We know from visits to the States that Groban is massive over there (top-selling artist in 2007, and according to Wikipedia, 22m of his 25m sales are in his homeland). His semi-operatic / semi-pop music sells by the ton.
Over here, his baritone renditions of his own and others’ tunes compete against similar known quantities like Michael Bublé or, more recently, The Overtones, though he’s more classical than the latter.
This new album of musical show favourites is more of the same, with tunes from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s Pure Imagination to If I Loved You, from Carousel, the opening and closing tracks.
It’s ok, a little syrupy in places but he has a lovely voice. He does You’ll Never Walk Alone, which presumably has no foot-ball connotations in the US (or maybe it does: perhaps the chocolate factory tune is a nod to the Toffeemen).
He looks a bit like James Blunt and sounds like him in places, which lends a bit of familiarity, and some of Blunt’s likeability.