Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark [Cast Recording]

Broadway, Bono | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 14, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B0042X90N4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,594 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Original soundtrack to the 2011 Broadway musical with music co-authored by Bono and The Edge of U2. Featuring 14 new tracks, the LP was produced by frequent U2 collaborator Steve Lillywhite. Recorded by the talented cast of the Broadway production, this long player also features a single version from the musical entitled "Rise Above." This track showcases Reeve Carney who plays the role of Spiderman and also features performances by its composers Bono and The Edge.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good actually... June 16, 2011

By Steven Valenti VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

So "Spider Man: Turn off the Dark" has finally opened after a tumultuous preview period and endless tinkering. Finally, those of us curious enough to see what all the fuss is about at least have a chance to hear what appears to be the highlights of the score by U2's Bono and The Edge.

First off, it's a little hard to tell what to expect from the album cover, which labels the album "Songs from" instead of "Original Broadway Cast Recording." This recording, though, documents the performances of stars Reeve Carney, Jennifer Damiano, and Patrick Page, so for all intents and purposes, I'd say this is indeed the Original Cast Recording. If that wasn't confusing enough, it took me a couple of disjointed listens to realize the songs are not in show order! So I researched the song list as it appears in the show and made my own playlist--I would advise others to do the same. It really has made it more comprehensible. I'm really not sure what the producers were thinking, mixing everything up. It's just going to make people think the show's exactly the mess it has the reputation for being.

With the songs in order, the plot comes across pretty easily--this doesn't seem to be as "inept" a score as some critics have suggested. It's pretty simple to follow (especially as it's basically the Spider-Man origin story, with the Green Goblin as the show's villain, just like the first Spider-Man movie). I like the atmospheric style of the songs--a rock approach is the right one for a comic book show. Still, it's a mixed bag. The traditional rock songs "Rise Above 1" and "Boy Falls from the Sky" are the standouts, with Carney's adept rocker voice helping them soar. "No More" with Damiano, along with the ballads "I Just Can't Walk Away (Say It Now)," and" If the World Should End" also strike the right emotional notes. On the other hand, there are couple underwritten songs for The Green Goblin that should have been scrapped or reworked.

It may not sound like high praise, but for Broadway newbies, the score comes across fairly well on disc. Is it excellent? No. But it's an enjoyable listen, with some standout tracks, and I certainly can think of far worse scores, even by theater mainstays. In other words, I do hope pop-rock musicians will continue to venture into the world of musical theater and give it a whirl. There's a freshness here that I appreciate, even if it's not a complete success.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Spider-Man Rocks On August 7, 2011

By Ruth E. Stoll

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you liked the music in the show, you'll love the CD. My only complaint is that the songs aren't in the order that they appeared in the show, since I sort of like to relive the whole show experience when I listen to this type of thing. Still, the music stands on its own and I enjoy it as such.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a complete disaster, but not great either. August 1, 2011

By J.D.

Format:Audio CD

I wasn't expecting much when I popped this into my CD player, based on previous reviews, so my first impression of this show was actually pretty good. I like U2, so I was not turned off by the U2 sound of many of the tracks, and there were actually a couple surprises and some songs that I liked. I am a musical theatre collector and strive to collect every cast album available. Most get better after multiple listenings. Spider-Man, however, does not. The music itself is decent, sometimes repetitive and mind-numbing, but some pleasant melodies are there, too. The lyrics leave much to be desired. There is a definite pattern of repeating lyrics on almost all the songs. For example, Rise Above repeats "Believe" like 7 times at the end, and half of the songs do the exact same thing. Bouncing off the Walls was horrible, the chorus of the song is just repeating "Bouncing off the walls" over and over again. These patterns become all the more jarring when you listen to the album more than once.
Vocally, the cast sounds great, with the exception of Peter Parker, played by Reeve Carney. Have any of the creators actually read a Spider-Man comic? This man is NOT Peter Parker, nor is he Spider-Man. He sounds more like a rock singer, but in a musical it just comes across as whiney. If you think he's got a cool rocker voice, then, again, that's not Peter Parker either. The clips I've seen of Reeve Carney show him singing with his mouth barely open. It shows.
I also felt that the music itself did not stay with the spirit of Spider-Man comics. Spider-Man is mostly known for his wit and jabbing comments, for cracking jokes even in extremely strenuous circumstances. I'm not asking for much - it's a musical. But I'd like to see at least a hint of it. Maybe they came through in the dialogue. Maybe it's in some of the tracks not presented here. I really hope they didn't spend 75 million on a show and get the main character wrong.
Lastly, I am disappointed by how many songs are missing from this album, and the fact that the songs are presented out of order from the actual show. I wouldn't mind if this CD had bonus tracks, with songs recorded by Bono and the Edge. But I object to replacing cast members with these artists. Present the song as it is in the show. If you want to include U2, include it as a bonus track. But, like I said, I'm a musical theatre fan. It appears this album was more designed for U2 fans, and as such is presented more like a rock album and not like a true Cast Recording.

Here's the song listing as I know it. *indicates song is missing from this recording
NY Debut
The Myth of Arachne *
Behold and Wonder *
Bullying by Numbers * (the most glaring omission)
No More
DIY World
Venom *
Bouncing Off the Walls
Rise Above
Pull the Trigger
Picture This
A Freak Like Me Needs Company
If the World Should End *
Sinistereo
Spider-Man! *
Turn Off the Dark
I Just Can't Walk Away
If the World Should End (Reprise)
The Boy Falls From the Sky *
I'll Take Manhattan *
A New Dawn (Finale) *