|
|
 |
An amazing tunesmith with an unerring knack for melody and influences that range from Kurt Weill to New Order, Stephin Merritt has used various projects--the Magnetic Fields chief among them--to showcase his unique talents. Merritt is also heavily influenced by musical theater, as SHOW TUNES, the artist's third solo release, reveals. In fact, SHOW TUNES comprises songs that Merritt composed for actual stage productions.
In a long-standing collaboration with the Chinese theater director Chen Shi-Zheng, Merritt has written songs for the Shi-Zheng plays PEACH BLOSSOM FAN, THE ORPHAN OF ZHAO, and MY LIFE AS A FAIRY TALE. The songs are performed by the original cast members, so those looking for Merritt's voice will be sadly disappointed. That said, the songwriting bears the artist's usual hallmarks--wit, superb melodic hooks, a little bit of cheek, and a little bit of melancholy--making the collection indispensable to Merritt fans.
Photographers: Peter Nigrini; Marcelo Krasilcic; Stéphane Bergeron.
Personnel: Kendall Jane Meade, Benjamin Lerman, Sydney Maresca, Larry Krone, Jon DeRosa, Anne Harris, Jon Natchez, Carla Murray, L.D. Beghtol (vocals, ukulele); Rob Scherzer, Shirley Simms, Stephen Yesenosky, Michael Liscio, Chris Dionaldo, Molly Frieri, David Patrick Kelly , Richard Pepenella, Rachel Witmer, Kelly Hrehovcik, Jenna Pasqua, Rob Roy Campbell, Mary Lou Rosato, Dudley Klute, Brian Hall, Qian Yi, Matthew Steiner, Fran Bennett, Brittany Dunn, Fiona Shaw, David Murgittroyd, Jon David Casey, Jenny Bacon, Blair Brown (vocals); Cory McAbee (autoharp); Min Xiao-Fen (pipa); Pinky Weitzman (violin); Charlie Giordano (accordion); Douglas Quint (bassoon); Zachary Behrens (marimba); Daniel Savell (bass drum, steel drum); Lily Chen (yang-chin).
Audio Mixer: Charles Newman.
Uncut (p.98) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Merritt sings alongside original cast members, clearly relishing each perverted fairy-tale of ruined love, untimely death, wars and whores and human vanity."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.104) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "To the cottonfield paddy fields sounds of banjo and jinghu Merritt and friends horse around with funny voices and sardonic lines..."
Stephin Merritt: Showtunes Music
Stephin Merritt: Showtunes Songs
| 1 | Orphan of Zhao, musical: Theme | | | |
| 2 | Peach Blossom Fan, musical: At Madam Plum's | | | |
| 3 | My Life as a Fairy Tale, musical: The Top and the Ball | | | |
| 4 | Orphan of Zhao, musical: What a Fucking Lovely Day! | | | |
| 5 | My Life as a Fairy Tale, musical: Auntie Toothache | | | |
| 6 | Peach Blossom Fan, musical: It's Hard to be the Emperor | | | |
| 7 | Peach Blossom Fan, musical: Sounds Expensive | | | |
| 8 | My Life as a Fairy Tale, musical: The Red Shoes | | | |
| 9 | Peach Blossom Fan, musical: Fan Dance Cha-Cha | | | |
| 10 | My Life as a Fairy Tale, musical: The Little Maiden of the Sea | | | |
| 11 | Peach Blossom Fan, musical: Ukulele Me! | | | |
| 12 | Orphan of Zhao, musical: Train Song | | | |
| 13 | My Life as a Fairy Tale, musical: The Little Hebrew Girl | | | |
| 14 | Peach Blossom Fan, musical: Shall We Sing a Duet? | | | |
| 15 | Orphan of Zhao, musical: The Song of the Humble Serf | | | |
| 16 | My Life as a Fairy Tale, musical: The Collar and the Garter | | | |
| 17 | Peach Blossom Fan, musical: Shall We Sing a Duet? (Reprise) | | | |
| 18 | Peach Blossom Fan, musical: Sorry, Wrong Show | | | |
| 19 | My Life as a Fairy Tale, musical: The Storks | | | |
| 20 | Orphan of Zhao, musical: In the Spring, When I was Young | | | |
| 21 | My Life as a Fairy Tale, musical: The Ugly Little Duck | | | |
| 22 | Peach Blossom Fan, musical: And He Would Say... | | | |
| 23 | Orphan of Zhao, musical: The World is not Made of Flowers | | | |
| 24 | Peach Blossom Fan, musical: Behold the Lowly Centipede | | | |
| 25 | My Life as a Fairy Tale, musical: In China, Said the Moon... | | | |
| 26 | Peach Blossom Fan, musical: Hail! Son of Heaven | | | |
Stephin Merritt: Showtunes Review
GuidelinesRemember to focus your comments on Stephin Merritt: Showtunes CD. Check our review guidelines for specific details regarding customer review policy. To submit your review, please fill out the above form and click "Submit Review." A staff member will then verify your review meets our guidelines. Upon approval, your review will be published within a few days. Please do not use this form to comment on web site errors or for order related questions. If you have concerns of this nature, please contact customer service by filling out this form.
Purchase Stephin Merritt: Showtunes CD
To buy, Click on price to add to cart
|
|
|
|
|
Share this Product