Bright Lights, Big City

Nothing much to add to other reviews here, except for comparison, my other favorite broadway cast recordings are Les Miserables and City of Angels. So if you hate those two shows, you'll probably hate this one as I love it. This one has songs in the pop to hard rock range. If hard rock only gets on your nerves, most of these songs will not be to your taste. If you don't like dealing with 1980s NYC singles themes of drugs and casual sex, you won't like this show. And even the more placid pop songs are more like rock, not 1950s style. No "Hey, There" to be found here. The cast of singers is great, the lead Patrick Wilson showcasing his rock tenor as he is forced into the broadest range for him yet. In fact, I wouldn't have imagined he could sing like this - he could be a rock star - if I wasn't hearing on this, far different from his PHANTOM OF THE OPERA lyric tenor. As a singer or actor, but obviously as both, I imagine this show was particularly exhausting/challenging for the star. Very intense; this story from the novel is the perceptions of Jaime (Patrick Wilson's character) and what is going through his head. This is how Jaime is dealing with his problems and the people in his life, and how he's working things out, the past, present and what he judges his future to me. This Jaime is at a crisis point: his super-model wife has left him, he's lost the job he doesn't care about, and he's being forced to deal with the denial he's been living with for a year - his mother's death. His brother comes to remonstrate him over this. All the singers are good/great, but Wilson is exceptional, even on one song where - for character purposes - he's deliberately gone flat on a certain note, it's deliberate and no falling out of range. So far, it's as if no show has truly discovered his range, and that's one of the discoveries to be found here. You don't have to have read the novel to understand the songs, but there is a lyric sheet accompanying the CD, so it's just a nice extra. Why this show wasn't a success, I'll never know - maybe critics' had an axe to grind. But this is one of only 3 shows whose soundtrack I enjoy on its own: as a classic rock album, and in order to imagine the show as it must have been on-stage. I only hope there's a filmed record of the show we'll be surprised with someday.

After reading through many of the previous reviews, I decided to purchase a copy of "Bright Lights, Big City." After giving a few listen throughs it's become quite a welcome member of my collection of O.C.R.'s.As soon as I heard the duet "Wasn't That a Beautiful Sunday" embedded in track 3, I was hooked! It was refreshing listening to Celia Keenan-Bolger as she sang her haunting melody about being a missing NYU student. Quite a change from her role in the "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."Gavin Creel had a great role as Jamie's brother. One of my favorite tracks is "Brother" track 7. Sherie Rene Scott shines as her role of 'Vicky'. Her addition to the second half of the show is much welcomed. I haven't heard her in a role that I truly enjoyed since her role as 'Kathy' in "The Last Five Years." (Funny that in both shows she falls in love with a man named Jamie.) Her duet near the end of the show "Heart and Soul" is very reminiscent of the duet between Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis in the movie "Duets." It was surprising to hear Jesse L. Martin! It took me a few listens to realize that he was the original Tom Collins in "Rent." Another hidden gem in this show is Jamie's mother. She beltingly soars in "Happy Birthday, Darling."The only songs that annoy me are the opening snippet "I Love Drugs" and Jamie's "I Hate the French." A small price to pay for such a great recording!!Overall, this is a great show! I highly recommend purchasing this! You will not regret. There are so many songs on this recording that you will immediately take to.

This album has many really wonderful songs (and a few not so wonderful ones). It is a really passionate and inspiring story about a man with a cocaine problem grieving the death of his mother, broken hearted by his wife leaving him, and coping with the disappointments of his career. I am very glad I chose to purchase this album. It's a great addition to my vast music library of Broadway Show Tunes. Some of my favorite songs are: "I hate the French", "Kindness", & "Heart & Soul".

All seems to be fair in love and rhymes in this show; some of the worst lyrics I've ever heard. The music? Okay, but can't make up for the soul-stricken lyrics. And what a waste of a great cast: Gavin Creel, Patrick Harris, Christine Ebersole. Why did they record this thing?!

Just perfect. Great music, amazing performances and clever lyrics. Great booklet and so happy it includes the lyrics. One of my favorite musicals ever!!!

Is great