Customer Reviews

Hedwig And The Angry Inch: Original Cast Recording

5 star:		(76)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Forget RENT's forced excesses of schlocky chic (amusingly spoofed in the Hedwig movie but not the theater piece), this is a show that really rocks! It's the best rock musical since HAIR, based on the strength of the score alone ... but also to the extent of being a true countercultural phenomenon and a politico-socio-sexual statement.

The lyrics are canny, fun, and wise. The music is amazingly original and effective ... despite the songs being a pastiche in the manner of many great musicals like Chicago and Follies -- you've got a power rock opener, a brooding ballad, a country-western ditty, a heavy metal screamer, a cabaret confessional, a punked-out rant, a ya-ya bubblegum number, a singer-songwriter folk tune, an arena anthem. And John Cameron Mitchell brings a different, utterly convincing, voice to each wonderful song.

This performance is preferable to the film soundtrack, and not just because the whole experience has a greater impact and more meaning on the stage. The added song here "Random Number Generation" (a number that is not part of the show but a song by the original band) is better than the songs "We are Freaks" and "Nailed" on the film soundtrack. The singing has more edge, more intimacy and vulnerability, but no less beauty. The playing is more immediate, the difference between a drag queen with a little stubble and one that is neatly Naired. And, not insignificantly, the cast album includes all lyrics whereas the soundtrack omits them.

I really think this is an important, heartfelt, and enduring musical experience. Rock for the Ages.

If you are trying to decide which CD to buy-- the original live cast performance, or the film version-- go for the original cast. The film version is excellent, but the original cast version is absolutely amazing! It has more raw energy to it, not to mention more voices in the songs and a more overall 'rock' feel, thanks to Cheater's guitars, bass, and drums. John Cameron Mitchell is a much raunchier Hedwig on this version, and Miriam Shor's Yitzak is the perfect vocal complement to her. If that isn't enough to persuade you, this CD comes complete with unforgettable pictures and the words to all the songs. Also included in the booklet is a very intriguing and entertaining portrayal of Hedwig from a reporter who visits her dressing room for an interview.

In all, this album pays Hedwig the perfect and complete homage she so very much deserves and commands.

Brilliant. Astounding, breathtaking, electrifying, profound on more levels than I may ever discover. I fell completely in love with "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" from the very first preview night of its Los Angeles run, and I knew right off that this cast album was a must-have.

This, ladies and gentlemen, whether you like it or not, is THE definitive rock musical. No "rock musical" that came before it even comes close to reaching the true edge and impact that Hedwig does. Stephen Trask's versatile score displays a broad range of musical influence, glorying in a sense of pastiche that really makes you think about the question of self-identity that runs through the show. It's amazing how a song like "The Origin of Love," with its very Dr. Seussian lyrics, can still pack such an impact; "Wicked Little Town" is gorgeous; "Midnight Radio" will always bring tears to my eyes.

Michael Cerveris will always be my favorite Hedwig, but John Cameron Mitchell, the originator, has a beautiful voice and infuses the character of Hedwig with a delicate, yet edgy touch. And as a bonus, the cast album contains the rocking track "Random Number Generation," to better show off Miriam Shor's incredible talent!

A cult hit on the New York circuit several years ago, "Hedwig" proved to be only as successful as its leading man/woman, in this case John Cameron Mitchell(when Ally Sheedy took over, the talk wasn't so hot). Thank God then that we have this document of the raw, wild, blistering original stage performance of Mitchell(with songs by Stephen Trask, the unsung co-star). Not even the movie soundtrack can compare to this cast CD, with vocals torn from Mitchell's delightfully schizo psyche(he's bruised woman, battered man, deflated diva and hollow lover--all at once!). "Wicked Little Town"(and the reprise)has got to be one of the most beautiful, personal laments committed to record, and the imagination and beautiful power of "Origin of Love", with its history altering images, ranks a close second. I don't see how anyone could not come away from this musical journey with his or her eyes opened and heart completely filled. An EXPERIENCE.

The John Cameron Mitchell you might know as Dickon from the Original Cast of "The Secret Garden" has certainly created a different role for himself in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Mitchell wrote the book and stars in the most amazing thing to hit the stage in years. Stephen Trask's music and lyrics are both catchy, intelligent, and they absolutely rock. Not even "Rent" can keep up with this stuff. I can't say enough how much this show improves with every listen. If you like Velvet Goldmine era rock with a dose of Rocky Horror, the Pixies, and Lou Reed, then buy this disk and see what all the fuss is about. This also stands alone as a great alternative rock album. (Tell somebody they're listening to a musical and watch them stare at you in disbelief.) The only negative is that there is no synopsis included with the lyrics. The whole story is a little vague, but don't let that stop you from trying it. Awesome!

More than you can imagine, especially if you haven't heard the music or seen the show, the soundtrack is absolutely riveting. I need to keep revisiting it; put simply, Hedwig is an addiction. From the rock stuff to the ballads, it is through and through the best CD I've bought in years. Just when you think you're singing along to a jaunty ballad (e.g. "Wig in a Box") you realize all the meaning behind it, and don't we all have a wig in a box, somewhere--an alternate personality, someone we wish we were, or someone we once were?

The Bowie references are clear, and beautiful, but they don't dominate the music. Though I did feel compelled to listen to Changes after listening to this, the second act of "Tristan and Isolde" also came to mind, so the Bowie influence is there, but well, not overwhelming. I don't get that people compare Hedwig to that gross fiasco, Meatloaf. If Meatloaf turns you off (yicky), don't be scared away by other reviews of this album.

From "The Origins of Love" to "Wicked Little Town" to the "Long, Long Grift," if you love intensly lyrical ballads, get this CD. If you're more of a rocker, there is more than enough here to please.

All I can say is: take a deep breath and listen to this. It is great stuff. So great, I'm tempted to give a copy to my 69-year old dad, and old Stones/Who fan. Not a risk I would usually take. IT'S THAT GOOD. It's that moving, it's that rocking. It's worth every penny. (And for those who get the reference, I've got every Cuisinart and a hypoallergenic dog, so this is not just a CD for the alternative scene.)

I have just finished listening to this CD for the first time. It is incredible! I'm especially pleased in that I chose this version over the movie soundtrack. I can't imagine the soundtrack being better. Even though I discovered this music via the movie I'm generally of the mindset that movie soundtracks have a tendency to be over-produced. Having listened to samples from both albums before purchasing I could clearly see that Hedwig was no exception. Therefore, for those of you having to make the same choice, get this one. There is no way they could have made it better than this. And from the samples I heard, they didn't. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I bought this CD months before I saw the show because I'd heard comparisons to David Bowie and the Pixies. The music alone was great, but I love it even more after seeing the show. "The Long Grift" is on constant repeat mode in my stereo. By an odd coincidence I ended up living in the Riverview Hotel (which houses the Jane Street Theatre) for about two months when i first moved to New York, and I heard the show and ran into cast members every night. This original recording is outstanding, even if the current production has faltered a bit with the addition of a certain former brat packer. I do wonder why the song "Random Number Generation" is on the CD but not in the show. I think it's a great song and would like to know the context of it in the show. If you're a fan of rock and roll (not even necessarily musicals), this is a wonderful addition to your collection.

This cast album of Hedwig is hindered by poor sound work. The music and score are brilliant, but the sound production is so bad that the singers sound like Marlon Brando with way too much gauze up his cheeks. These lyrics need a clean, crisp articulation in order to have their maximum impact. The singers are doing their best, but I would recommend the movie soundtrack if you want to hear what the actors are actually saying.

Much as the film soundtrack version of Hedwig revels in its "live performance" sound and energy, the songs from the show are so wonderful they deserve the clearer, smoother orchestrations offered by the stage version of the show. I will buy the film soundtrack because I enjoyed the film so much, but I will probably play this CD more often.