Music review: Josh Groban – ‘Bridges’
A world-renowned singer with the unmistakable baritone voice, Josh Groban is back with a new album of assorted musical offerings containing covers and original tracks of sophisticated charm orchestrated to engage, encourage and entertain.
“Bridges” demonstrates the 37-year-old Los Angeles native’s infectious charisma as Groban provides plenty of jaw-dropping moments on the 12-track set.
The uplifting “Granted” opens the album in dramatic fashion with an encouraging message of making the most of each day and a reminder that it’s never too late to write your own story as he declares, “If you have a dream go chase it/If you feel hope don’t waste it/If you find love embrace it/And never take a single breath for granted.”
“Symphony” follows with moments of longing and heartbreak as a result of a long-distance relationship and the struggles of keeping love alive while so far apart.
Feelings of desperation, reflection and redemption are addressed on “River.” I couldn’t help but be reminded of Bruce Springsteen’s title track from 1980’s “The River.” Both songs use the river as a place of confession and contemplation as the constant flowing waters attempt to wash away the worries and disappointments by serving as a place of familiarity and comfort with Groban singing, “So I walk down to the river/Where the troubles, they can’t find me/Let the waters there remind me/The sun will be there when we wake.”
Flamenco guitar maestro Vicente Amigo contributes his skills to the fiery Spanish number “Musica Del Corazon,” while Italian vocalist Andrea Bocelli performs a soaring operatic duet with Groban on “We Will Meet Once Again” and Canadian siren Sarah McLachlan joins Groban on a moving cover of Snow Patrol’s “Run.”
Other highlights include a duet with Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles on the country-tinged “99 Years” and a breathtaking performance on the Simon and Garfunkel classic “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
The deluxe edition also contains a splendid version of Billy Joel’s “She’s Always a Woman.”
Groban comes to Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena on November 16 with very special guest Idina Menzel.
Clint Rhodes is the Herald-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.