well,personally, I though PIAZZA was this year's prestige title (a la Sondheim's PASSION, SUNDAY and SWEENEY) but it was an exceptionally well-produced recording and a great score.
SCOUNDRELS may well be the season's most entertaining cast album (along with SPELLING BEE) but SPAMALOT was fun too.
But I don't believe anyone who votes for best cast/show album is really qualified. Sometimes I feel as if they just pick the one with the best cover art!
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com