Original Cast Recordings : Round 2

[cptntiller]

2008 Winners and Nominees

In the Heights

Won: Best Musical, Best Score, Grammy for Best Soundtrack
Nominated: Best Musical, Best Score
Review: http://theater2.nytimes.com/2007/02/09/theater/reviews/09heights.html
Thoughts: I am so obsessed with this show, it is impossible for me to give an unbiased review. The music is upbeat, fun and original. It takes traditional broadway styles and uniquely and, most importantly, with great skill, infuses latino music, hip-hop stylings, and rap. All the time feeling like a broadway musical The women's parts soar, and the mens parts have backbone... and.. I know this is about the album, but having seen it, I can tell you... it is AMAZING. I could, and have, listened to this every day. I've been in love with this album since I first heard it a year ago, and I have yet to feel any doubt or remorse about that.
Song Sample: In the Heights
Video Sample:

Cry-Baby

Won: None
Nominated: Best Musical, Best Score
Review: http://theater2.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/theater/reviews/25cryb.html
Thoughts: It's like Grease, if the music from Grease was bland and fairly unexciting. I got bored while I listened to it. This one posed some trouble, as it didn't even do well enough to have a cast recording produced... I had to hunt down a demo recording of it. Luckily I have theatre obsessed friends. The show is based on the 1990 John Waters movie of the same name, and was created by the people who produced the musical version of Hairspray. I just can't seem to want to listen to it more than once.
Song Sample: You Can't be Too Careful
Video Sample:

The Little Mermaid

Won: None
Nominated: Best Score
Review: http://theater2.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/theater/reviews/11merm.html
Thoughts: Once upon a time there was a wonderful disney movie with music by Alan Menken [Little Shop of Horrors, Newsies], called The Little Mermaid. Sure, some of it's songs were reminiscent of other pieces he had done, but it was a lovely music, with extremely well done music, and just the right amount. Then, an evil broadway producer came along and said "You know? I bet we could make more money off of this!" so they turned it into a terrible terrible musical. They ruined the music, making cheesy tacky arrangements, and they added more and more awful songs until it was an overwhelmingly terrible experience. The end.
Song Sample: Part of Your World
Video Sample:

Passing Strange

Won: None
Nominated: Best Musical, Best Score
Review: http://theater2.nytimes.com/2007/05/15/theater/reviews/15stra.html
Thoughts: At least it's an original musical, that counts for something. Written by an artist I'd never heard of, known as Stew, the music is bold, in your face, but at times it has some beautiful vocals. I enjoyed it more the second time, but I'm not really in love with it. It's way too redundant and forceful. It smashes you in the head with vocals at times, and not in a good way. But there are some wonderful moments that find that perfect balance, and are great fun to listen to.
Song Sample: Identity
Video Sample:

Xanadu

Won: None
Nominated: Best Musical
Review: http://theater2.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/theater/reviews/11xana.html
Thoughts: Based on the 1980 movie of the same name starring Olivia Newton John, and using the music of ELO, it is glossy, shiny, and tacky. But that doesn't mean it isn't fun, it is, and at times it is even catchy and good. But it often teeters into obnoxious. I won't go out of my way to listen to it, but it is often fun, and sometimes even pretty.
Song Sample: Evil Woman
Video Sample:

[Overall Progress]

Comments

[ruralrob.livejournal.com]

In the Heights should also have got Best Fusion Ever, if there was such a category.

[toddpage.livejournal.com]

I really really must agree.

[aimlessly-aims.livejournal.com]

One of the high school in Connecticut....Weathersfield I believe, is doing their marching band show to In the Heights. It's an awesome show. They have guys out in the middle of the field rapping and everything. I was very impressed.

[toddpage.livejournal.com]

NO FUCKING WAY!?!?!?

I WILL GO TO THEIR GAME TO VIEW THIS.

I mean.

Um.

I mean.

"Oh. Neat."

[toddpage.livejournal.com]

I just watched it today.


Lin Manuel Miranda is AMAZING, per usual.

[pumpkingod.livejournal.com]

Ya know what? I still have not gotten around to listening to "In the Heights." Which is ridiculous: it's right here, on the shelf. The actual discs. Never listened to. I should make this a priority...

As for 'Mermaid': I wore out a cassette tape of the movie's soundtrack, I loved it so much as a kid. Judging purely on promotional footage and stills, neither the roller skates nor the weird sets were workin' for me, so I ended up avoiding the recording.

Adam freakin' LOVES the hunky, good-lookin' Cheyenne Jackson. The Xanadu album has it's moments, but overall I'm not very attached to it. I really do like most of "Suddenly," the insanity of "Evil Woman" and the quote "by the power of all the shrimp on the barbie!"

[toddpage.livejournal.com]

Let me know what you think, when you do! I LOVE it. Love love love.

I love the soundtrack of the movie as well... it's really quite wonderful. But they just totally messed it up with the arrangements of the musical version. I had no intention of seeing it before... but I have less of one, now.

Heh. joffrey [guiser1] loves Cheyenne too... and there's no denying he's talented... but overall the soundtrack is annoying. I do love both the songs you mentioned though.


Have you heard [title of show]? It's one of my top 3 cast recordings of all time. I think you'd like it.