Search - Jonathan Larson, Amy Spanger, Raul Esparza :: Tick, Tick... Boom! (2001 Original Off-Broadway Cast)

The perfect transport music

C.L. Thornburgh | Long Beach, CA United States | 11/17/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have been listening to "Tick, Tick... Boom!" for three weeks every day on the subway (in Los Angeles) now and feel fully apt to comment on its quality for a prospective buyer.If you are a "Rent" fan, you'll find a lot to like. As a matter of fact, the songs "30/90", "No More" and "Boho Days" sound like they were written for "Rent". However, there is much more to discover on this CD than that. Jonathan Larson definitely died before his time, he was definitely the next heir apparent to Stephen Sondheim, who's work he modifies in a song called "Sunday" on this soundtrack. My favorite three tracks are the first three, "30/90", which describes life at a turning point, "Green Green Dress", which is the sexiest song I've ever heard in a musical, and "Johnny Can't Decide", which is so hauntingly beautiful it makes you cry even more after you've heard it 30 times than the first time.As for the cast, Jerry Dixon is terrific, although he doesn't have too much to do. He is a terrific actor, which comes across on the disc. Amy Spanger is a little shrill vocally for my tastes. When she is called upon to do different characters, she always sounds the same. But as with Mr. Dixon, there's not too much material for her, and her version of "Come To Your Senses" is delicious. The backbone of the show is Raul Esparaza, who recently played "Riff Raff" in "The Rocky Horror Show", and here is in such great vocal shape that I can't imagine any actor former or future embodying the role of "Jonathan" as well as he does. He has the bulk of the music on the CD, and his voice is throaty, his lyric interpretation fascinating, and he makes the whole recording a worthwhile buy. The sexiness of "Green Green Dress" contrasted with the haunting prescience of "Louder Than Words" is stunning. Trust me, buy this CD for Raul. He will be a big, big star on Broadway and it's a gift to have this recording.Enjoy!"

Beyond belief...

Wayne Rossi | Mount Holly, NJ United States | 10/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I fell in love with musical theatre because of the Rent cast album, which I bought several days after hearing it for the first time. I'm actually going to get to see Rent on November 3 of this year, so that will finally be fulfilled. So, naturally, I was looking forward to the next work by Jonathan Larson--I always regretted that there wasn't more of his work to have recordings of, or go see.So, when tick, tick...BOOM! was coming out, I naturally became excited. I heard the album and bought it a few days later...it was so easy to make that purchase. tick, tick...BOOM! is a lot shorter than Rent, in that the entire score is about 45 minutes long. There are 12 musical pieces here, performed by Raul Esparza (Jonathan Larson), Amy Spanger (Jon's girlfriend Susan), and Jerry Dixon (Jon's best friend Michael). When it is being fun or funny, tick, tick...BOOM! is beyond belief (the catchy "Green Green Dress," the Sondheim parody "Sunday," the Rent-ish "No More," Esparza and Spanger showing off their diction in "Therapy," or the fun ode to "Sugar")...when it is being serious (an anti-birthday song in "30/90," a number of self-questioning songs such as "Johnny Can't Decide," "Real Life," and "Why") or just grand (the clip from another show, Superbia, in "Come To Your Senses" and the grand finale in "Louder than Words"...ringing so true from an album released on September 11, 2001), tick, tick...BOOM! works wonders. It has a Rent feel to it at times, but most definitely stands as a piece on its own feet.I actually prefer listening to the album as a single piece, which doesn't become hard--it only takes 45 minutes, and creates a very true, very honest, very deeply moving story. I plan to see it this winter--I can't imagine a better show to go see, than Jon Larson's autobiographical piece. So go get it.(Short album, short review--I can't really say anything more other than listen to the sound clips here, and you will NEED this cast recording!)"

A Wake-Up Call for Theatre Goers ...

Drewry F. Wofford III | Raleigh, NC USA | 09/16/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Most people will first see this play, or listen to the CD, because its Jonathan Larson' work just prior to Rent. But after one listen, they will quickly realize that Tick Tick Boom stands on its own as an awesome work of musical theatre. Its a musical with a message - one that became all the more meaningful after this week's tragic events.
Larson wrote the music, book and lyrics. The work is largely autobiographical, and asks many typical "coming of age" type questions. But when his stage persona notes that his generation has never faced a depression, never had a war, little did he know how the events of 11 September would change that forever - truly this generation's wake-up call. Coincidental that this CD was released the same day.
One of the most amazing things about the show is how much music three singers and a stage band of four players can make. The sheer volume of sound; the diversty of styles; the range of emotions makes you think there are three times the number of musicians. Yet incredibly, its just three terriibly talented performers and four amazingly talented musicians.
My favourite singer is Amy Spanger, who can also be heard
on the 1999 revival recording of "Kiss Me Kate". Her solo number "Come to Your Senses" is phenominal, starting out quiet and reflextive, and growing in strength to the song's clarion last notes. She partners Raul Esparanza brilliantly in the song "Therapy" - perhaps the very best single number in the show, combining both music and lyrics masterfully. Most critics have almost universally praised Raul Esparza in the autobiographical role of Jonathan. His strong voice runs through a variety of styles, from the high-energy "30/90" to the more contemplative "Why", which deals with a theme common to Larson's work - the terrible loss his generation has suffered to AIDS. Another song you'll listen to over and over is the show's finale, "Louder than Words." Listen to the words; listen to the music; listen to the singing. This is great theatre. Sure its an early work. Some of he lyrics are contrived - I could have done without the song "Green Green Dress" - but what a small price to pay for a work with so much energy. And that's what will remind you of Rent - the energy level of this show. Even after seeing Rent five times, I am always amazed at how Jonathan Larson managed to kepp the energy level of that show at such a high pitch for three hours. But seeing Tick Tick Boom, and seeing how just three performers and four musicians manage to create a show such such amazing energy and spirit, you realize that is Larson's trademark.
But what should also strike us all is a terrible sense of loss.
Listening to Tick Tick Boom and Rent, you quickly realize what a major talent Jonathan Larson was. And just as he says in the show, walking through Times Square one day and noting that all the shows come from London or Disney, we realize that Larson was a major talent that could energize the American musical, and sadly, was taken from us almost before he started. But he left behind Rent, and now we also have Tick Tick Boom to revel in. If you can get to New York ... see it. But in either case, buy the CD."