Josh Groban Illuminations album review

Josh Groban’s Illuminations is a very special album.  Closer, Noel, and Awake indeed had some great songs, but this one is far more personal of an effort for the golden-voiced Groban since he wrote or co-wrote most of the songs with rock producer Rick Rubin at the helm.

In addition to Groban playing the role of songwriter, the album was recorded with Groban in the same room as the orchestra, the old fashioned way, with retro equipment and microphones from the Mancini era.

State To State band EP review

It's refreshing to hear some good, straight up rock with just a touch of alternative flavorings. 7th and perhaps even some 9th chords give some interest and dissonance. Their music seems to be influenced by U2 and early Muse. Andrew Orvis decorates each song with riffs aplenty, often waxing a bit atmospheric (a la Edge) and then arpeggiating chords (a la Bellamy.) And while there might be reminiscences of other sounds, their sound doesn't copy anyone.