Producer, record executive, and songwriter
David Foster has a long history of trying to wed commercial considerations to the lighter elements of
pop music, and in young
Josh Groban, whom he adopted as a protégé in late 1998 when the singer was 17, he is trying to get in on the
classical crossover market effectively occupied by the likes of
Andrea Bocelli,
Sarah Brightman, and
Charlotte Church (who duets with Groban on "The Prayer" here). Groban has a rich voice that falls somewhere between a low tenor and a high baritone, and
Foster has here crafted or commissioned music that will sound
classical to the ears of non-
classical fans, much of it with lyrics in Italian to complete the effect. "Gira con Me," for example, is a slow
ballad that sounds like it may have escaped from a minor
opera , but in fact was composed by
Foster and songwriter/producer
Walter Afanasieff (best-known for his work with
Mariah Carey). Groban is also given some ballads in English, with songwriting credits that include such Southern California
pop -meisters as
Richard Marx,
Albert Hammond,
Carole Bayer Sager, and
Foster's wife,
Linda Thompson. The result is an ersatz
classical crossover record that won't fool the experts but easily could find its way into households that welcome
Celine Dion and other sub-operatic emoters of her ilk. Groban is certainly not to be blamed for taking his chances with
Foster instead of staying in college or pursuing a
classical career, and his first album is enjoyable even if it doesn't live up to its pretensions. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
