CD reviews by Munk

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 3:08am

Here are my brief reviews of the current new releases:

1. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels definitely works better live in the theatre. The cast recording is lively and often times fun, but in the translation, almost all of the wit, charm, and humor has been lost. Yes, they all sound great (particularly Lithgow who sounds better recorded,) but again, what makes the show so very enjoyable live is not present on the recording - not to any fault of anyone involved, but this just proves that it's something you have to see, not listen to. For fans of the show, it provides a fantastic companion - but I wouldn't count on the recording to garner any new fans of the show or make people rush out to go buy tickets. Upon a second listen, Yazbek's score proves to be even more forgettable than I had remembered. Yes, it's fresh and new and the lyrics are still witty, but it's the type of show that relies mostly on physical performance, and so it seems, the shows very funny book. The highlight of the entire CD, in my opinion is "What Was a Woman to Do?" The opening number proves more annoying and trite than I remembered it, but I was really disappointed at how forgettable to score really is.

2. Little Women : The score sounds far better recorded than it does live - due to additional musicians - and the performers, particularly Foster and McGovern, sound brilliant. I really enjoyed this show live and remember the score being delicate and beautiful, but upon a second listen, it proves very amateur and again, forgettable. The highlights of the CD are the very mediocre "Astonishing" and "Days of Plenty." Although at times the lyrics are embarrasingly amateur, the performers sound simply astounding. Like DRS, for people who like the show, it will surely provide for a great souvineer and as a nice memory of the show - but some of the songs are just beyond boring on the recording, and the only songs I can listen to are the two I mentioned above - not because of content - but because their voices literally give me chills.

3. Spamalot is a show that I didn't totally enjoy when I saw it live, but the cast recording is a real joy. The music, which I remembered to be boring and trite, is actually 100% better than I remembered it. It's not the best score of the year - THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA is - but since Tony voters seem to be falling for comedy in recent years, I wouldn't say it's out of the question for SPAM to take home the tony for not only best musical, but for best score. Sara Ramirez's material is the best part of the CD, and her voice is even more incredible than I remember it. She needs to do something serious and legit soon - at times, her voice sounds similar to Patti LuPone. All the performers sound great on the CD, and I laughed a lot more while listening to the CD than I did when I saw the show. For fans of the show, you must get this CD. For people like me who didn't love the show, I highly recommend this recording - it's truly fantastic (and will probably win the Grammy.)

4. Pacific Overtures . I absolutely love this show - I think it's one of Sondheim's best scores, and I think one of the best scores ever written. It's nice to hear a new, fresh recording of his amazing score, but it's not really necessary. All of the performances on the CD pale in comparison to the original recording. It's also very strange to listen to the CD and hear female voices - it's not unwelcome, but different. For Sondheim freaks, I presume you will get this CD anyway. But for me, when I want to listen to the score I will listen to the original. It just sounds better on the original. I never thought I would say this about PACIFIC OVERTURES, but the new recording is grating, at times. I don't know what it is, specifically, but I feel like the brilliance is lost. I don't like the way B.D. Wong (and some other performers) sound on it. If you're curious about this show, pick up the original recording - you won't be missing anything by not getting this recording - and I'm sorry to say that.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 3:13am

Munk - though I will clearly get the Pacific Overtures anyway, are the orchestrations not good either??

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 3:17am

Nothing about the CD is "not good" - I didn't mean to imply that - but there's no need for this recording, since there are no improvements. The orchestrations, if I'm remembering correctly, are very VERY similar to the original, if not the same. When I saw the production, I don't remember that being so evident.

ADD THIS TO MY SPAM REVIEW: I forgot about certain lines since I've seen the show, but have since been reminded of via the CD. In the amazing "Diva's Lament," Sara remarks "I've no Grammy, no awards, no Tony Awards." Since the show will almost definitely win the Grammy, and since Sarah seems to be the Supporting Actress frontrunner, I think voters will vote for her just for that reason. Then in the show when she sings the line, it will be even funnier.

[shira467]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 3:56am

I didn't want to like SPAMALOT (I would like to see more Piazza-like musicals), it does grow on you!

And Sara Ramirez -- DAMN! What a voice she has. I was extremely impressed with her talents!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 4:13am

I wanted to love both SPAM and PIAZZA, but I was let down by both. I find Piazza's score amazing, but the SPAMALOT cd is certainly irresistable - I can't stop listening to it. I think some of the music is quite good, actually.

[Ladyofthe Lake]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 7:08am

Interesting reviews, thanks. I'm not altogther surprised about your comments on the DRS recording, although I've not yet heard it. I enjoyed the songs in the context of the show, but don't know if I'd feel the same if I heard them "cold", without seeing them being performed onstage. I definitely plan to buy the recording, however (I'm still frustrated that the CD giveaway took place three days after I left NYC...).

I *was* surprised - quite pleasantly - by your review of the "Spamalot" recording, because I know how lukewarm you were about the show itself. I actually preferred most of the performances I heard live to those on the OCR, but love the recording just the same. I'm still smarting from the scathing review Matthew Murray gave it at theatremania.com...yikes!

[broadway betty]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 9:53am

I'm also very surprised about your review of the Spam cd and of Sara Ramirez. It makes me really happy that you enjoyed it so much and that you think Sara's voice is great. Thanks, Munk!

It's really funny that Sara and Christian are featured actors but they sing most of the songs. I love it, though, cuz they can sang!

I just want to say that I am in love with Sara Ramirez! We're off to San Francisco! :)

Updated On: 5/3/05 at 09:53 AM

[joniray]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 10:50am

I must say, I'm a HUGE Sara Ramirez fan and have been since I heard that warm, silky voice in "Capeman."

Munk, Sara has done lots of legit, unfortunately, it just hasn't been in any hit Broadway shows so she hasn't really been in the spotlight much until now. It's kind of interesting to me that her "big break" so to speak has been in such a broad musical comedy when she considers herself a dramatic actress first and a singer second (she studied acting at Julliard, not singing – I think I read in the NYT profile of her a couple of months ago that she's never even had voice lessons).

Two parts that she's done that I would have loved to have seen: Petra in "A Little Night Music" in Chicago (with LuPone) and The Countess (the Glenn Close role) in "The Game," a musical version of "Dangerous Liaisons" that was done at Barrington a few seasons ago – that must have been delicious!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 11:00am

It's funny I think I feel the reverse about Spamalot and DRS. Although I did not like Spamalot and loved DRS when I saw them so that is certainly a factor.
Except for the Sara Ramierez songs I can hardly listen to the Spamalot cd, most of the jokes strike me as even less funny than they did live. Several of the songs, like "I am alone" are very boring. It still strikes me as a show devoid of any type of center.
DRS I know is at least in part because I see it as I play it, but I still find it hilarious. The score is not great by any means but it has style and flows well. It is also very, very catchy. The performances all are really great as well, I love the amount of character they are all able to express with their voices.
I agree that Pacific Overtures is one of the greatest scores ever and I will be buying the revival disc this weekend because I really want the cast I saw, I can imagine it may slightly pale in comparison to the original though.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 11:13am

I haven't listened to Pacific Overtures yet as much as the other three Munk's posted about, but the orchestrations are kind of thin. It's disappointing.

I totallly agree that DRS sounds better live, and that Little Women sounds better recorded. Someone asked me why I bothered to own Little Women, and the truth is that even though you don't walk around singing the music, it's a very pretty score. I love the Spamalot CD. I didn't really love the show, so I didn't expected to be completely addicted to the CD, but it came out wonderful, and it's laugh-out-loud funny, just like the show.

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 11:20am

"It's nice to hear a new, fresh recording of his amazing score, but it's not really necessary"

Funny, I felt the same way about the Woods revival, but I've come to enjoy it immensely. Though that could have something to do with Christopher Sieber and Laura Benanti...

Gosh, I want it to be 5pm so I can snag my Spamalot CD.