Vocalist
Michael Bublé's 2013 studio album,
To Be Loved, is a slick and classy
Bob Rock-produced affair that follows up his hit 2011 holiday album,
Christmas, and once again showcases the Canadian crooner's take on swinging pop music. Most longtime
Bublé fans will have a sense of what to expect here and, in that sense, should be quite pleased with the album. As with previous
Bublé releases,
To Be Loved finds the vocalist tackling a handful of American Popular Song standards and some more contemporary pop covers. This time around,
Bublé even peppers the album with a few very vintage '60s soul-sounding numbers. To these ends,
Bublé kicks things off with a brightly swinging take on "You Make Me Feel So Young," turns in a neo-soul version of
the Bee Gees "To Love Somebody," and digs deep into
Smokey Robinson's "Who's Lovin' You." Also adding flavor here are a few guest appearances including duets with actress
Reese Witherspoon, Bryan Adams, and
the Puppini Sisters. As with
Bublé's last few albums, he gets some co-writing credits, with songs like the sunshine pop-sounding, 'It's a Beautiful Day," and the atmospheric orchestral ballad, "I Got It Easy," registering as two of his best originals. Ultimately,
To Be Loved isn't just a perfect showcase for
Bublé's voice, it’s also one of his most diverse and enjoyable albums.