Customer Reviews

My Broadway

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

 

 

This is a magnificent CD by a wonderful performer. Sean sings all of his favorite Broadway numbers with passion. The CD is recorded very nicely by Jay Records and is enjoyable to listen to. I find it a great CD to work away while listening to it.

This CD shows the range and beauty in Mr. McDermott's voice. This is a most for any Broadway fan. There is not one song on this CD that is not true to the heart of the show it comes from.

In his liner notes, Sean McDermott mentions longing for a film offer to complete his fulfilled-dream cycle. As a fan of several years, I hope his dream comes true, though judging by the current batch of bland, fair-haired airheads Hollywood is embracing lately, I'd say Mr McDermott is overqualified, as this remarkable CD attests.

Often one gets so involved with work and the rigors of daily life that it's easy to forget the healing power of art, especially music. That was my experience when I first played this disc and heard the opening tract--the overwhelmingly poignant, achingly beautiful performance of the now-standard "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?", a song for which I have never previously cared. As the disc progressed, I realized that is one of Mr McDermott's most important gifts--he makes familiar material seem fresh, as if he is experiencing the emotion of the lyrics for the first time, as thus is the listener. Even overexposed songs like "Something's Coming" and "The Last Night of the World" (a duet with criminally underrated Kim Criswell) sound new and alive in McDermott's performances. He also deserves extra points for not limiting the disc to standards only, but includes songs from "Falsettos" and "Rent", among others.

My deep thanks to Sean McDermott for reminding me of what I discovered many years ago in high school when I first heard Emmylou Harris singing "Here, There, and Everywhere": that there is nothing more beautiful, healing, or evocative than the sound of the human voice. If Hollywood is listening, Sean McDermott may be an entire reason to revive the modern film musical. This disc is a fine introduction to his astonishing talent and is most highly recommended.

Sean McDermott has a great, glorious sound, and it's such a treat to hear him sing. I've seen him in ''Starlight Express'' and ''Falsettos,'' and he oughta be a big, big Broadway star. I just saw him at Joe's Pub in N.Y. and he bowled us over. And while this CD gives you a good sense of McDermott's powerful, rich sound, the arrangements are too straightforward and unimaginative. Plus, this CD doesn't give you enough of his vulnerability or sense of humor. At Joe's Pub, McDermott sang an incredibly moving song called ''Yard Sale'' by Tom Andersen. I'm hoping he'll record that, and other more tender tunes on his next CD, to balance the vocal blockbusters he can do with his eyes closed.

A really nice collection of Broadway songs, with strong arrangements and McDermott's impressive, wide-ranging voice at the front. This is a good Broadway disc, much better than recent releases from Kim Criswell (ugh!) and Betty Buckley.

Sean McDermott's "My Broadway" is the latest in the tradition of 'Best of Broadway Musicals' recordings. Sean has a voice that displays a powerful range and a dramatic flair. Some of the best tracks are those from 'Miss Saigon,' especially his duet with KIM CRISWELL (see BACK TO BEFORE), 'West Side Story' and 'Jekyll and Hyde'. The majority of the songs are all memorable. However there are a few that you tend to wonder "why?" The songs from 'Falsettos', 'Rent' and 'Passion' are nice but see if you can recall them after you have heard them. A talet like Sean's is rare and it would have been better if he had chosen music from 'Les Miserables' of 'Phantom', that would have shown off his talent more than some of the obscure songs recorded. Producer John Yap should be commended for his bringing together some of the best musical theatre voices we have and recording these 'Best Of Broadway' CD's. Sean McDermott is a talent that will hopefully be given the attention he deserves. He has a wonderful voice and also makes for some fabulous eye candy!!

I can understand the fascination -- an attractive tenor with a voice that can both make you drowsy and startle you awake. But Mr. Mcdermott needs to search beyond the notes to find a sense of life in each song. His interpretations are anything but inspired. Seldom does he move beyond the score to any sense of discovery of what separates the characters to which each of these songs belong. Instead, we get a litany of vibrato which, no thanks to the orchestrations, feels like musac without any kind of distinction between songs. What the album needed was a producer worth their salary helping to coach this fine vocalist into new explorations of these mostly over-recorded songs.

Not a bad CD, and admittedly a pretty big voice. But in many of these songs the singer is reaching beyond his ability to interpret the music, and comes off sounding like a big queen at some birthday party singing showtunes. A Broadway leading man needs to take command of his songs, and on this CD it seems to be the other way around. Diction lessons should be on Sean's list of dreams to fulfill, without them, in ten years he may be doing nothing more than singing lounge music at The Monster on Fire Island.