Music Review

Awake (2006)

EW's GRADE
C-

Details Release Date: Nov 07, 2006; Lead Performance: Josh Groban; Genre: Pop

Music's answer to the Harlequin novel is back. Groban has sold 14 million CDs worldwide by reviving the tradition of tenors like Mario Lanza, singing lush ballads in a pseudo-classical style. Awake tweaks the formula slightly, as on an endear ingly awkward collaboration with artsy singer Imogen Heap (''Now or Never''). But mostly, it's inspirational bromides and extravagant love oaths, swathed in reverb. Nothing wrong with that per se, but Groban is too stiff to be romantic, and adds no interpretative insight to the songs. He'll still sell zillions, though.

Originally posted Nov 03, 2006 Published in issue #906 Nov 10, 2006 Order article reprints

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