Album Review: Illuminations - Josh Groban

Illuminations - Josh Groban
3/5
Fans of Groban and the quasi-operatic offerings of singers such as Hayley Westenra and Susan Boyle will not be disappointed by Illuminations.
His mellifluous vocals are superbly complemented by the orchestral backing of The Wandering Kind, through to the piano and strings behind the Bells of New York City and the simple acoustic guitar supporting Love Only Knows. Groban's subject matter ranges from a tribute to early Italian scientist Galileo to pleas not to keep a heart Hidden Away.
Tracks in Italian, French and Portuguese will be incomprehensible to the vast majority, but few people are unlikely to mind as the music itself and the romance of these languages communicate the emotion effectively.
Groban has a hand in the music and/or lyrics of almost all the songs on the album.
An unlikely but effective exception is Straight to You by Nick Cave.