Search - Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock :: Awake

Awake
Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock
Awake
Genres: Pop, Classical, Broadway & Vocalists
 
  •  Track Listings (13) - Disc #1

The Josh Groban phenomenon continues with Awake, his third studio album. Both of the extraordinary singer's first two studio discs have been certified five times platinum, with his most recent, 2003's Closer, charting #1 p...  more »

     
   

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CD Details

All Artists: Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock
Title: Awake
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 5
Label: Reprise / Wea
Original Release Date: 1/1/2006
Re-Release Date: 11/7/2006
Genres: Pop, Classical, Broadway & Vocalists
Styles: Adult Contemporary, Vocal Pop, Euro Pop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 093624443520, 0093624999911, 093624443568, 9325583040085, 009362499991, 932558304008

Synopsis

Album Description
The Josh Groban phenomenon continues with Awake, his third studio album. Both of the extraordinary singer's first two studio discs have been certified five times platinum, with his most recent, 2003's Closer, charting #1 pop. His uplifting music rises ever higher on Awake. More Josh Groban

Josh Groban
Closer
In Concert

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Member CD Reviews

Brianne B. from LINDALE, TX
Reviewed on 1/9/2010...
Awesome CD-love his voice. I won't be reposting this one.
L M. (lmcc) from EULESS, TX
Reviewed on 4/2/2007...
Love this one, especially first two tracks...DH loves it, too, which is surprising, as it's not his favorite genre, per se...
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

CD Reviews

Josh in a new direction
B. Walker | Wisconsin, United States | 11/08/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am a huge fan of Josh's first two CDs and I expected to love Awake too; playing it quite a few times puts it close to love, but more like appreciation for the things he's experimenting with and some of his collaborations.



In my opinion, without (for the most part) the guiding hand of David Foster, Josh seems more experimental here. He's kept the orchestra on most songs, but the piano-driven melodies of Closer aren't as prominent here. Josh also has more songwriting credits than before.



Of the 13 songs, 8 are in English this time, and those 8 seem to me to be more "radio friendly" than some of his past work, "You're Still You" excepted. Of those 8, the collaboration with Five for Fighting's John Ondrasik ("February Song") is by far the most likely to be a radio hit. The omission of the title track is ridiculous; I would have given up two of the other songs to make room for it.



For me, the weakest part of this CD is the selection of a couple of songs that seem totally out of place here, even if this is a "new" Josh. "Lullaby" with Ladysmith and Black Mambazo and "Weeping" with Ladysmith, Black Mambazo and Vusi Mahlasela are awful. They both seem like fragments of a song and I still can't figure out how they fit into the theme of this CD. The one excellent collaboration is "Machine" with the fabulous Herbie Hancock.



I wish I could say that every song moved me, but that's not the case. I've grown to like "Mai," "You Are Loved," "February Song,""Ungiorno Per Noi," and the fun "Machine." The other songs leave me with the feeling that something's missing. They don't seem passionate, they don't really have a hook and they don't feel like any of the songs on Closer or his self-titled CD.



There's no denying that Josh has a remarkable voice (I would let him sing the alphabet and love it), but I'm not sure I like some of the production and arrangements. Maybe I just miss David Foster's constant presence. I'm still a huge fan and I'll absolutely pick up his next CD. I think Josh himself said it well when he said something to the effect of hoping that no matter what the song, when someone hears it, they don't think, well, that's an interesting song. They just say hey, that's Josh.



I'm hoping next time around, there is more of Josh and the oddly uneven song choice isn't repeated."
Christmas came early this year
Amanda Richards | Georgetown, Guyana | 11/07/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The twenty-five year old phenomenon with the swoon-inducing baritone returns with his third studio album just in time for Christmas, and I'm guessing that many of his fans are going to give themselves a pre-season treat.



Groban expands his horizons on this album, writing and producing some of the tracks, and mixing it up with international artistes like Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Herbie Hancock, not forgetting Dave Matthews, Five for Fighting and of course David Foster. Following his earlier formula, there are tracks in English, Italian and Spanish, and although the lyrics may be in another language, this doesn't detract from the simple and timeless beauty of the music.



First single "You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)" is one of the most inspiring tracks, with lyrics like "Don't give up / It's just the weight of the world / When you're heart's heavy / I...I will lift it for you", but the crème de la crème as far as I'm concerned is the amazing "February Song" where he accompanies himself on the piano.



Another track to note is "So She Dances" and then there's "In Her Eyes", but one that'll stop you in your tracks is "Lullaby", written by Groban and Dave Matthews, and sung a cappella with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. If you liked Paul Simon's "Graceland", you'll love "Weeping", also with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and what better way to close an album than a collaboration with Herbie Hancock.



Third time's another charmer for Josh Groban.





Amanda Richards, November 7, 2006

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