I don't share all the Hadestown love. I just thought the album, like the show, was dreary and I hated the way the director (I assume) chose for Reeve Carney to sing his sings.
I think the Oklahoma cast recording is Tier 1 in every way. I never thought that a recording of Oklahoma would be as completely sexy as this one, and much of that is due to the way Damon Daunno sang his sings. Every time, I hear those songs,I wonder how they decided that he would sing them the way he did. I donotlike most country music, but I thought the way they introduced a strong country feel throughout the show and recording was brilliant.
I feel a little like you-know-who, in that I really did not like most of the albums this year. I would rather listen to Cher or Tina Turner than homages; I can only take so much Jagged Little Pill, and would still prefer the original; while there're a lot of gems in the KMK score, I don't like -- and never have -- any of the show-within-a-show numbers.
I did really like the MR recording, even though it is a juke box musical, it doesn't feel like one to me...I think the recording does the show a great service...shows bowfin a mix-up album can be.
But, it is still Oklahoma all the way.
Of course, the worst IMO is Tootsie.