Next to Normal - The Cast Recording

I saw a performance of Next to Normal several months ago, and thought it was a brilliant and thought-provoking show, even though I normally don't care much for rock music.  I was impressed enough, however, to pick up the original Broadway cast recording when it became available a few weeks ago, and have just finished listening to it.

The show works very well as a recording.  One can control the volume of the music, so the "rock" aspect becomes less oppressive than in the theater, and it even struck me on listening that the second act has less of a "rock" aspect than the first act.  It helps to have a synopsis and libretto in the booklet, since one might have a hard time figuring out what is going on in the plot without it.  The cast is wonderful, although I could have wished that Jennifer Damiano and Alice Ripley, the two women in the cast, had more distinguishable voices, since one can easily be fooled listening without the libretto as to who is singing at any particular time.  As with the live performance in the theater, I was much taken by all of the cast, but especially by Aaron Tveit, who plays the "ghost" son with such wonderful fervor.  HIs big solo number, "I'm Alive," still totally knocks me out whenever I hear it.

Congratulations to Tom Kitt (composer) and Brian Yorkey (book and lyrics) for a marvelous accomplishment with this show.  Treating a serious issue in a Broadway musical is a big challenge, and they meet the challenge here.