Gems (Amazon Exclusive)

Let me tell you something about Josh Groban’s “Gems” that you won’t find in the typical press release drivel. This Amazon Exclusive double vinyl isn’t just another greatest hits package slapped together to coincide with some Vegas residency – though yes, that’s technically why it exists. But I’ve followed Groban’s career since he was that curly-haired kid belting out operatic pop on Ally McBeal, and this collection actually matters.

The vinyl itself is gorgeous – a hefty 2-disc affair weighing in at just over a pound, housed in a pristine 12.2 x 12.2-inch sleeve that’ll stand out in your collection. Warner Records hasn’t skimped on production values here. But it is what’s in those grooves that counts.

That voice. That fucking voice. It still stops you dead in your tracks. Two decades in and Groban’s pipes remain the sonic equivalent of some Renaissance painting – technically flawless but with that human vulnerability that can’t be manufactured. “You Raise Me Up” might be played to death at weddings and graduations, but when that needle drops and those opening notes fill your living room, you’ll remember why it became ubiquitous in the first place.

The tracklist reads like a emotional journey through the last twenty years – from the goosebump-inducing “To Where You Are” to his surprisingly nuanced take on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The Broadway cuts showcase a man who’s found his spiritual home in musical theater these past few years. His “Pure Imagination” transforms the Wonka classic into something almost religious.

What’s particularly interesting are the two new recordings (which Warner is keeping annoyingly under wraps). If they’re anything like his recent output, expect something that balances that classical foundation with more contemporary production – the man’s been smart about evolving while never abandoning what made him special.

Look, I know vinyl collectors can be cynical about these career-spanning compilations. But “Gems” isn’t just for the middle-aged women who pack his concerts (though they’ll love it too). This is music that rewards the analog experience – those sustained notes, the orchestral swells, that space between the voice and accompaniment that gets compressed to hell in digital formats.

The March 2025 release date gives you plenty of time to pre-order, and if you’re heading to Vegas for his residency, this is the perfect pre-gaming soundtrack. For the uninitiated, that is your gateway drug. For the longtime fans, it’s the perfectly curated reminder of why you fell for that voice in the first place.

Trust me on this one. Your turntable deserves “Gems” in its rotation.

Josh Groban’s “Gems” (Amazon Exclusive) isn’t just another greatest hits collection — it’s a carefully curated musical journey through two decades of one of contemporary music’s most remarkable voices. If you’ve ever found yourself unexpectedly moved to tears in your car when “You Raise Me Up” came on the radio, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

What makes Groban’s voice so special isn’t just its technical perfection (though good lord, that baritone could melt steel), but the emotional intelligence behind it. There’s a reason this guy has sold over 35 million albums worldwide — when Groban sings, you believe every word.

This collection arrives as Groban prepares for his first Las Vegas residency, and it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on his musical evolution. From the ethereal “To Where You Are” that first introduced his voice to the world, to his soul-stirring interpretations of Broadway classics like “Pure Imagination” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” the range here is impressive. And true to form, Groban gives us two brand-new recordings to sweeten the deal.

I’ve been following Groban since his early days, and what’s always struck me is how he is managed to bring classical crossover music to audiences who might otherwise never explore the genre. There’s something wonderfully unpretentious about his approach that makes these sometimes lofty compositions feel accessible and immediate.

Here’s an interesting tidbit: Groban’s big break came when he was asked to stand in for Andrea Bocelli during a rehearsal with Celine Dion for the 1999 Grammy Awards. The 17-year-old Groban so impressed producer David Foster that it launched his entire career. That sense of serendipity — of being in exactly the right place at the right time — seems to follow Groban, whose meteoric rise never quite followed the typical pop star playbook.

The inclusion of “February Song” on this collection is particularly meaningful, as it represents Groban’s evolution as not just a vocalist but a songwriter. Co-written by Groban himself, it showcases the more introspective side of his artistry that fans have come to cherish alongside his more bombastic performances.

If you’re already a Groban devotee, “Gems” offers the satisfaction of having his most essential works in one thoughtfully assembled package. For newcomers, it provides the perfect entry point into his catalog. And for those buying for someone else (this would make a killer gift, by the way), you are essentially giving the emotional equivalent of a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night.

There’s something to be said for music that unabashedly aims for beauty and emotional resonance in an age of irony. Groban has built a career on the radical notion that it’s okay to feel things deeply, to be moved, to surrender to the sheer pleasure of a perfectly performed melody. “Gems” celebrates that approach, and honestly, we could all use a little more of that these days.