Illuminations (Josh Groban album)

Illuminations is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Josh Groban, produced by Rick Rubin. Similar to his previous albums, Illuminations contains songs sung in a variety of languages, including his first take on a Portuguese song, "Você Existe Em Mim", which Groban co-wrote with Lester Mendez and Carlinhos Brown. The album was released on November 15, 2010.[1]

Illuminations
Studio album by
Josh Groban
ReleasedNovember 15, 2010
Recorded2008–10
Genre
Label
ProducerRick Rubin
Josh Groban chronology
A Collection
(2008)		 Illuminations
(2010)		 All That Echoes
(2013)
Singles from Illuminations
  1. "Hidden Away"
    Released: September 13, 2010
  2. "Você Existe Em Mim"
    Released: October 12, 2010
  3. "Higher Window"
    Released: October 25, 2010
  4. "L'Ora Dell'Addio"
    Released: November 9, 2010
  5. "If I Walk Away"
    Released: January 12, 2012

Album information

The official title and cover art for Illuminations was revealed in September 2010.[1][2] In addition to the regular release, a special fan edition of the album is available for purchase on Groban's website that contains the original CD, a "making-of" DVD, a 48-page color photo book filled with lyrics and pictures, and two bonus tracks (to be delivered digitally).[3]

The first single from the album, "Hidden Away", was released on September 13,[4] and was also available to download for free on Groban's website and Facebook from September 8–13.

Leading up to the album's release, iTunes released songs periodically from the album to download, which began on October 12 with the release of the album's Portuguese song "Você Existe Em Mim".[5] A third song, "Higher Window", was released on October 25. A fourth and final song, "L'Ora Dell'Addio", was released on November 9.

Beginning May 12, 2011, Groban embarked on a worldwide tour entitled the Straight to You Tour to promote the album.[6]

Reception

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic79/100[7]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[8]
BBC Musicpositive[9]
The Boston Globepositive[10]
Entertainment Weekly(B+)[11]

Illuminations received mostly positive reviews from music critics.[7]

Commercial reception

The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200, selling 190,000 copies in its first week and was certified platinum by the RIAA for shipping over a million copies.[12] The album has since sold over 800,000 copies in the US.[13] In Canada, the album debuted at No. 4 on the Canadian Albums Chart and was certified platinum for shipping over 80,000 copies.

Track listing

The following is the track listing for the regular album:[14][15]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Wandering Kind (Prelude)"Josh Groban2:28
2."Bells of New York City"Groban, Dan Wilson3:50
3."Galileo (Someone Like You)"Declan O'Rourke, Seamus Cotter3:22
4."L'Ora Dell'Addio (Farewell Time)"Groban, Walter Afanasieff, Marco Marinangeli3:28
5."Hidden Away"Groban, Wilson3:56
6."Au Jardin des Sans-Pourquoi" (The Garden Without "Whys")"Groban, Rufus Wainwright, Kate McGarrigle3:32
7."Higher Window"Groban, Wilson, Thomas Salter4:37
8."If I Walk Away"Groban, Wilson3:52
9."Love Only Knows"Groban, Wilson4:44
10."Você Existe Em Mim"Groban, Lester Mendez, Carlinhos Brown5:07
11."War at Home"Groban, Wilson4:45
12."London Hymn"Groban, Marius de Vries1:57
13."Straight to You"Nick Cave4:10
Total length:49:52
iTunes Deluxe Edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."Feels Like Home"Randy Newman 
15."Hidden Away" (Radio mix) (Bonus video)  
South African Tour Edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."Feels Like Home"Randy Newman 
Japanese Edition/Exclusive Fan Edition
No.TitleLength
14."They Won't Go When I Go" 
15."Le Cose Che Sei Per Me" 
  • Orchestra and Choir arranged and conducted by David Campbell

Charts

Peak positions
Chart (2010) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart 21
Canadian Albums Chart 4
European Top 100 Albums[16] 33
Netherlands 10
Mexican Albums Chart[17] 99
Sweden 31
UK Albums Chart 30
US Billboard 200 4
US Top Digital Albums 9
US Top Tastemakers Albums 13

Year-end charts
Chart (2011) Position
Canadian Albums Chart[18] 20
Canadian Albums Chart[19] 24

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[20] Platinum 80,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[21] Gold 7,500^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[22] Gold 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[24] Platinum 1,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

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References
  1. "Josh Groban – New Album Illuminations Available Nov 15th". joshgroban.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  2. "Illuminations Album Cover Revealed – Josh Groban – Official Website For Musician, actor, and host of Rising Star". joshgroban.com.
  3. "Join Friends of Josh Groban – Josh Groban – Official Website For Musician, actor, and host of Rising Star". joshgroban.com.
  4. "Amazon.com: Hidden Away: Josh Groban: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com.
  5. "News tagged new song voce existe em mim available itunes tomorrow – Josh Groban – Official Website For Musician, actor, and host of Rising Star". joshgroban.com.
  6. "Josh Groban Announces 2011 'Straight To You' World Tour" (Press release). Marketwire. February 14, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  7. "Reviews for Illuminations by Josh Groban". Metacritic.
  8. Erlewine, Stephen Review: Illuminations. AllMusic. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  9. "BBC – Music – Review of Josh Groban – Illuminations". bbc.co.uk.
  10. "Josh Groban, 'Illuminations'". Boston Globe. November 22, 2010.
  11. "Music Review: Illuminations, by Josh Groban". Entertainment Weekly.
  12. "Building Album Sales Chart". HITS Daily Double. Archived from the original on September 15, 2014.
  13. "The Josh Groban Corner Pub > WORLDWIDE CD SALES for Josh- US Sales HIT 21 MILLION!!". Louiseannette.com. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  14. "Illuminations Tracklisting Revealed – Josh Groban – Official Website For Musician, actor, and host of Rising Star". joshgroban.com.
  15. "Album search results for "illuminations"". AllMusic.
  16. "Billboard – Music Charts, Music News, Artist Photo Gallery & Free Video". Billboard.
  17. "mexicancharts.com – Josh Groban – Illuminations". Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
  18. Billboard http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2011/canadian-albums. Retrieved February 24, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. "Billboard 200 Year-End 2011". Billboard. 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  20. "Canadian album certifications – Josh Groban – Illuminations". Music Canada.
  21. "Irish album certifications – Josh Groban – Illuminations". Irish Recorded Music Association.
  22. "New Zealand album certifications – Josh Groban – Illuminations". Recorded Music NZ.
  23. "British album certifications". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. 
  24. "American album certifications – Josh Groban – Illuminations". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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