Fan123 said: "I'm really enjoying this! Based on the film and on comments here about the show, I wasn't hoping for deep emotional engagement, but rather some bangin' pop medleys, and boy does this album deliver there.
For those who've seen the show, is 'Sympathy for the Duke' a flashback? I thought I'd read a comment that Satine and the Duke are already together when Christian enters the scene in the stage version, but I may be wrong.
Regarding Aaron Tveit's performance, based just on this album, I suppose his sincere character might allow less room to cut loose than some of the other, more flamboyant parts? However, I would have liked a little more 'character voice' in his later songs, to help show his progression from idealistic to more embittered. In the later songs hestill only usesthat smooth, pleasant, almost 'boy band' sound that he does so well. (I don't mean to dismiss his voice in general; it just isn't the style I wanted for that part of this story.) Maybe he was directed to stick with pop stylings throughout specifically for the album though."
I don’t think the album does justice to Christian’s transition from innocent ingenue to heartbroken lover. In the show, it’s much more evident through the vocals and staging just how much the character had changed.
The more I listen to the album, the more I question the production choices. Had I not seen the show and know how powerful Karen’s and Aaron’s voices are I would give the OBCR an A+.