greta Detrich Production Coordination Humberto Gatica Recording, Mixing, Engineer J'Anna Jacoby Violin Jay Landers A&R Jaymes Foster-Levy A&R Jeff Ayeroff Art Direction Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff Art Direction Jeremy Lubbock Arranger, Conductor, Orchestral Arrangements Jochem van der Saag Drum Programming, Engineer, Synthesizer Programming Joe Wohlmuth Pro-Tools, Engineer Joey Diggs Choir, Chorus Jorge Calandrelli Conductor, Orchestral Arrangements Jorge Vivo Pro-Tools Josh Groban Vocals, Piano, Vocals (Background) Joshua Bell Violin Jules Chaikin Music Contractor Julie Eidsvoog Music Preparation Kathy Frangetis Production Coordination Kenny O'Brien Pro-Tools Klaus Derendorf Arranger, Producer Leo Zimmerman Percussion, Sampling, Producer, Programming, Keyboards, Engineer, Piano, Recording, Cymbals, Vocals (Background) Marco Marinangeli Vocal Producer, Vocals (Background) Mark Eshelman Assistant Engineer, Assistant Mark Hammond Keyboards, Producer, Synthesizer Programming, Arranger Mark Portmann Arranger, Programming, Keyboards, Engineer, Producer Marny Cameron A&R Matthew Dellapolla Scoring Consultant Mauro Malavasi Producer, Composer, Lyricist Michael Hart Thompson Guitar Michael Nouri A&R Michael Thompson Guitar Mick Haggerty Design, Art Direction Mortonette Jenkins Choir, Chorus Neil Devor Coordination, Synthesizer Programming, Engineer Nikki Christian Studio Assistant, Production Coordination Nita Whitaker Choir, Chorus Norbert Gallo Guitar Olaf Heine Photography Pat Weber Assistant Engineer Patricia Weber Assistant Paul Schwartz Arranger, Orchestral Arrangements, Producer, Programming, Drum Programming Peter Doell Assistant Engineer, Assistant Pierre Jacquot Mixing, Engineer Rafael Padilla Percussion Ramon Stagnaro Guitar Rich Davis Production Coordination Richard Page Vocals (Background) Roy Galloway Choir, Chorus Sandy DeCrescent Music Contractor Simon Hale Orchestral Arrangements, String Arrangements, Direction Suzie Katayama Music Preparation Terry Bradford Choir, Chorus Vlado Meller Mastering Walter Afanasieff Keyboards, Arranger, Programming, Producer Wil Wheaton Choir, Chorus William Ross Orchestral Arrangements, Producer, Conductor, Arranger