Vocalist
Josh Groban's sixth studio album, 2013's
All That Echoes, features more of the crossover classical music that has become his trademark, while pushing further than ever toward the pop end of the spectrum. This is largely due to producer
Rob Cavallo (
Green Day,
Goo Goo Dolls,
Paramore), who frames
Groban's burnished croon in sweeping alt-rock arrangements that layer atmospheric guitar lines against grand orchestral segments. It also doesn't hurt that with every album,
Groban has garnered more co-writing credits, adding to the intimate and personal vibe of
All That Echoes. Tracks like leadoff single "Brave" and the dramatic ballad "False Alarms" bring to mind the yearning uplift of bands like
U2 and
OneRepublic, albeit helmed by
Groban's crisp vocal intonation and soaring, resonant style. And as with all of
Groban's releases, he has made great choices for songs to cover. Here, listeners get impassioned takes on such songs as
Glen Hansard's "Falling Slowly" and
Stevie Wonder's "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)." Though he's known for his mainstream appeal,
Groban has never shied away from trying new and unexpected songs, and
All That Echoes is no exception, featuring a moody and contemporary reworking of the traditional Celtic song "She Moved Through the Fair" as well as a truly inspired reading of
Jimmy Webb's "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress," which turns the soulful ballad into a heartbreaking Broadway-style showpiece. Also adding to the album's quality are guest appearances from trumpeter
Arturo Sandoval and Italian singer
Laura Pausini. While all of
Groban's albums are immaculately produced affairs,
All That Echoes is one of his best. ~ Matt Collar