In The Heights (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
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Free Music Notes for In The Heights (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Free Music Review: Broadway is back!
Hit: 5 Stars
If Spring Awakening wasn't enough to convince you last year that Broadway is back and better than ever, then Lin-Manuel Miranda's "In the Heights" should. The music and lyrics are pure gold, seamlessly fusing latin and modern musical theatre into one of the best scores to grace Broadway in recent history. Miranda's work has brought Broadway back into the mainstream. Is this a bad thing? Most certainly not. "In the Heights" understands that there are more people to reach than the traditional stuffy theatre-goer. It reaches a much broader audience with modern music and lyrics that are smart, melodic, and fresh.
Though every song stands out, there are a few with extra special moments. The title song is probably one of the best openers in recent Broadway history. "It Won't Be Long Now" has fantastic lyrics (as I sweep the curb, I can hear those turbo engines blazing a trail through the sky) and melody that will be in your head for days, in the good way. "96,000" follows the trail of traditional hip-hop, though the lyrics are extremly witty. The Act I finale, "Blackout", boats exteremly lush chords and writing.
The performances themselves are equally powerful. The show's creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, plays Usnavi, the quasi-narrator of the show. His performance doesn't merely tell a story, but invites you to be a part of it. Vanessa, Usnavi's evasive love interest, is played by big-voiced Karen Olivo. Nina, homeward bound college student, is brought to life by Mandy Gonzalez. Her power ballad, "Everything I Know", is also one of the show's strongest songs. Abuela Claudia, the mother figure that ties the characters together, is portrayed with a pure honesty by Olga Merediz, whose voice could outsing even Wicked's biggest stars.
If "In the Heights" is really the future of broadway, then that future is very bright. This is a must have for your collection.
Free Music Review: "Rent" Meets "West Side Story"
Hit: 5 Stars
Though not quite reaching the level of "Rent" or "West Side Story", "In The Heights" is marvelous & feels a bit like a cross between these classic shows.
Conceived, scored and led by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show recieved 13 well-deserved Tony nominations in a season that the revivals ("South Pacific", "Gypsy", and "Sunday In The Park With George") garnered noticeably more attention ... and walked away with the big prize, "Best Musical".
In addition to Mr. Miranda, the cast includes Robin De Jesus (Tony-nominee & terrific in the movie "Camp"), Mandy Gozalez, Christopher Jackson, Priscilla Lopez (Tony-winner from "A Chorus Line"), and the amazing Olga Merediz (Tony-nominee).
The score is a mixture of pop, Latin, and hip-hop influences and sounds better and better with repeated listenings. Best tracks:
In The Heights
Breathe
96,000
Paciencia Y Fe (Patience And Faith)
When You're Home
Blackout
Sunrise
Enough
Everything I Know
Terrific Show/CD: 4 1/2 stars
Free Music Review: BEST MUSICAL WINNER 2008 Tony Awards-- and it was well deserved
Hit: 5 Stars
This show won best musical at the 2008 tony awards and if you buy this cd or see the show you will understand why. The first time I listened to this I didn't really love it, but the second time I listened to it I NEVER wanted to turn it off! I love to sing so usually I get broadway CDs like Wicked and Legally Blonde so I can sing along. In those shows the main characters are women with great big voices and lots of solos. Now don't get me wrong there are women with great voices and songs in this show, but I find myself enjoying songs where Lin-Manuel Miranda and Christopher Jackson are rapping more than any other song on the cd! Highlights are In the Heights, It Won't be Long Now, No Me Diga, 96,000, When You're Home, Everything I Know, Champagne, and the Finale. I don't know what it is about this musical, but I just love it! Karen Olivo and Mandy Gonzales are amazing as are Christopher Jackson and Lin-Manuel Miranda. In fact the entire cast is wonderful. I really recommend this cd for anyone any age. Give it a chance, you will be pleasantly surprised!Free Music Review: A diverse and inclusive Broadway
Hit: 5 Stars
In the Heights offers outstanding performances within a plot that allows an honest representation of one of New York's diverse faces: the latinos.
Lin-Manuel Miranda has managed to bring to life the day-to-day reality of individuals that do come to the States pursuing the American Dream. It is easy to observe the invisible, but always-present ties, to their own cultures.
Hats off to the amazing performance delivered by Olga Merediz, everyone's grandmother without real grandchildren of her own. Her character is not only convincing but we all feel that we have an Abuela Claudia in the family.
It is a true joy seeing this play on stage and listening to its music. In time, it will be a classic and will open doors to other cultural groups to represent themselves. Bravo!
Free Music Review: Just keeps getting better
Hit: 5 Stars
Do yourself a favor and buy this incredible cast recording and listen to it multiple times. It took me a couple of listenings before I was hooked, and I mean hooked. I was first hooked to "Breathe" (thought it sounded like Jason Robert Brown), then 96,000, one of the best showstoppers I've ever heard, then "It Won't be Long Now", then "When You're Home" which is now my favorite thing to sing in the car... you get the idea. I saw the show last month, and the cast was just as incredible live. This is an absolute must for contemporary Broadway fans. Props as well to the great orchestra and some fantastic brass playing, especially in "The Club."
Essential tracks:
Breathe
It Won't Be Long Now
96,000
When You're Home
The Club/Blackout