#11 on the 2015 Bacon Top 31
Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) by Lin-Manuel Miranda
And now for something completely different. Show tunes. That’s right, the soundtrack to a Broadway musical. But not just any musical; a musical that’s “rooted in hip-hop, but also encompass[es] R. & B., jazz, pop, Tin Pan Alley, and the choral strains of contemporary Broadway,” according to _The New Yorker._ This music is unlike anything I’ve heard before, and I’m certain you’ll feel the same.
I have trouble understanding why I enjoy listening to this album so much. It’s first and foremost musical theater, which is not something I tend to gravitate to (I’m pretty sure the only other musical I’ve listened to with any regularity is the Hedwig and the Angry Inch soundtrack, and even with that it was the motion picture soundtrack version that I listened to). Additionally, I’ve not yet seen the production. Bizarre, right? Why would you possibly listen to the soundtrack from a musical without first seeing the musical?
Well, first off, you can only currently see it on Broadway, in New York City. Secondly, the show is sold out through the beginning of September, 2016. Seriously. Performances nearly every day from now through September 1, 2016 are entirely sold out. This show is musical, historical, and phenomenal. Listening to the soundtrack, you’ll understand why. I cannot wait until this goes on tour and I’ll be able to sit in the audience and sing along.
“Guns and Ships,” linked above, is my favorite song from the 2 hour, 23-minute long soundtrack. But it is high quality throughout, and it’s definitely going to sweep the Tonys in June. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the genius composer, lyricist, librettist, rapper, and actor behind the musical, began working on Hamilton in 2009. You can see him performing the opening song from the musical in front of President Obama in that year, and it’s clear when watching that performance that he’s headed to glory.
I know this is not typical for the Bacon Review, but I promise you I’m not leading you astray. I need to give special thanks to my friend Ryan, who forced me to listen to the soundtrack thanks to our mutual friend Zach forcing Ryan to listen to it. And here I am, not necessarily forcing, but imploring you to listen to it. You won’t be disappointed.
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12. Art Angels by Grimes
13. The Horse Comanche by Chadwick Stokes
14. Grace Love & the True Loves by Grace Love & the True Loves
15. Shake Shook Shaken by The dø
16. La Di Da Di by Battles
17. Sky City by Amason
18. What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World by The Decemberists
19. Untethered Moon by Built to Spill
20. Viet Cong by Viet Cong
21. The Magic Whip by Blur
22. Savage Hills Ballroom by Youth Lagoon
23. Not Real by Stealing Sheep
24. Beat the Champ by The Mountain Goats
25. Gliss Riffer by Dan Deacon
26. Dark Bird is Home by The Tallest Man on Earth
27. Gunnera by Pfarmers
28. Swimmer to a Liquid Armchair by Ricked Wickey
29. To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
30. Live in Seattle by Moufang / Czamanski
31. High by Royal Headache