By Megan King

In 2002, 23 year-old Josh Groban broke into the music scene with an interesting style. His mix of classical Italian standards and contemporary pop ballads were refreshing and different for many, and as a result, Groban became a household name practically overnight. Not surprisingly, a headlining tour soon followed, with a PBS-sponsored concert performance on the last night of the tour at the Greek Amphitheater in Los Angeles. Soon after airing on PBS, Live At The Greek was packaged as a CD/DVD combination.

With a soothing and impressive baritone voice, one would expect a lot from Groban on Live At The Greek. Unfortunately, he falls short of delivering a truly amazing concert. While many parts of the album genuinely do showcase his formidable vocal ability, other parts leave the listener unsatisfied. Starting the night off on the right foot with “Oceano” and “Mi Mancherai,” it’s clear Groban isn’t holding anything back. His strong but controlled voice combined with violinist Lucia Micarelli’s gorgeous melodic introduction on “Mi Mancherai” is really a highlight on the album.

Following tracks like “Mi Morena” and “Remember,” however, do not deliver with the same quality or excellence. Constant touring may have been the culprit for the strain on Groban’s voice, but whatever the reason, it’s clear that his chops are not up to par on these tunes.

Groban finds himself back on track once again in the haunting “Remember When it Rained.” A song of lost love, Groban brings amazing depth and feeling to this one when singing “Tears of hope run down my skin / Tears for you that will not dry / They magnify the one within / And let the outside slowly die.” Next, we find Groban attempting to cover the Paul Simon classic, “America.” While a valiant attempt, he unfortunately falls short of delivering the same passionate and memorable feeling of the original. Groban ends the CD strong with “Never Let Go,” but ultimately, the listener is left with wanting more. Only eight songs in length, the album barely starts before it’s over.

The accompanying DVD is undoubtedly stronger than its CD counterpart. With nine additional songs, a special performance from Bela Fleck, and some enjoyable bonus footage of life on the road, the DVD showcases much more of this talented performer. It is unfortunate, however, that the Live at the Greek CD does not deliver the same talent that we expect from Josh Groban.

The Chronicle gives ´LIve at the Greek, by Josh Groban three 1/2 out of five stars.