bare The Complete Studio Recording — Page 24

Okay, I received my package today and here are my initial reactions:

1. All the tempos seems SO SLOW. On the DVD, someone said that they didn't want the audience to ever miss a lyric... but really, you can speed it up a little. It's especially detrimental in the high energy numbers, such as "Birthday Bitch" and "911! Emergency!"

2. Almost everyone's acting is poor. Perhaps it's, again, because of the tempos... but everyone seemed off. I especially had a problem with Christopher Johnson as Matt; his voice is fine, but he comes across as extremely feminine... and that's not how I see Matt at all. Additionally, there isn't any passion or emotion coming across in the vocals, except occassionally for James Snyder (especially in "Ever After") and Keili Lefkovitz (brilliant in "A Quiet Night at Home").

3. Which brings me to the next thing: the songs sound overproduced. Like all the voices have been messed with and the music is synthesized.

4. I was absolutely blown away by the beginning of the CD. The vocals in the prayer at the very start of "Epiphany" had me nearly in tears... unfortunately not much else reaches that point.

5. Most of the lyric changes don't bother me, though some seem unnecessary. Why "Look into these big blue eyes and you'll understand" instead of "Feel the beat of my racing heart and you'll understand?"

6. I love the new rap in "Wonderland."

7. The DVD is slightly boring. The only thing I was really interested in seeing was how the writers/producers/everyone felt about the New York production, but it took up less than 5 minutes of the entire documentary. It's mostly just praise of the cast and crew of the LA production. Still some interesting stuff though.

8. I haven't really been paying attention to Act Two, so I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. Hopefully the entire thing will grow on me.

9. Yes, the packaging is strange and a bit off-putting at first. But it's beautifully put together, with the wonderful art found on the website and a 40-page booklet.

I GOT MY CONFIRMATION, TODAY! YIPPEEEEEEEEE

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FINALLY got my shipping confirmation email!!! :) It was supposedly shipped last night.

But now I won't get it until at least Monday because I'm going home for break and my shipping address was my campus address!

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I STILL have not gotten my confirmation and I am getting seriously PISSED OFF!!!! It has been a week to the day that I was told it was going to be shipped in 24-48 hours. Grrrrrr!!!!

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So I got my CD a few days ago in the mail, and I felt like I needed to come on here and vent. Well not so much vent...I don't hate the recording, I just have some issues with it.

I, too, am confused as to why no one involved in the LA production seemed to like the NYC production (notes Jenna Leigh Green's neutrality on the issue...). Having watched the NYC production and now these clips of the LA production, I wonder who in their right mind would ever prefer LA over New York...

I can understand wanting to stay true to what you originally wrote and do what's best for the piece, but it seems like a lot of the changes on the album were done out of spite that they were changed for the NY show. Everything is slower, and I think that takes away from the up-beat, dramatic feel that the show should have. "Epiphany" was painfully slow, and it seemed like there wasn't much emphasis on harmonies (at least in the higher register) on this CD. I agree with some of the lyrical changes being unnecessary ("You and I", "Portrait of a Girl", etc.). I like that "Plain Jane Fatass" was included, but with "Quiet Night at Home" just one song after it, it feels like Nadia does nothing but feel bad for herself. "Are You There" felt incomplete without that final "Send a sign so that I know you're there...there for me" to tie it up, like in the New York production. It sounded like they just stopped singing and forgot the lyrics. "One", however, is one of my favorite pieces in all of Act 1...I just don't know if I dig Nadia and Matt as part of that "And I keep on waiting..." verse.

Act 2, at least in NY, opened powerfully. Not so much on this CD. "Wedding Bells" is butchered at the end. Am I the only one who thinks that the whole "Forever and ever and ever, amen!" sounds like utter crap compared "Forever and ever, til death do you part"? I had few other issues with Act 2, aside from the random dialogue between Peter and Jason in the middle of "All Grown Up", as well as the fact that "Dream a dream, then dash another!" sounds freaking corny.

Onto the performances...

Altogether, the acting on both CDs was pretty bad. I understand that it's a studio recording, but it seems like someone lost track of the fact that it's a recording of a stage show, and a very emotional one at that. Matt Doyle didn't really bug me as Peter, he might on-stage though. James Snyder has a great voice, I didn't really have any issues with him either. Keili has a great, edgy voice, I just liked the more airy Natalie Joy Johnson from the NY cast. Keili sounded wretched during her brief part in "One"...My only other big issue was with Stephanie Anderson. I see Sister Chantelle as a powerhouse who doesn't take any crap, and I think of Romelda Benjamin's booming voice whenever I think of her character. However, Stephanie Anderson sounds like she's whispering 3 inches away from Peter's ear throughout the whole CD. No power, no soul, no acting whatsoever. Not a bad voice though..

I sound like I hate this thing. I don't, I think it's great that it's now available in a legal, concrete form in its entirety. I just wish someone would have looked at the fact that most of us here are familiar with the New York production of "Bare", so why pull out all the stops and do everything possible to make this CD/DVD set completely faithful to the original LA production (which, I'm sorry, is a less-polished, less complete-sounding prodction)? Clearly, when listening to this CD and the NY production back to back, the changes made for that show were for the better. Why try to fix what isn't broken?

I can completely understand wanting to stay true to and improve on the LA Production. However, why go back to lyrics and arrangements that either don't sound as good and don't make sense? "Take a look in these big blue eyes"? "So much for our ever-after"? And the end of "Wedding Bells" has lost all of its dramatic build-up, and just sounds trite.

As for who's more familiar with what production, I'm almost positive that the New York boots and sample tracks are better-circulated than anything from the LA Production. In fact, I've been looking for months for some audio or video from LA, and didn't come across a shred of it until I got this DVD.

BTW, does anyone else hear someone talking in the background during the first few seconds of "Portrait of a Girl"?

Updated On: 11/20/07 at 03:56 PM

OK so I am at the end of my first listen and my initial opinion is:

AMAZING!

I will post an indepth review tomorrow, but I do have some things to say now.

1. ALOT of the lyric changes in my opinion are great. I love "These big blue eyes" and such. There is nothing that really stood out to me and made me ears hurt.

2. The rap in Wonderland was certainly an improvement. I loved it and I think it was amazing.

3. The spirit and soul of the show are there and intact. I believe that this cast truly captured the essence of what is happening to these kids.

3. Jenna is as amazing as ever.

4. I am in love with this CD.

Finally, anyone who is negitive about this CD was OBVIOUSLY not listening to it with an open mind. I understand we are all upset about how things went down with the CD (believe me i know!) but you cannot truly call yourself a bare fan if you cant see through all the BS and embrace it with and open heart. When I first saw this show years ago it touched a special place in my soul because it hit so close to home for me. From the opening chords of "Epiphany" to the final breath in "No Voice" these people pour their heart and soul into a project that truly speaks to so many of us. It is an AMAZING accomplishment for Damon and Co. and they truly deserve a standing ovation.

In my opinion, a lot of people are upset by, or not liking, the lyrical "changes," because they were just used to hearing it the other way. At first, the big blue eyes line in You & I bothered me, because for years I had listened to the other recording where they said "feel the beat of my racing heart." Now though, after listening to the studio recording a whole bunch, I don't mind the changes.

I feel your pain Spidey...nothing here either. It's getting a wee bit ridiculous right now.

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Some thoughts--


*I don't mind the lyric changes. I actually think that "take a look in my big blue eyes" makes sense as Ivy references Jason's "big blue eyes" later in the show (Touch My Soul, I beleive?). Not a big fan of her "then dash another" in "All Grown Up...."it just doesn't mesh well. "Dash" another? What?

*The acting...oh the acting...Jenna, James, and Kelli actually aren't that bad. I do prefer Jenna on the NY sample cd--she just seemed to have a little more "oomph." Matt Doyle isn't horrible acting-wise but Michael Arden seemed to have more impact and I don't know if that was because of his acting or because of his voice.

*Matt.....oh Christopher Johnson.....I wish I hadn't seen his face on the dvd because now I can't listen to anything Matt sings without thinking about that kid's face. Scary.

*Sister Chantelle is just wrong. Her voice is grating and acting is flat. Not a fan.

*I have a problem in the whole show in that it seems like the same five songs are just reprised over and over again. Luckily I like those songs they use but still..it's like the same melodic combinations in different places.

*The songs between Peter and his mom STILL don't work. "Warning" is quite possibly the most boring song I've ever heard. They changed Claire's lines in the opening song and I feel like they have less of an impact now and take away some of the comedic releif the show had (and needed) in that opening number.

*The rap in Wonderland is just embarassing. For all parties involved. A rap? Really?

*I miss Love,Dad. I don't know why. I feel like we already have "Quiet Night At Home" why do we need another "let's feel sorry for Nadia" song. That being said, I do feel like Kelli is pretty amazing on this album.

*I don't hate some of the changes they made musically. I do, however, feel like they are less effective (I noticed them the most in both of Ivy's songs)

*I really enjoyed the story of Bare on the DVD. Like everyone else, thought it was strange they pretty much ignored their time in New York. Isn't opening a show in New York like....the ultimate goal? Also. That one lady with the big chin and teeth? She has far too scary a face to be shown as much as she was. And don't call me an asshole. You know you were thinking it too.

*Overall I'm a fan. I do feel like it's just missing....something...I don't know what it is. Maybe it's the combination of the cast I don't know. I feel like the show has so much potential it really just needs someone to come in and take the great parts and tweak those into something more. It's kind of like "Zanna,Don't" in a way. Great premise, a handful of really great songs, it just doesn't work cmopletely. Still, an applauded effort and *almost* worth all the hell everyone went through to receive their cds. :)

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I just got a very nice email advising it is being shipped today.
However, not Fed ex-UPS...so who knows how long it will take !!

Mine arrived in my town this morning...of course, the day that immediately traveling home to my parents after work. So it gets to sit there until Sunday night! Oy.