K-I-N, G-A-R, T-H-U-R -- Arthur!

[filkertom]

I indulged myself a bit, and picked up the original cast album to the 2004 Broadway production of Sondheim's Assassins.

I'm having trouble listening to it.

Neil Patrick Harris is good, although frankly I thought he was better in Sweeney Todd In Concert. But everything else -- the singers, the musical direction, the arrangements -- just are not anywhere close to the original recording. Now, that may be unfair -- the original recording featured Victor Garber, Terrence Mann, and Jonathan Hadary, in as good an ensemble cast as you are likely to find -- but, dammit, this is Sondheim, and it's Broadway, and if you don't have the chops you don't do it.

Fortunately, that wasn't the only CD in my Amazon box.

Five minutes of Spamalot made up for Assassins very nicely. It's a frickin' hoot, and it's so good to hear Tim Curry singing again.

Comments

[marahsk.livejournal.com]

There's a Spamalot CD?! WANT!

[fraggedone.livejournal.com]

NEED!

[jadasc.livejournal.com]

But everything else -- the singers, the musical direction, the arrangements -- just are not anywhere close to the original recording.

You know, I thought the exact same thing. Bought it and sold it used within a week.

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

I'm particularly enjoying the "not yet dead" song. SPAMALOT might just edge out my Tom Smith playlist for most-often played yet... but not for a while [tippin' the hat to the noble topic host].

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I'll see what I can do about that with the new one. ;)

[trektone.livejournal.com]

You didn't like Michael Cerveris? I admit I'm partial to the original soundtrack, too.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I haven't listened to all of it yet, but the opening number was awfully stilted to my ear, and "Gun Song" was so lifeless that I couldn't even finish. And "The Ballad of Guiteau" was anemic compared to Hadary's. I'll give it another listen next week when I have time, but for the moment color me very disappointed.

Neil Patrick Harris - ?

[purplemoonwoman.livejournal.com]

Neil Patrick Harris was best in Harold and Kumar go to whitecastle. Man, I laughed my tookus off.