I agree wholeheartedly with Namo.
HAIR is one of my favorite shows, and I worked on a production of it- I know the show and the score inside and out, and was more than eager to hear this new recording.
Unfortunately, I listend to it a few times and now it is just collecting dust.
While great that more of the score is preserved (if "Hippie Life" can even be considered part of the score, being that it was written in 1992 and has nothing to do with the show,) the energy is completely lacking, the tempos are all set at a deathly slow speed, and the performers are more obsessed with the sound of their own voice than with doing the score any sort of justice. Okay, Jennifer Hudson sounds okay singing "Easy To Be Hard" - but there's no need to make the song even slower than it already is. There's no need to hold every note out - we get it.
I'm completely disappointed with the recording - the Original Broadway Cast, Original German Cast, and the Original Off-Broadway cast are all superb - this recording is wretched, and that's sad, because I love so many of the performers and this is one of my favorite shows. Blah.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson