I just bought the cast recording, having never seen the show before, and I'm really impressed. The songs are very catchy, and some of them are really beautiful-- I don't understand the complaint about the score being 'unmemorable,' since so many songs are stuck in my head after only one listen. It was also definitely worth the money-- only ten dollars? I paid almost three times that for "Aspects of Love," and it only has about three actual songs.
Now, I do have to say, I cringed at several of the more awkward or gross lyrics, but at least all of the lyrics were effective and fit the spirit of the show. I mean, "Side Show" probably has the worst lyrics I've ever heard, but I still enjoy it, and Shrek's lyrics are Sondheim compared to those. My only other major complaint is that a lot of the ensemble actors doing 'character voices' are all doing the same character voice-- high-pitched, nasal, and shrill-- and it kind of grates after awhile, hearing so many of the same type of voice.
In my pants, she has burst like the music of angels, the light of the sun! --Marius Pantsmercy