Lea Michele's New Album Places

I've listened to several songs from it- Some of the songs are frankly not good songs at all, but Michelle's vocals are always great. Anyway, I've been watching a lot of interviews of her marketing the album and she talks about how she named it "Places" because the Broadway tradition of calling places before the performers have to go on. She's also stated that she wanted to get back to her more theatrical roots as a singer, having idolized Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion in her childhood. I like Lea's work a lot and applaud her for making this album, but I feel that it's little bit like false advertising to cite Barbra Streisand and Broadway in the interviews because the album is all pop songs. No Broadway songs or Streisand songs(Haven't listened to the album enough to hear any vocal homages to Celine, but there are no covers) . If that's the album that she wants to create, that's fine by me, but giving the people the idea it's a throwback album with a more musical theatre sound is not a great way to market the album in my opinion.

Anybody else listened to some of the songs or watched any interviews? Did you guys like her first album?

Updated On: 5/21/17 at 01:27 AM

The impression I got when she's cited Barbra and Celine and Broadway in interviews wasn't that the album would include covers, but that the songs would have a more traditional pop sound with emphasis on vocals instead of the heavily produced sound we heard in her first album and what is on the radio a lot now. I liked the concept for this album, but I agree the songs themselves aren't very good.

Well Darren Criss is going to play Andrew Cunanan, Versaces murderer, on American Crime Story. That has real potential to be an Emmy bait role if excercuted right. The 1st season about the OJ Simpson trial dominated its catagory at the Emmys that year.

If Ryan thinks that Lea fits a similar calibar role on one of his shows in the future that that could be a good career boost for her too.

While I have no "in person" opinion of Lea's singing and acting I do want to, at least, give Darren Criss his due. People either love or don't love both of them but if you're basing your opinion on 2-3 minute edits of numbers on Glee re runs that's that.

I saw Criss take over for the amazing Daniel Radcliffe in "How To Succeed.." and he is every bit "the" versatile talented stage actor. I missed "Hedwig" but even though he only did "Business" for 3 weeks, we saw him twice (Radcliffe 2x also). He just has all the stage door joan/johnnies screaming.

Being a Murphy favorite can be a curse or a good thing. Lea can do the Murphy schtick but is still unproven to me, on stage, but Criss is definitely a dedicated guy and good at his job. But, I'm not buying any of her music.

What I will say for Criss is that he is a hustler. He is willing to pay his dues and work his ass off. Lea not so much. I respect him immensely. He goes against type and is willing to challenge himself. Plus he's not stupid-he seems to be a gay creative's darling and is wiling to work that angle. He's a smart cookie and I think he will have al ong career.

Soaring29 said: "BenjaminNicholas2 said: "Ever since she butchered Don't Rain on my Parade at the TONY Awards, I'm not a fan



Just out of interest, why do you think she butchered it?





"

Thanks for asking. I've never understood why that is considered such a low point here. Like we haven't all heard it sung much worse...

It's not a horrible album and her voice redeems a lot of the songs but it's just not very interesting. Sometimes the slow tempo and her vocals just expose the weakness of the lyrics and the composition. I didn't think the first album was fantastic but it was certainly better. That said, I think the songs are inoffensive enough that they will eventually grow on with me repetition and I'll stop thinking about how they don't make sense.

I think Darren Criss is good with material he can handle. But he was real... not good at that NY Pops Carnegie Hall concert.

BenjaminNicholas2 said: "Ever since she butchered Don't Rain on my Parade at the TONY Awards, I'm not a fan



"yes...stop thinking your Streisand Lea!

Updated On: 5/29/17 at 01:46 AM