Category: (Music)
19 new, starting at $4.08
33 used, starting at $1.28
One of the longest-running shows in the history of Broadway, and one of its most beloved, Rent was the winner of the Pulizer Price for Drama and four Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Based on Puccini's classic opera "La Boheme," Jonathan Larson's revolutionary rock opera tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic in New York's gritty East Village. Now the powerful musical marks its tenth year on stage by coming to the big screen, acompanied by RENT Highlights From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
Yes, it's true that 90% of the time Broadway fans will want the original Broadway cast recording over any other version, and 95% of the time the full recording will beat any set of "highlights." But this collection of songs from the Rent movie may defy both trends. Rentheads surely have the two-disc Broadway version already, and this well-selected 65 minutes may satisfy their desire to have performances from the movie as well (and the movie has less music than the show anyway). On the other end of the spectrum, people who enjoyed the movie but don't feel the compulsion to own every note of what they heard might well be pleased with a single disc of highlights. Pick it up and live La Vie Boheme all over again. --David Horiuchi
Amazing CDReviewed by Laura Hopkins, 2007-02-17
This is the perfect CD for those who love the music from the film,
or even the Broadway show. I just bought this CD because I am new
to "RENT". I first saw the movie 2 weeks ago and I am completely
hooked!! I am also addicted to this CD, I listen to it atleast once
a day (if not more)!! This is perfect for any "RENT" fans out
there!!
~*LaUrA*~
Amazing CD!Reviewed by Anonymous, 2006-04-19
I got Rent the CD for my birthday, and I looked and I thought it
did not have my favorite song on there:No Day But Today well I was
exploring the Rent website, and I found out that it was NOT called
No Day But Today, it was called Finale B I was so happy and I
listen to it over and over and over and over again without me
getting sick of it! Great CD totally recommended ALL THE
WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Best Songs On The CD Are:
*********Finale B*************(The Best)
Seasons Of Love
Light My Candle
Tango:Maureen
Out Tonight
One Song Glory
La Vie Boheme
Good CompialitionReviewed by CB, 2006-03-29
This is truly a highlights cd, with the only dissapointment, to me, being that the song "Another Day," is not included. But the rest of my favorites Without You, Rent, Tango Maureen, and, of course, La Vie Boheme, make this a great cd for any Broadway lover.
Was very very impressed with special featuresReviewed by Abbi Bosward, 2006-03-24
An original "Rent Head", I saw this movie at the cinemas and was
less than impressed with the finished product. I found that on
watching the DVD I have since completely changed my opinion. The CD
is fantabubulous - I love IT!. It is all the wonderful music from
the movie and if I gush anymore it will come across as very very
ridiculous! Just buy it - its great!
It is an absolute must for anybody who fell in love with the
musical!
Wonderful Broadway RockReviewed by Lonnie E. Holder, 2006-03-16
I wish there was something I could use as a comparison for this CD.
However, any such comparison would have weaknesses. Some of this
music reminds me of "Jesus Christ - Superstar," and "Hair," but the
music is different. The topics are more mundane, earthly and sad,
and include AIDS and poverty among a group of bohemians in New
York's East Village. There are moments when the vocals have a raw
edge to them, but emotional power comes through these songs and I
enjoy this music.
Friends have been living rent-free for a year in an apartment.
Suddenly the landlord asks for a years worth of rent. The song
"Seasons of Love" alludes to the one year and to the love that
these friends have developed for each other, and perhaps the love
they thought their landlord had for them. The entire cast opens
this song, which later includes solos by Tracie Thoms as Joanne
Jefferson and Jesse L. Martin as Thomas B. "Tom Collins." Tracie
manages to competently hit notes that attempt and fall just short
of Minnie Ripperton's upper vocal range.
The pace picks up a lot on substantially on the song "Rent," which
is a fast-paced rock song with lyrics wondering how they will pay
the rent. This song has a powerful beat and sound and feels like
the introduction to the move, making the opening song a sort of
prelude.
Adam Pascal as Roger Davis sings the song "One Song Glory." This
song asks for just one moment of fame before succumbing to a virus.
The song is downbeat, and a reminder of the fatal illnesses that
stalk our society, especially those portions of our society that
are perceived to be on the fringe. The song "Light My Candle" is
more hopeful and reminds me of my younger years of pinching pennies
and keeping all the lights out but one. The singing is sensual and
the lyrics are filled with clever double entendres.
The friends have some interesting ways of picking up money. Wilson
Jermaine Heredia singing as Angel Schunard tells the story of how
he did away with a noisy Akita for a thousand dollars by doing a
"Thelma and Louise" from a 23rd story balcony. While the topic of
"Today 4 U" could be distressing, it is a funny song. The "Tango:
Maureen" follows and does have a tango bit and more funny lyrics,
and a four-letter word, so watch playing this one on your speakers
at work!
"Out Tonight" is another power song that has powerful sexual
content. The song is a fast paced, well-performed rocker, which is
followed by a much better song, "Santa Fe." "Santa Fe" is the
(probably) idle speculation of someone looking to get out from
under their problems. Life anywhere else would be a pleasure cruise
after living in New York.
Jumping through the love song "I'll Cover You," you reach the eight
and a half minute epic "La Vie Boheme A&B." This song has
content-loaded lyrics that mate with music that changes pace and
styles more than once. The song is happy-sad, dealing with being
carefree and simultaneously having to face reality. I had to read
the lyrics carefully to try and grasp the content of this song,
which is as subtle as it is overt. You need the lyrics for this one
if you wish to comprehend its depth and complexity.
This abbreviated soundtrack keeps the negative theme, though more
blatantly, with "I Should Tell You." The song is beautiful and
chilling. The harmonies remind me of Seals and Crofts. This song is
one of my favorites from this soundtrack, one I could hear over and
over again.
"Take Me of Leave Me" is alternately a love song and a break up
song. The song has some powerful vocals with jazzy music.
"Without You" allows Rosario Dawson, singing as Mimi Marquez, to
show how much emotion she can put into a song. The lyrics are for a
typically tepid love song, but Rosario makes this song magic, and
the duet with Adam Pascal is just bonus. Here is yet another song
on this CD that I think is one of the best, and one of my
favorites.
The rocker "What You Own" follows a reprise of "I'll Cover You." I
actually liked portions of the lyrics and the music, but the vocals
were only fair. I could have replaced this song with others from
the two-disc version of this soundtrack.
The CD begins to wrap up with "Finale B." This song has a lot of
excellent harmony and is yet another song that I consider one of
the better songs on this CD. This compilation excludes "Finale A,"
which may annoy some fans.
This CD finishes with a "bonus track," "Love Heals." This contains
duets that are wonderful, and make this song an excellent addition
to this CD and a great way to finish the CD. Again, some may
complain that other songs could have been included rather than this
particular song.
This music is powerful and compares favorably with rock music in
general. I think I would have purchased this CD without the
association with the play or movie "Rent." The music is sometimes
downbeat, and yet hopeful. The only thing I wonder is whether both
the single and dual CD should have been released. This CD is more
like highlights. Given the vast array of opinions regarding which
songs are best, this collection is most decidedly not a "best of."
This CD does have a different color from the two-disc version to
minimize errors.
I think this CD is a winner for fans of the play, the movie and
those who like middle-of-the-road mellow rock. The vocals and
subject matter may be occasionally gritty, but this CD makes a
valuable addition to any discerning music fan's collection. You may
take pause and determine whether this single disc version or the
two-disc version meets your needs best. Enjoy!
This review is based on a copy of the CD provided to me for review.
