Customer Reviews

The Full Monty: The Broadway Musical

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The answer is, "The Full Monty" can. I got this cd before I saw the show, and after listening to it, wasn't really impressed that much. I was actually kind of regretting paying (...) for my ticket. But after seeing the show live, this is one of my favorite cds. "The Full Monty" is a show that you must see live in order to appreciate its brilliance. The story is of course funny, and of course sexy. But what some people don't see, is that behind the strippers, and the g-strings, and the nudity, "The Full Monty" is about unconditional love, and the lengths that people will go to to keep a family together. "The Full Monty" was one of the most touching musicals in Broadway history. There were several parts when I teared up, and one particulare scene where I brokedown crying. "The Full Monty" is brilliant!

I saw "The Full Monty" on Broadway in November, and immediately knew that I would claim its OCR among my new favorites. I wasn't wrong. It's snappy, jazzy and totally in keeping with the texture of the Broadway show. They did a masterful job in the recording studio, and the instrumentalists and vocalists are all shown to their best and full advantage. The ballads, which are barely remembered from the show, have become my favorite numbers -- tho' it's hard to get the hook from "Let It Go" out of your mind after repeated listenings. The show will run a very long time, and this recording will soon be on every theatregoers' shelf.

When I was growing up, my older brother & sister, who were both heavily into their drama classes in high school, drove me friggin' NUTS by playing nothing but showtune music on their respective stereos. Showtunes, showtunes, showtunes, that's all I ever heard playing in the house as a young boy. Maybe that's why I can't stand typical (*cue Ethel Merman*) "Broadway Shooooooow!" kind of music. It just sounds way too corny & cheeseball to my ears, and it's simply not music that I would want to buy, much less listen to. I'm a rock 'n' roller, baby!That's why I'm so thrilled with David Yazbek's wonderful, ROCKING score for the stage musical version of the movie, "The Full Monty," which I had the great pleasure of seeing recently (MARVELOUS show, by the way). Yazbek's songs, blending pop, rock and jazz (with a little pinch of salsa and barbershop vocals, too), are catchy & memorable, with really clever, sometimes-hilarious lyrics that totally hit home. Yazbek's songs totally add something special to the already-endearing story of six unemployed steel workers who bare it all for some much-needed cash & self-respect. I can't get songs like "Scrap," "Big-Ass Rock," "You Rule My World," "Big Black Man," "The Goods," or "Let It Go" out of my head! Even the ballads, like "Breeze Off The River" & "You Walk With Me," are beautiful. Yes, the songs are THAT good."The Full Monty," one of my all-time favorite movies, has now been adapted into one of my all-time favorite musicals, and in no small part to David Yazbek's wonderful, rockin' tunes on this Broadway cast album. Let it go! :-)

I have mixed feelings about this album. The show is spectacular. The music is spectacular. The album however doesn't really capture the energy and excitement as well as it could. If you've seen the show, then by all means the album will bring you back to all the great moments of the show, but if you haven't yet seen it, this won't give you a full understanding of just how good the show really is. SO, I'm giving it 4 stars, just cause the show is so damn good - but the album leaves a lot to be desired.

These aren't the most laudatory adjectives, no. <i>The Full Monty</i> doesn't quite merit them... but that doesn't mean that it isn't a good album, one well worth your money. What it does mean is that it's rarely going to knock most of your socks off with soaring melodies and well-crafted lyrics; David Yazbek was clearly striving for a comfortable groove and not for something that would really make us stand up and take notice.

Well, he's achieved that goal. Most of the songs are cheerfully melodic and sung with spunk by a wonderful cast, even if few of them are going to have you running for the replay button. The most entertaining: the twisted ballad "Big Ass Rock", Emily Skinner's irresistible "Life With Harold", Kathleen Freeman's star turn ("Jeannette's Showbiz Number"), and the gorgeous "Breeze Off the River". Nothing else offends, even if the lyrics clunk here and there.

For such a load of faint praise, you might think I don't like this album. Not true in the slightest. It's just that I find it difficult to articulate why I've been delightedly playing it so often lately.

Rarely do you find a musical score that is upbeat and funny that still conveys a message. This show does just that. The score by David Yazbek will give a thrill to any music lover, including people who love musical scores or people who enjoy listening to music with a more pop feel to it. The lyrics are hilarious and the tunes are catchy, every song is worth listening to over and over again. The principals in the cast, including Tony Award-nominated Patrick Wilson and Andree Shields offer outstanding performances, some that will have you rolling on the floor with laughter, and others that will bring a tear to the eye. This CD is a must buy for everyone who enjoys a laugh and listens to music of any style. You will not regret purchasing this item.

...now I can listen to the CD and relive it whenever I want! The show was spectacular (I saw it twice in 4 days) and the CD brings it all back. The CD does have that studio recording sound, but it does capture the feelings of the live Broadway show. I appreciate that the words are included and enjoy the photos of the cast. Patrick Wilson has a wonderful voice, as does the rest of the cast. I especially enjoy Let It Go, Breeze on the River, and Man. Also, hearing Kathleen Freeman sing is bittersweet. If you enjoyed the show, the CD is definitely worth buying.

Although this brilliant adaption of the Oscar-nominated film was shut out of the Tonys due to the The Producers sweep, it was honored with a Drama Desk award for David Yazbeck's outstanding score. Yazbeck's music is fresh and new and perfectly fits the show. With a cast that includes such talent as Patrick Wilson, Andre de Shields, John Ellison Conlee, Emily Skinner, and veteran performer Kathleen Freeman, this recording is not to be missed. Wilson, a Carnegie-Mellon alum, stands out in "Scrap" and "Man". De Shields positively steals the show with "Big Black Man", and Skinner shines on the feisty "Life With Harold". "You Rule My World" is a silly yet touching ballad, and the final number "Let It Go" is a simply fabulous ending to a fun, enjoyable show.

Is this high art? No way. Is this the best darn fun you'll have with a CD? You bet!

The lively score is extremely well written. The songs range from the powerful ("Scrap") to the haunting ("You Walk with Me") to the outrageous ("The Goods").

My favorite is "Big-Ass Rock": "This world is cold when you're alone/And they ignore you/But don't kill yourself.../We'll do it for you."

Listen to it once and you'll be interested. Listen to it twice and you'll begin to get into it. Listen to it three times and you'll be utterly addicted.

The critics all wanted to hate this show, but it's just too darn good. The same goes for the CD.

A cast recording of the Broadway production of The Full Monty would never be able to capture everything that made the show distinctive--the complete performances, the jokes, and, well, the ending. But this cast recording does its best--it captures the songs in a very listenable and entertaining form, and if the songs aren't always what you might hear in the theater, they still come across well here. If you enjoyed the show on Broadway, you will probably appreciate the recording. If you haven't seen the show live, it may be harder, though the recording will tide you over nicely until you can actually see the show, which you should, and at your earliest opportunity.