AMERICAN IDIOT Reviews- Page 3

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 8:52pm

I would like to add that I am in LOVE with the arrangements and harmonies on the cast recording. I can't wait to see it!

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 8:57pm

I think it's a valid topic. This is musical theatre after all, not just punk music. All about choices. It was their choice not to use any. I'm only going off the preview video. Never mind, not worth it, haha. Back on topic, these reviews make the show sound like a Best Musical winner this year...

~Steven

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:02pm

"Just watched the BWW sneak peak, and... is that really considered good singing?"

Good god sometimes i just wanna scream at people on here.

From someone who’s worked as a singer and dancer in West End musicals for years i can say YES that it bloody good singing. The cast sound fantastic, the harmonies in the songs are beautiful and as they capture the essence of the music with ease. I don't know how anyone (unless their 80 years old) can hear that and not hear how great the cast sound

[broadwayman17]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:11pm

EW: Mixed to Positive (B)
"Still, punk nihilism and showbiz spirit-fingers are uneasy bedfellows. And at times, Idiot’s efforts to meld the two are jarring. In that sense, Billie Joe Armstrong and director/co-writer Michael Mayer’s decision to emphasize songs over story may have actually done them a favor; it keeps the action moving swiftly and leaves little time to linger on narrative weakness. Purists on either side of the punk/Broadway divide will likely feel under-served by the mix, but for fans of both (and the ecstatic crowd seemed full of them), the evening offers a chaotic, cathartic experience."
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20362571,00.html

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:25pm

"and... is that really considered good singing?"

"which is very vibrato-deficient, especially on the recording"

Thank you baby Jesus, thank you Christ child.

You nerds and dweebs should vote with your allowance money. Don't go to the show. Stay home and watch Glee and American Idol. Maybe, and I know this is shocking, American Idiot isn't FOR you? (I mean, obviously it's about you but that's another story...)

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:27pm

I feel this is a Pulitzer winning essay in the making.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:27pm

Finacial Times - Positive
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/3820d950-4c96-11df-9977-00144feab49a.html

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:29pm

The Observer looks Mixed-to-Negative

http://www.observer.com/2010/culture/green-day-american-idiot

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:36pm

WOW.. Word of Mouth people actually didn't like something for once:

http://www.broadway.com/videos/tag/word-mouth/word-of-mouth-review-american-idiot/

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:38pm

I wouldnt say Word of Mouth didnt like it
One of them didnt, 2 of them did even though they mentioned the story was weak they both said it was an exciting piece of theatre

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:46pm

O please I was just making an observation. Go crucify me, why don't you. I cannot comment on how the show is, I said I was basing my observations on the show preview. Why can't the observation of no vibrato be a discussion topic? Did I say it didn't work for Spring Awakening? I'm a fan of that show, by the way. For me, as a musical director, the discussion of how appropriate or not vibrato is in the confines of a score/song is a valid and apropos discussion topic for me given the popularity of alt/punk shows as of late.

~Steven

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:49pm

Updated On: 4/20/10 at 09:49 PM

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:52pm

So, looks like almost every review is either mixed to positive or just positive?

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:52pm

That's the AP review, not the New York Times.

~Steven

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:53pm

arrrgh sorry, my bad

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:54pm

No worries. :)

~Steven

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 9:58pm

Go dig out Judy at Carnegie Hall and have a vibratogasm.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 10:02pm

The only time I remember seeing someone from Word Of Mouth not liking a show was that one kid who saw Next To Normal.

[alightinthedark23]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 10:08pm

New York Times
New York Times

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 10:09pm

Did Word of Mouth's Angie get punched in the face at American Idiot?

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 10:09pm

Thanks for a mature and practical response, Namo.

Maybe I have too much faith in humankind, but I'm always surprised at how mean people can be on this site. Guys, we discuss THEATRE. Why the hate?

Anyway, congrats to the show on its positive reviews so far.

~Steven

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 10:15pm

That is a strange review.

[Sauja]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 10:22pm

Wow, that's a flat out rave from the Times. I confess that I was underwhelmed last night. Partly because the balcony at the St. James isn't conducive to actually seeing things, but also because I just thought there'd be more...there there.

I fell in love with Dookie when I was in high school, and American Idiot was by all means a great album. But I don't know that I'm buying the argument that we don't need a story because the show is like an opera--broad strokes and big feelings. To a certain extent, it IS thrilling. The energy, enthusiasm, and fierce sound of the piece were affecting. But I couldn't care about any of the characters. They just never transcended stereotypes, so I always felt at a remove from what was happening onstage.

I left the theater knowing I'd buy the cast recording (and I did) and that I'd likely see it again. Even still, I felt it was a failure of storytelling. If it had simply been an impressionistic concert with scenes inspired by the music, that would be one thing. That they tried to fuse a clumsy, predictable storyline onto it: that's where I think they went astray.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 10:25pm

...not sure why Isherwood starts by calling this a punk musical, and then dwells on rock opera for the rest of his review as if punk and rock are indistinguishable.

That being said, I'm very happy for the show and the reception it's had; I was totally enthralled when I saw it, and I will definitely go back to see it in it's "frozen" form.

Updated On: 4/20/10 at 10:25 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/20/10 at 10:25pm

I thought they hadn't changed much since Isherwood last saw the show? I wonder what made him fall in love with it.

Well...we've found our Best Musical winner.