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:
1 Comment so far
Leave a comment
[...] about this in a while. I had been doing it by year, and already did a post for all the 2009 and 2008 nominees I listened to. I have listened to many since then, and I am going to do a brief version [...]
Pingback by Original Cast Recordings Round 3 « 101 in 1001 June 4, 2010 @ 6:39 pm