Glee: The Music, Volume 1 - Soundtrack - Glee Cast
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This makes me Gleeful!
Glee: The Music, Volume 1 - Soundtrack - Glee Cast
Member Name: chicklitreviews
Product:
Glee: The Music, Volume 1 - Soundtrack - Glee Cast
Date: 27/02/10
Rating:
Advantages: Fab tracks, even better singers
Disadvantages: Matthew's rapping can be a bit strange
If you have yet to hear of Glee then I'm going to assume you've been living under a rock for the past 6 months. If you truly haven't heard of Glee then I really really think you should see if you can catch an episode as I'm sure you'll adore it. Glee is an American comedy/musical/drama focusing on a high school Glee club. It airs on Fox in America and E4/C4 in the UK and I really adore it. (Along with millions of other people!). After the phenomenal success of Glee, all of the songs from the first 13 episodes were released as Glee The Music: Volume 1 and Glee The Music: Volume 2 which brings me to my review of Volume 1.
Track Listing:
01. Don't Stop Believin'
02. I Can't Fight This Feeling
03. Gold Digger
04. Take A Bow
05. Bust Your Windows
06. Taking Chances
07. Alone
08. Maybe This Time
09. Somebody To Love
10. Hate On Me
11. No Air
12. You Keep Me Hangin' On
13. Keep Holding On
14. Bust A Move
15. Sweet Caroline
16. Dancing With Myself
17. Defying Gravity
The album opens with what is the most popular of all of the Glee songs "Don't Stop Believin'" which was originally performed by the band Jouney. When I first heard the Glee cast perform it I fell in love with the song. Lea Michele's (who plays Rachel on the show) vocals astound me every time I start listening to this song. Cory Monteith (who plays Finn on the show) singing voice sounds different to his acting voice (if that makes sense) and although it's not what I expected, he does have a fantastic voice.
"I Can't Fight This Feeling" is up next sang solely by Cory Monteith (Finn). It was originally recorded by REO Speedwagon who I've never even heard of. I didn't like the song at first but the more I listen to it, the more I love it. Cory has a very soft voice which suits the song perfectly. "Gold Digger" gives us our first glimpse of just how fantastic Amber Riley's voice is - she opens the song perfectly - as well as it being the first song featuring Matthew Morrison (Mr Schue). Matthew is orginally a Broadway performer so to hear him rapping was in equal parts shocking and fascinating. He certainly pulls it off although he has a way to go to be Kanye West, I must say!
Track four is Rihanna's "Take A Bow", performed by Lea Michele. I absolutely adore her voice and I think she sings Take A Bow wonderfully - better than Rihanna if I dare say so as I adore Rihanna's version also. "Bust Your Windows", originally sung by Jazmine Sullivan, is another track that shows Amber Riley's (Mercedes) fantastic voice. Her voice is very soulful and the song has grown on me.
"Taking Chances" is another Lea Michele solo originally sung by Platinum Weird. It's a relatively slow song which suits Lea's voice down to the ground. I find myself singing along although until I heard it on Glee I've never heard it before so I've picked it up incredibly quickly. Up next is one of my favourite tracks on the entire album "Alone" which was originally sung by Heart. Matthew Morrison and Kristen Chenoweth (April) sing the song and I absolutely adore it. This is the one song I cannot stop listening to. I've only ever seen Kristen Chenoweth on Pushing Daisies to I had no idea just how fantastic a singer she was and she is outstanding throughout this song. The duet works very well and Kristen and Matthew's voices work very well together.
Liza Minnelli's "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret is another duet, this time featuring Kristen Chenoweth and Lea Michele. This is another song that has grown on me the more I've listened to it. The two voices of Kristen and Lea are distinctive but they still work so well together. Another favourite track of mine is "Somebody To Love" (Queen - but surely you know that?). Somebody To Love? is sang by the majority of the cast, mainly Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley and Kevin McHale (Artie). I defy you not to be singing along by the end of the song!
Jill Scott (whom I've never heard of) is the original singer of the next track "Hate On Me", sung by the fantastic Amber Riley. Amber sings the song incredibly well but it's not a song I listen to every time I listen to the album. "No Air" is up next sung by Lea Michele and Cory Monteith. I adore the original version featuring Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown. Lea does a fantastic job of covering Jordin's part but, as much as I love his voice, Cory's doesn't really compare to Chris Brown. His voice is too soft compared to Chris Brown's. I still enjoy the song though and Lea and Cory know how to perform a duet.
"You Keep Me Hangin' On" introduces us to another member of the Glee cast in the shape of Dianna Agron (Quinn). Her rendition of The Supreme's classic is incredibly enjoyable although her voice doesn't seem to be as strong as Lea Michele's. Avril Lavinge's "Keep Holding On" is another duet from Lea Michele and Cory Monteith. I love this song and think Cory and Lea perform it incredibly well. It's another of my favourites from what is a fantastic album so far.
One of my least favourite songs of the album is "Bust A Move". Another chance for Matthew Morrison to show off his rapping ability. I've not heard Young MC's version and although Matthew's is OK, I generally skip the track whenever it's on. Another song I really enjoy is Mark Salling's (Puck) version of Neil Diamond's classic "Sweet Caroline". It's the only track of the album which features Mark Salling and even then it's not even the full song. It's a shame he only features as lead on one song as he's a fantastic singer. I think Mark would have been perfect for the Chris Brown role of No Air.
"Dancing With Myself" which was performed by Generation X originally is Kevin McHale's breakthrough song on the album. He's featured on other songs on the album but Dancing With Myself is all his. He has a very distinctive voice and it's easy to pick out when he sings in any of the other tracks. It's the last track on the album that is my favourite of the entire album. It's a duet between Lea Michele and Chris Colfer (Kurt) of "Defying Gravity", originally performed by Idina Menzel, Kristen Chenoweth and the cast of Wicked. The duet works perfectly between the two voices although as the song reaches it's conclusion Lea blows Chris out of the water, especially when it comes to the high notes.
Glee: The Music Volume 1 is a fantastic listen and is undoubtedly a must-buy for Glee fans. I actually can't stop listening to the album and I adore most of the songs. As you can tell from my review I think the cast are hugely talented and I adore Lea Michele's voice. Volume 1 is a must buy for all Glee fans!
Track Listing:
01. Don't Stop Believin'
02. I Can't Fight This Feeling
03. Gold Digger
04. Take A Bow
05. Bust Your Windows
06. Taking Chances
07. Alone
08. Maybe This Time
09. Somebody To Love
10. Hate On Me
11. No Air
12. You Keep Me Hangin' On
13. Keep Holding On
14. Bust A Move
15. Sweet Caroline
16. Dancing With Myself
17. Defying Gravity
The album opens with what is the most popular of all of the Glee songs "Don't Stop Believin'" which was originally performed by the band Jouney. When I first heard the Glee cast perform it I fell in love with the song. Lea Michele's (who plays Rachel on the show) vocals astound me every time I start listening to this song. Cory Monteith (who plays Finn on the show) singing voice sounds different to his acting voice (if that makes sense) and although it's not what I expected, he does have a fantastic voice.
"I Can't Fight This Feeling" is up next sang solely by Cory Monteith (Finn). It was originally recorded by REO Speedwagon who I've never even heard of. I didn't like the song at first but the more I listen to it, the more I love it. Cory has a very soft voice which suits the song perfectly. "Gold Digger" gives us our first glimpse of just how fantastic Amber Riley's voice is - she opens the song perfectly - as well as it being the first song featuring Matthew Morrison (Mr Schue). Matthew is orginally a Broadway performer so to hear him rapping was in equal parts shocking and fascinating. He certainly pulls it off although he has a way to go to be Kanye West, I must say!
Track four is Rihanna's "Take A Bow", performed by Lea Michele. I absolutely adore her voice and I think she sings Take A Bow wonderfully - better than Rihanna if I dare say so as I adore Rihanna's version also. "Bust Your Windows", originally sung by Jazmine Sullivan, is another track that shows Amber Riley's (Mercedes) fantastic voice. Her voice is very soulful and the song has grown on me.
"Taking Chances" is another Lea Michele solo originally sung by Platinum Weird. It's a relatively slow song which suits Lea's voice down to the ground. I find myself singing along although until I heard it on Glee I've never heard it before so I've picked it up incredibly quickly. Up next is one of my favourite tracks on the entire album "Alone" which was originally sung by Heart. Matthew Morrison and Kristen Chenoweth (April) sing the song and I absolutely adore it. This is the one song I cannot stop listening to. I've only ever seen Kristen Chenoweth on Pushing Daisies to I had no idea just how fantastic a singer she was and she is outstanding throughout this song. The duet works very well and Kristen and Matthew's voices work very well together.
Liza Minnelli's "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret is another duet, this time featuring Kristen Chenoweth and Lea Michele. This is another song that has grown on me the more I've listened to it. The two voices of Kristen and Lea are distinctive but they still work so well together. Another favourite track of mine is "Somebody To Love" (Queen - but surely you know that?). Somebody To Love? is sang by the majority of the cast, mainly Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley and Kevin McHale (Artie). I defy you not to be singing along by the end of the song!
Jill Scott (whom I've never heard of) is the original singer of the next track "Hate On Me", sung by the fantastic Amber Riley. Amber sings the song incredibly well but it's not a song I listen to every time I listen to the album. "No Air" is up next sung by Lea Michele and Cory Monteith. I adore the original version featuring Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown. Lea does a fantastic job of covering Jordin's part but, as much as I love his voice, Cory's doesn't really compare to Chris Brown. His voice is too soft compared to Chris Brown's. I still enjoy the song though and Lea and Cory know how to perform a duet.
"You Keep Me Hangin' On" introduces us to another member of the Glee cast in the shape of Dianna Agron (Quinn). Her rendition of The Supreme's classic is incredibly enjoyable although her voice doesn't seem to be as strong as Lea Michele's. Avril Lavinge's "Keep Holding On" is another duet from Lea Michele and Cory Monteith. I love this song and think Cory and Lea perform it incredibly well. It's another of my favourites from what is a fantastic album so far.
One of my least favourite songs of the album is "Bust A Move". Another chance for Matthew Morrison to show off his rapping ability. I've not heard Young MC's version and although Matthew's is OK, I generally skip the track whenever it's on. Another song I really enjoy is Mark Salling's (Puck) version of Neil Diamond's classic "Sweet Caroline". It's the only track of the album which features Mark Salling and even then it's not even the full song. It's a shame he only features as lead on one song as he's a fantastic singer. I think Mark would have been perfect for the Chris Brown role of No Air.
"Dancing With Myself" which was performed by Generation X originally is Kevin McHale's breakthrough song on the album. He's featured on other songs on the album but Dancing With Myself is all his. He has a very distinctive voice and it's easy to pick out when he sings in any of the other tracks. It's the last track on the album that is my favourite of the entire album. It's a duet between Lea Michele and Chris Colfer (Kurt) of "Defying Gravity", originally performed by Idina Menzel, Kristen Chenoweth and the cast of Wicked. The duet works perfectly between the two voices although as the song reaches it's conclusion Lea blows Chris out of the water, especially when it comes to the high notes.
Glee: The Music Volume 1 is a fantastic listen and is undoubtedly a must-buy for Glee fans. I actually can't stop listening to the album and I adore most of the songs. As you can tell from my review I think the cast are hugely talented and I adore Lea Michele's voice. Volume 1 is a must buy for all Glee fans!
Summary: A fab listen
