Groban gives goosebumps

Classical and pop music meet in Illuminations, the new release of American singer-songwriter Josh Groban. Illuminations

Josh Groban

143/Reprise Records

A-

Rocks Like: A classical Five For Fighting

Classical and pop music meet in Illuminations, the new release of American singer-songwriter Josh Groban.

The artist is now well-established, having released four previous albums and made two guest appearances on “Glee.”

Similar to previous releases, Groban’s music primarily features an orchestra with piano and string instrument solos. Some songs are in other languages, including Italian and Portuguese. In these cases, Groban relies on the instrumental music and power of his vocals to convey meaning to those who do not speak the languages.

On this latest album, Groban leans a little away from his previous works by diversifying his sound. Though Groban fans will surely recognize the artist’s work, some tracks feature stronger drums and guitars, as well as a pop-quality tempo.

The lyrics, however, remain pretty similar to those of his previous releases. Groban prefers songs that carry a hopeful quality to them. This is a trend his single “Hidden Away” continues with lyrics like, “And all these words you were meant to say / Held in silence day after day / Words of kindness that our poor hearts crave / Please don’t keep them / Hidden Away.”

It’s fair to say that Groban’s sound and his lyrics might not be for everyone, but this is one album worth looking into. Groban considers Illuminations a “live” album, only doing one take on most of his songs. Groban breathes life into the classical style, and his powerful voice leaves listeners with goosebumps.