Customer Reviews

Josh Groban Live at The Greek (CD/DVD)

5 star:		(89)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(34)
2 star:		(170)
1 star:		(117)

 

 

I'm such a dedicated fan of everything Josh Groban has done (I have multiple copies of his CD's and two copies of the first PBS concert) that I was thrilled to learn he had another concert! I saw it last night. What happened?? The first PBS concert was stylish (appropriate for a quasi-classical performer) and the focus was on that beautiful voice! The guests were equally wonderful performing with Josh. THIS concert was a complete turn around. Looks like Josh is trying to change it all in mid-stream but I'm not sure what it's supposed to be. Maybe "Josh Groban does the Backstreet Boys." At any rate, I was very disappointed. This concert had songs that were repeats from the first concert (in very different arrangements that didn't quite work), and a very small selection from "Closer." I tried my best to concentrate on Groban's lovely voice but the camera people seemed to think we'd rather see fans waving light sticks. When he performs "To Where You Are" (again) we see Groban through tiny flags being waved by fans (annoying and distracting). On a couple of songs his voice seems strained and I agree with one reviewer here that he sounds congested. At one point Groban goes back and forth across the stage (like this bunch really needed to be more frantic!). I stopped watching after the first hour and decided I have to be content with what I have. THIS PBS concert DVD and CD will not make it into my collection.

Disclaimer: these remarks are based on watching the PBS broadcast on 12/5, not from watching the actual DVD or listening to the CD. However, I concur with almost everyone who wrote their reviews AFTER the broadcast: this is a disappointing collection. Josh Groban's voice, while often strong and true, equally often is nasal and thick to the point of distraction. The live audio versions of the songs on this collection simply don't compare to the studio CDs or the previous live versions on "Josh Groban In Concert".

As for JG's performance, it seems like he's taking his excellent songs and trying to infuse some energy into them, taking this genre of music to the masses by mixing classical-style music with an arena-rock stage show. Personally, I like the idea, and it's a shame that it doesn't quite come together here. I was happy to seem him so much more animated and self-confident. Unfortunately, I think it was at the expense of his vocals, as he is clearly using his energies to concentrate on the entire delivery of each song, not just on the vocals.

If this CD contained a lot of new music, I'd buy it anyway just to have it. But since it offers nothing new except (IMHO) inferior version of songs I already have on CD, I don't feel the need for it.

But after watching it for the zillionth time, I just can't honestly recommend that others buy Josh Groban's "Live at the Greek." I bought it and before doing this review I wanted to be as focused as I could. Josh Groban has voice problems and it plays out on the DVD and the CD. In addition, there are skewed camera angles which look very amateurish and some poor sound quality. If Josh had done more of his newer songs from "Closer" this concert DVD would have a more new feel, but that didn't happen. It's much like watching the first concert but with so many problems that it's hard to watch.

I love Josh Groban's voice. And the voice on the Live at the Greek DVD is not the Josh I know. He sounds terribly strained. He must be exhausted having the very heavy schedule he's had over the past year, and believe me, it's taking a toll on that heavenly voice. I wince with every nasally note and forced vibrado during this performance. Real Josh fans know what I'm talking about. Having seen him perform live three times in the past year, I will say this: He sounds better live indoors than in amphitheaters (like the Greek theater). Don't waste your money on this DVD. Instead, buy Josh Groban in Concert, his first DVD release, if you want to hear perfection. And remember, the first DVD was recorded when he was only 20! WOW!

I can't believe that I'm even writing this, but from the looks of it I'm not the only one who is very disappointed with my concert DVD by Josh Groban. I was stunned to hear his voice, once so beautiful now strained and warbling, even nasal. This is not the voice that I heard in "Josh Groban in Concert," his first concert DVD and CD for PBS. The man now sounds and looks bad. Gee, did they think we wouldn't notice?!? To even release this for sale is an insult and it seems to be hurting Groban's reputation also. Even without the voice problems, I do have concerns that he's selling out by commercialization, meaning an assumption that we're all empty-headed doofus's. I can hear and see perfectly and what is on the Greek is truly nothing I want to see more than once. It sad because I finally found someone who would SING, who sounded beautiful on CD and I could listen to without having to buy CD's of long-dead singers. Well, no longer.

I had the unfortunate experience of buying Josh Groban's second concert, "Live at the Greek." For those not familiar with Groban's voice in previous recordings, it was absolutely beautiful, in perfect control and powerful beyond words. With the Greek, it's all true...This is the new Josh Groban, just a shadow of his former self. Now he's a sloppy looking and sloppy performing singer, willing to sell out to the "rock" attitude that affects so many others and his voice definitely suffers for it. Although I enjoyed "Per Te" it is also on "Closer" and sounds better. I don't have to see the sloppy dude before me either, I can hear him sing. Yes, I can see Groban "Growing" but into what?? LATG is horrible because Josh rocks. Sure he's coming out of his shell but it doesn't seem to work. His metamorphasis will undoubtedly be his undoing. The sound is very bad, visuals also. So why buy a DVD that you neither want to watch nor hear? My thoughts exactly. Definitely not worth the money to sit there and cringe through nasaly, weak voiced vocals from Groban. I can't recommend it to anyone who has all of Groban's cd's or to anyone who has never heard him. Either way you'll be blatantly disappointed. This is Groban's second PBS "Great Performance" but it's anything but great. It isn't even average for a pop singer. This CD+DVD package is the only one I've ever been disappointed with. I wanted to dismiss the bad voice and could except for the fact that he looks as poor as he sounds. I believe the "changes" are permanent with a like it or leave it attitude. Gee, guess where I'm going with this? There are many up and coming singers out there who can belt out the tunes too. My money is on them.

While Josh Groban's 2002 PBS "Great Performances" special was a #1 selling DVD, his second special, taped in L.A.'s Greek Theatre this September is a dismal mess. It was broadcasted this past holiday season to a less than enthusiastic buying public and sales have practically hit the low-end for anything previously done by Groban. For anyone who hasn't seen "Live at the Greek," the best advice is to pass up anything you read here and check out a demo in your music store. Don't believe me or anyone else who posted a review. I didn't care for it because Groban's performance, to me, was very poorly done. I heard a nasaly Groban performing some of my favorite songs, so I didn't even finish watching the PBS broadcast. But that was ME. I didn't buy it because it was MY money at stake. Since the decision to spend your money should be a smart one, I sincerely advise that you take a listen. Oh yeah, listen to more than the first few seconds they give you here on "Mi Mancherai." It's all Lucia Micarelli's beautiful violin and you don't get to hear Groban's voice (which to me was quite nasal). Any store should be willing to play it for you before you buy. If not, you should walk out and keep going. Of course they will get cheaper since they aren't selling anyway.

I've kept up with Josh Groban's career since I first saw him on "Ally McBeal" on American TV. I've bought all of his CD's and absolutely loved his first concert, filmed in 2002. That concert was stylish and lovely with Groban's voice absolute perfection. With "Live at the Greek" we see a very different Josh Groban and his voice shows the strain of maturing while keeping up a rigorous concert schedule. While that alone should not pose a problem, there are many issues with the "Greek." In the first few minutes of the concert I heard his voice go from reasonably good to nasaly and poor. It was difficult to watch and more difficult to listen. Groban is dressed down this time, looking more casual. That itself would not be a problem if his performance were still good. It's not even close. Groban's only true talent, the one talent that made him a mega-star, is his voice. His voice is definitely poor during the Greek concert. I was fortunate enough to purchase my DVD set at a store that gives refunds.

I truly love Josh Groban's voice. His talent just cannot be denied. When I found out that he had a second PBS concert I set the VCR and waited to be amazed (I was also ready to buy many DVD/CD sets for Christmas). Unfortunately, this concert is set in an open area with THOUSANDS of screaming fans, mostly women, waving their arms and jumping up and down like kids at a Britney Spears concert. They even wave those silly glowing light sticks too! I thought it was just me who felt Groban sounded congested until I read another reviewer's comments. Add that to the lousy, erratic camera shots (at one point they show us Groban through the waving arms of fans), and the very bad sound quality, and this is one Groban concert set I can forego. Josh Groban and his equally talented guests should be what we hear and see, not the aggravating screaming of annoying women. After seeing this concert I decided NOT buy the sets as gifts, and I also decided to miss the concert which is scheduled to play here in New Orleans in March. If you want to see and hear the real Josh Groban I recommend the first PBS concert DVD/CD set. Now THAT was perfection!

I found out that PBS had another "Great Performance" by Josh Groban and set two TV's and VCR's to film it I was so excited. As I watched though I grew more disappointed with each minute. Josh Groban's voice which has always been powerful and gorgeous, was not very good at all. This was in the first few minutes of the concert and especially during "Mi Mancherai." I remembered that one because it's the first and there were others but I didn't jot them down for this review. Since this show was before Christmas I was prepared to buy a couple of the DVD's for me and my daughter, but decided against that. With very few exceptions, I already have all of the songs in the Greek concert already on CD or the first concert DVD and loved them all. I don't think Groban had a "cold" as someone has stated here, because he didn't sound that way on all of the songs. My sister used to take voice lessons and she told me that the "nasal" sound is really from strain. Whatever the reason, I didn't guy this Concert DVD. I also think Groban sounds better in a more controlled studio environment. The beautiful young Lucia Micarelli was truly remarkable and she reminded me of Josh Groban when I first saw his premiere concert. I'm sure Josh has more beautiful music ahead of him and I'm otimistic also.