Label: Ghostlight Records
Time: 47:02
Music: Matthew Sklar
Lyrics: Chad Beguelin
Main Singers: Sebastian Arcelus, Amy Spanger, Beth Leavel, Mark Jacob
1. Overture - 4/5 - This piece makes me smile. It makes me feel all warm and happy inside and also makes me feel like I'm watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Very fun and jovial.
2. Christmastown - 3/5 - The opening number is definitely a sign as to what the feeling of the whole musical will be. Christmastown is a very upbeat song, but sadly, it's quite forgettable. It doesn't stand out much.
3. World's Greatest Dad - 3/5 - Another peppy number, Arcelus is flat and nasally on his held notes and it kind of deters from the song. The lyrics are sweet and sugary, but the singing is sticky.
4. In The Way - 4/5 - This song is about the company workers dreading the Christmas rush. It's a song that will make you chuckle. The only downside to this song is that when the company joins in, it feels like they were far away from the mic when recording it. Other than that, no qualms about this one.
5. Sparklejollytwinklejingley - 2/5 - This song, although sparkley, jolly, twinkley, and jingley, falls flat. It just isn't very interesting. It feels like a song from a kid's show. Not a high point in the album.
6. I'll Believe In You - 3/5 - Finally! A song that isn't bouncy! The sad part is that the performers sing as if they were plugging their noses. It's a very odd sound. It sounds lik two girls, even though it's supposed to be between a son and his mother.
7. In The Way (Reprise) - 4/5 - A dark (well, as dark as this musical can get, at least) reprise of the above song. It's about the mounting tension between the Hobbs'.
8. Just Like Him - 4/5 - I mainly like this piece because it's one of my favorite scenes from the movie. The lyrics are funny and the secretary is deliciously sarcastic. Very good track.
9. A Christmas Song - 3/5 - Once again, another uneventful, forgettable track. Peppy, but too drawn out.
10. World's Greatest Dad (Reprise) - 3/5 - Probably the saddest song in the show. It has Buddy singing about how he let his dad down. Just like how this musical let me down.
11. Nobody Cares About Santa - 3/5 - Santa has a very weird voice. It sounds like he's trying to suppress his voice, because it would be too loud or overpowering otherwise. It guttural and odd. The lyrics are good and witty, but the voice of Santa is muddy and strange.
12. Never Fall In Love (With An Elf) - 4/5 - This song sounds like a jazzy remix of a Christmas song. I really like it. The lyrics are a bit bland, but the mood of the song is very nice. Would definitely listen to this again.
13. There is a Santa Claus - 3/5 - Once again, the boy's nasally voice is overpowering. I believe he was in the Addams Family musical as well. I didn't really like him there either, but I try not to be biased. The song is about him believing in the jolly red giant. Happy and inspiring. Bland.
14. The Story of Buddy the Elf - 2/5 - This feels like it should be one of the first tracks, as it tells the story of, you guessed it, Edgar Allen Poe. I'm joking of course. But seriously, the song is wildly misplaced.
15. Nobody Cares About Santa (Reprise) - 3/5 - Kind of reminds me of "Oogie Boogie's Song" from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Anyway, the song is basically the exact same thing as the above track.
16. A Christmas Song (Reprise) - 3/5 - Elf's substitute for a love ballad. It's a slow reprise of the above song. Feels a bit too slow after listening to all this upbeat music.
17. Finale - 4/5 - Well, at least they end on a high note (not literally). It's a reprise of "Sparklejollytwinklejingley", just not labeled as such. Just like the finale in Les Miz is just a reprise of "Do You Hear The People Sing?" Not bad.
Conclusion: This musical is so saccharine, sticky sweet it makes my teeth hurt. There are some good songs in it. It will definitely cheer you up when you're feeling down.
No comments:
Post a Comment