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Enhanced Japanese pressing of vocalist Josh Groban's third album features two bonus tracks: 'Awake' and the Enhanced Video for 'Don't Give Up'. 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. For Grobanites, his uplifting music rises ever higher on Awake. Awake’s 13 new songs show off the Grammy®- nominated Groban’s tremendous growth as a vocalist, producer and songwriter. His hands-on approach in the creative process of Awake is reflected in several Groban-penned and -produced songs, along with musical contributions from Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Dave Matthews, Glen Ballard, Eric Mouquet, John Ondrasik Vandrasak... Less

Expectations for vocalist Josh Groban s third release ran high, especially given the phenomenal success of his sophomore effort, CLOSER, which reached number one on the Billboard charts. Like Andrea Bocelli, Groban treads the line between classical, operatic singing, and crossover pop. AWAKE manages the synthesis beautifully. With its strong batch of songs, and Groban s voice continuing to develop, the album may even best its predecessor. Opener Mai, sung in Italian, sets the tone for the album. Highly romantic, stirring, and couched in tasteful orchestral arrangements, the song is the perfect canvas for Groban s heart-melting delivery. February Song, which finds the artist accompanied only by piano, is more reserved and plaintive. Other album highlights include Machine, with a funky,... Less

Devout and devotional, Christmas with the Stars, Vol. 2 showcases many quality choirs, orchestras, and ensembles with appearances by the group Chanticleer, pop singer Natalie Cole, and Celtic singer composer Loreena McKennitt. Opera stars Placido Domingo, José Carreras, and a handful of others are joined by the critically acclaimed St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic, the Choir of New College, Oxford, and the Boston Camerata in uplifting performances that will send spirits soaring. Here's a Christmas record steeped in Old World musical tradition with operatic brilliance and the sonorous comfort and joy of brass, strings, percussion, and the splendor of human voices realized in colorful harmony and veneration. --Martin Keller