Customer Reviews

Josh Groban - Live at the Greek (DVD + CD)

5 star:		(82)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(121)
1 star:		(78)

 

 

Josh Groban has talent beyond compare and a voice so beautiful that I can't help but feel major disappointment with this second concert. I bought both of his concerts and there's definitely a difference in his voice. Where the first (2002) was beautiful in every way, the "Greek" is flawed. Groban's voice is strained and noticably nasal in some vocals. I don't buy the "defective DVD" excuse. That would be laughable if it weren't for the fact that I paid $29 for this concert DVD/CD set. If the vocal weaknesses weren't disappointing enough, I also have issues with the new arrangements for his standards like "Canto Alla Vita," the song he previously did in his first concert with the Coors. Josh goes to the keyboards and plays an introduction that sounds like scratching your fingernails across a chalkboard! What was that?! The staging, lighting, stuff projected on screens behind him were just annoying distractions.

I own none of Josh Groban's studio CD's. I have never viewed his first live performance DVD. I know a little about him and consider him talented (though not the wunderkind others would suggest). Some time ago I saw bits of the "Live at the Greek" performance on PBS. I found it enjoyable and was moved by what I saw. The following day I visited Amazon to see if it was available. I read all the negative reviews and assumed I must have been confused or duped somehow by what I saw on television. I could not fathom that all the reviews were "wrong." The majority seemed to be complimentary of Josh Groban while blasting this particular performance. I concluded that if his fans hated it, it must really be bad. I therefore decided against ordering it.

Finally, many months later, after hearing "You Raise Me Up" a number of times on the radio, I decided I would just have to take the risk. When I ordered it, I decided that after seriously considering its quality I would review it here to present an unbiased albeit subjective view. I would either lend my voice to the howling critical masses or add one more quiet word of praise to those few sprinkled about.

And so I whisper my word of praise to be heard by those who care... The concert DVD is simply fantastic. Josh's personality is endearing. His voice is excellent. The musicians are incredible. The staging and effects create a delightful ambience. You are treated to a thoroughly enjoyable concert experience.

Josh appears very comfortable and seems to be enjoying himself. His piano playing and singing are wonderful (his drumming I can live with or without - if he's having fun with it, good for him). Lucia Micarelli, the featured violin soloist and concertmaster, is simply a vision. She plays beautifully and passionately and is a real treat to behold. The interplay between Josh's voice and her instrument is phenomenal. Bela Fleck is also quite good in his guest performance. Highlights for me are the instrumental "Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody", "Mi Morena", "Remember When it Rained" (this is what Josh's music is really all about), "Remember", "You Raise Me Up", and "America". The lighting and the visuals on the backstage screens add to the performance without overwhelming it. It was just a classy production (so what if the audience had light sticks... big deal!).

If I have a complaint, it is in the selection of songs featured on the CD. I wish more content of the DVD was included. I sorely miss "You Raise Me Up". Several other songs would have been welcome additions as well: "Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody", "My December", and any of the others for that matter. My suggestion is that if you want a Josh Groban CD, look elsewhere. This package is all about the DVD.

I encourage you not to be frightened away by the overwhelmingly negative reviews by Amazon customers. I have run across a few products that are overwhelmingly and baselessly criticized in this manner (positive reviews are skewered as unhelpful while negative reviews are extolled as helpful). You have here a phenomenal performance by a class act and a wonderful supporting cast. I give the DVD five stars and the CD three stars. Thoroughly enjoyable!

I was really impressed by the song Remember in the movie Troy. So when I saw this dvd/cd with it, I quickly bought it even though what I wanted was the studio recording of Troy. I figured that a live version can't be that bad as Josh has a gorgeous voice. After just one play, I returned it to the store and changed it for something else. Josh sounds really nasal here. Perhaps he had the flu? Then they should have postponed the recording. I cannot sit through this concert without comparing it to the previous which was
excellent. Josh, back to basics please.

I was present for the taping of this DVD. Both concerts were awesome. Josh was in full voice and hit every note. The light show was wonderful. The groband hit every note too. They were really rocking. The audience was very enthusiastic, and showed their appreciation for Josh's efforts.
This was my 9th and 10th time seeing Josh in concert and in my opinion the best ( despite my poor seats)
I feel this DVD will be a necessary addition to any Josh fan's collection. I also hope there is a lot of backstage footage for us to really see the man and the band being real people.

Josh Groban's attempt to jazz it up at the Greek falls short because his voice, not his rock-style presence, is what people buy. Unfortunately for Josh his voice is poor during one-third of the concert.

The usually superior voiced Josh Groban didn't quite live up to his standards with "Live at the Greek." From the looks of it he also knew he wasn't quite able to hit the strong notes. His presence was stiff and he looked very uncomfortable in the first few minutes. It's unfathomable that the professionals (?) in charge of post-production for this concert didn't edit it better. With so many non-professional listeners catching the nasal strains, where were they? Oh well, that's not really the issue now. There are a few who will buy the "Greek," warts and all. It's their money. Mine will wait until there's a better CD. If not, I'm that much the richer.

I couldn't believe it! From the first few minutes of watch Josh Groban's "Live at the Greek" concert I was in shock. The PBS concert was so badly performed by Groban I knew I wouldnt be buying it. From the looks of the majority of reviews here, I was one of the lucky ones because I didn't have to stand in a Return line. Groban has been out of the public eye for two years since his last televised concert, but has he changed!!! Looks like Hollywood has gotten to him and so has a belief that the fans would stay regardless of what poorly made music he puts out. Well, the young guy is learning a valuable lesson. I didn't buy it and so went the rest of the fans. I sincerely hope that Groban goes back to what made him so popular and that's his VOICE. All the rest is just fooolishness and it looks like no one else is buying it either.

Mine made grinding sounds from the moment I put it in the DVD player, so I returned it to the store for another. Sorry to say that it was a big mistake. Instead of the grinding noise I heard one of my favorite singers of all time open his mouth and a nasal, whiney sound came out. (No it wasn't the sound of bad reviews!, which came later). Now I'm stuck because my store will not refund my money just because I'm unhappy with the performance. I should have gone to Walmart!

I've read about 20 of the reviews and see that I'm not the only one disappointed enough to return the "Greek" DvD. I won't keep it around because it's just not good. Josh Groban sounds poor, but it's not my problem, it's his.

Josh Groban's Live at the Greek is simply stupendous! Wow he's sure to garner thousands of NEW fans for this one. It's just beyond words. Wish I could just conk all the critics who spent their money on the DVD set and had the gall to come here and complain. What nerve. I simply cannot believe that anyone would even do that. Why, what's up with that. If they can sing better, then I dare them to do it. Let them get up in front of thousands of paying fans in the Greek and sound better. That'll show them. Why those crummy so-called fans are deserting our guy!! They're just jealous because they can't sing better. He sounded tremendous at the Greek. Josh needs new fans. These are just spitting on his work when he's singing his heart out. Darn it....this concert was LIVE! He's supposed to sound not so perfect. What's up with that?? Are they deaf?? They should take the earplugs out of their ears. Fair weather friends indeed. Josh Groban is not just a performer, earning lots of bucks to warble out a few songs for millions of dollars each year. No one should question or critize a paid performer. This certainly isn't the place for it. Why at www.joshgroban.com, we can idolize him and here they just critize and complain!! I know I'll keep buying his DVD's even though I have to hear his nasaly voice (or not because sometimes I'm in denial). Remember at www.joshgroban.com we embrace the loveliness that is Josh. Open your hearts and your minds to everything that is blessed by the Gods. (sound scarey yet?)