Neo-crooner Michael Bublé has always existed successfully between the two worlds of jazz standards and adult contemporary pop. He doesn’t change the jazz-pop formula up much on his new outing Nobody But Me. Although he does oddly dabble a bit with a brief rap by The Roots band member, Black Thought, on the albums title track “Nobody But Me.” He also soars on the charming, Hawaiian ukulele flavored duet “Someday,” with Meghan Trainor. Die-hard jazz fans will still have plenty to swoon over as his ‘crooner crown’ remains firmly intact with the Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin styled songs “My Baby Just Cares for Me” and “On an Evening in Roma (Sotter Celo de Roma).” In the footsteps of Harry Connick, Jr., Bublé has definitely mastered the blueprint of charismatically infusing jazz and pop and does it considerably better than other contemporaries like Diana Krall, Jamie Cullum, Matt Dusk and Josh Groban. Which may explain why he doesn’t take too many risk with his first gig as a producer. He knows exactly when to swing, when to take it easy and where to perfectly place his pop magic. An unexpected favorite on the album is a tender take on the Beach Boys’ single “God Only Knows.” Bublé delivers a little something for every fan, old and new, on this predictably good, dinner party/after party project.
Nobody But Me
Someday featuring Meghan Trainor
God Only Knows