Review and Summary

Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) [Explicit]

Hamilton was a musical focused on the life of Alexander Hamilton, one of the America founding fathers. With both history meaning and the rapping as the new interpretation to a musical, it quickly became the hottest Broadway musical that made a incredible success both in box office and critics soon after its debut in 2015. Moreover, the excellent performance and brilliant book were also highly recognized by audience, which brought about the unprecedented achievement of getting record-setting 16 nominations, won 11 awards in Tony, the best musical theater of Grammy, and the best drama of Pulitzer Price.

To be the best musical of 2015, the music could not be more important. The remix of varies music genres, including rapping and blues, makes it more appealing for those who like ways of hip-hop. The opening, Alexander Hamilton, is surely a representative one to illustrate the magic of Hamilton. Washington, Jefferson, Burr, Mulligan, Madison, the founding fathers and the characters in the musical were gradually appearing to talk about whether Hamilton is a foe, a comrade, a lover, or a reliable man to carry on the faith and fulfill the ambition, making America to be a nation. In a short period of 4 minutes, from a orphan to a secretary of states, from a harsh life to a brilliant career, it is a brief to realize the epic life of Hamilton. With the rapping, it seems to be youth-oriented; however, it is really full of meaning of life, making it not only a simple rapping work, but a masterpiece with plentiful senses.

Besides, another significant characteristic in Hamilton is the rap battle. Though the battle rap did not received attention few decades ago, it began to have more and more influence over the music industry, even appeared in Cabinet Battle #1 in Hamilton. The both boasting and acrid or even insulting, mean words are the features; nevertheless, it is still fun to enjoy the fierce,heated recrimination of Jefferson and Hamilton blamed each other for their policies by bitter words.

Still, there does have some touching part in Hamilton. Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story illustrates the miserable end of Hamilton, devoting himself so much but receiving less credit comparing to other founding fathers, sighing his yet implemented plans and ambitions. As the end of the musical, represent the sorrowful mood for his pity.

The performance of combination of Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story and York Town (The World Turned Upside Down) in Tony 2016.

Album Information: iTunes

Hamilton Soundtrack with Lyrics: Youtube

Recommend tracks: Alexander Hamilton, Right Hand Man, Helpless, Satisfied, Wait For It, York Town (The World Turned Upside Down), What Comes Next, Dear Theodosia, What'd I Miss, Cabinet Battle #1, We Know, Burn, Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story

Ref:
Review - The Atlantic
Review - NPR Music

The Book of Mormon (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

The Broadway musical, The Book of Mormon was a great hit and received applause soon after it was released in 2011. Cooperated by Trey Parker's book and Robert Lopez's lyrics, whom is famous for their work South Park and Frozen individually, The Book of Mormon brings an atmosphere of black comedy with joy but irony. That is, in the meanwhile of making audience burst into laughter, we also think about the meanings behind the story and lyrics. Therefore, the excellent performance got 13 nominated and finally won 8, including best musical, book, original score, and became the winner of the year in Tony Award in 2011.
Briefly, the story talks about two Mormon missionaries accidentally form a team to preach in Africa. During their days in the poor and undeveloped village, they were both shocked by the critical situations of poverty, famine, wars, which were the obstacles of baptizing people into the church. Though being under the great depression and frustration, they still use their wisdom to break through the plight and persuaded all the villagers into believe god at the end.
Obviously, we could understand how funny it is through the opening, Hello. The performance and actors' emotions are so ridiculous that you can't help but burst into laughter.

As a Mormon, the most important time is his mission to preach abroad or in other cities Two By Two. Every missionaries were looking forward to it but also worried about their destination. Elder Price wanted to be sent to Orlando, where Disney and Universal Studio located in Florida. Ridiculously, witnessing that other missionaries were sent to nice places, he was assigned to be in Uganda with a stupid partner, Elder Cunningham.

Besides, Hasa Diga Eebowai can't be the better spoof in this musical for paying author's tribute to Lion King, which describes the saying that could comfort people's spiritual pains. However, little did the missionaries know that it actually means "Fxck you, god!", which really surprised them.

Sal Tlay Ka Siti is quite similar to the sound of Salt Lake City, which is the capital of Utah. The accent of villager made it a mistake when missionaries introduce where the Mormons' church located , but also their hometown. However, it sounded like a paradise to a villager live in poverty in Africa. An African girl sang out her wish to live in the perfect place, Sal Tlay Ka Siti.
Fail to make whole village to believe in their religion, one missionary, Elder Price, faced the helplessness of preaching. That night, he had a bad dream of demons and minions of hell around him. Spooky Mormon Hell Dream show his fear, anxiety, and the guilt of leaving his partner alone. Whole song shows a evil mood with some rock n' roll element.

Later, Elder Price gradually regained his confidence through the reflection and the doubt to the god. In I Believe, he realized that he could no longer completely believe in god but just doubting. He then convinced himself that it is fine to be a Mormon just believe.

Finally, all the villagers got baptized and became new missionaries in Uganda. Everyone celebrated the Latter Day and perform another "African version" Hello in Tomorrow Is A Latter Day. With laughter and tears on the faces of audience, The Book of Mormon comes to a happy end!

Album Information:

1. Hello
2. Two By Two
3. You And Me (But Mostly Me)
4. Hasa Diga Eebowai
5. Turn It Off
6. I Am Here For You
7. All-American Prophet
8. Sal Tlay Ka Siti
9. Man Up
10. Making Things Up Again
11. Spooky Mormon Hell Dream
12. I Believe
13. Baptize Me
14. I Am Africa
15. Joseph Smith American Moses
16. Tomorrow Is A Latter Day

Ref:
Review - Theater Advisor
CD Review - There Views Hub

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Kinky Boots (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

Adopted from the movie of the same name in 2005, musical Kinky Boots was first showed up in broadway in April 2013. Story is about Price, the son of an old shoe factory owner which is under bankruptcy, inherits his family industry with reluctant after his father's death. However, he went back to carry on it with the partnership of a drag dancer, Lola. Although there were some arguments between them, they realized they are same in some way and worked together to produce the most fashion boots, kinky boots. 

Initially, Kinky Boots was not expected to be a great demand because it was the first debut for most of its cast, including the actor and even the composer, Cyndi Lauper. Though struggling of less well from critics and box office for few months, it still get the nominations of Tony Award as a underdog. To our surprise, Kinky Boots with its fancy performance, joyous atmosphere, and profound meaning, beat the highly anticipated musical, Matilda, and won 6 Tony wins as best musical, leading actor, choreography, and original score, etc, which was much beyond audience expectations.

To discover the magic of Kinky Boots, the cast recording would be a good and easy way to get started. And with the guarantees of award, there are also a lot of songs to mention and highlight. 

1. As the beginning, Price and Son Theme/The Most Beautiful Thing in the World illustrates the the confrontation between Charlie and his father whether he was going to take over the factory or not, in his childhood. 

2. Much worried about it, Charlie still went on his journey to London, where he met Lola and fascinated by her high heel boots. Land of Lola is opening theme for Lola's appearance, showing her confidence and character of drag dancers' leader. 

3. Later, Charlie decided to produce the high heel boots and discussed with Lola. Lola showed her idea and explained it with Sex is in the Heel, and the design gradually made into practice.

4. However, Lola is not welcome to workers in factory, which made her very depressed. Charlie tried to comfort her, but discover that Lola is actually a man named Simon and had the similar perspective to their father individually. Not My Father's Son deeply describes the anxiety of the son cannot satisfy father's demands and anticipations. 

5. Soon, the first kinky boots were completed and held a celebration. Everybody Say Yeah, the most joyful one in whole musical with jazz, funk and pop elements.

6. The foreman of workers still opposed Lola's idea and challenged him. Lola needed to prove that his idea is What a Woman Wants. 

7. As the the progress of producing kinky boots, Charlie became more impatient since the products did not satisfy him. Yet, all people left including workers and his best friend Lola after he asked to remake the product again and again. Being alone in the factory, Charlie was stuck between wish of his father and the relationship with his workers and friends. Soul of a Man with most genuine and sincere, Charlie cried for the helpless situation.

8. After leaving Charlie, Lola went back to his hometown and nursed his dying father. Hold Me in Your Heart tells about his love to father though Lola was treated critically when he was young.

9. At the presentation day of kinky boots, Charlie was forced to wear them they didn't hire models. Lola and his drag dancers came to his rescue and finally came to the end with Raise You Up/Just Be.

Among these, Raise You Up/Just Be cannot be missed out. 

As the lyric goes, "We would like to leave you with Price and Simon secret to success…I want you to know that we can do in 6, and it goes like this: 

One: Pursue the truth.

Two: Learn something new.

Three: Accept yourself and you'll accept others, too.

Four: Let love shine.

Five: Let pride be your guide.

Six: You change the world when you change your mind.

Just be. Who you wanna be. Never let em tell you who you ought to be.

Just be. With dignity. Celebrate your life triumphantly."

The happy songs with inspiring lyric can't be more suitable for a brilliant musical ending.

Album Information:

1.	"Price and Son Theme / The Most Beautiful Thing in the World"
2.	"Take What You Got"
3.	"Land of Lola"
4.	"Charlie's Soliloquy"
5.	"Step One"
6.	"Sex Is In The Heel"
7.	"The History of Wrong Guys"
8.	"Not My Father's Son"
9.	"Everybody Say Yeah"
10.	"What A Woman Wants"
11.	"In This Corner"
12.	"Charlie's Soliloquy Reprise"
13.	"Soul of a Man"
14.	"Hold Me in Your Heart"
15.	"Raise You Up / Just Be"

Ref:

High Spirits, Higher Heels - New York Times

CD Review (Kinky Boots) - There Ought to be Crown

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Original Soundtrack

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was a legend of contemporary game developed by Bethesda Studio and inherited the series of The Elder Scrolls. It also received awards worldwide, which players were fascinated by the delicate gaming graphics, free gaming experience which allows you to wander or roam around the whole Skyrim, nonlinear stories, and also the music of an epic.

Fight with a dragon.

Whiterun, the biggest city in Skyrim.

Always full of jolly, the Bannered Mare.

There are many surprising and stunning thing to explore in the whole Skyrim, but do not miss out the "surrounding!" Thus, having a walk in the nature in Skyrim is a lot of fun. Skyrim Atmosphere illustrates different scenes in the boundless land. While confronting horrible monsters in the muddy caves or even a spooky dungeons with only a torch on you hand, Death in the Darkness would actually thrill you with the gloomy mood. Or you would like to have fierce fights against dragons on the sky, Watch the Sky reminds you not to fall off and stay aware since your enemy, dragon, is gonna have you as its dinner. For those who just want to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in the town, Streets of Whiterun is a smart choice to discover the biggest commercial city, Whiterun, in Skyrim. Moreover, the relaxing, and cozy tavern in the Whiterun, The Bannered Mare is an essential place for warriors fighting all day long. The soothing guitar rhythm cannot be better for comforting the fatigue of adventures. 

The Elder Scroll, the powerful artifact which can travel to past or future.

As a adventurer, or a "dragonborn", the most important task is to find the elder scroll, the powerful artifact, and utilize it to find the way to beat the Alduin, the leader of dragons. The heavy burden but the last and only hope of the tide of history is featured by From Past to Present and Wind Guide You. The last but no the least, Dragonborn, the impassioned theme song of the whole series is recommend for its magnificent expression. 

The marvelous scene at the starting screen.

Album Information - itunes

Ref:

Skyrim Soundtrack Review - Original Sound Version

Review: Skyrim - GSoundtracks

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Overwatch: Collector's Edition Soundtrack

Recently, when we talk about the most popular game, Overwatch must have a role to play. Released in June 2016, It has appealed over 20 million "members of Overwatch" until now and brought huge profit to the developer, Blizzard Entertainment. As a whole new first person shooting game, of course, it does have better graphic and sound effects. However, compared to other FPS games in the gaming market, which more characters, more strategies, and more team works are the highlights of Overwatch. Each characters has its own abilities and own story, which makes the gaming experience much more interesting while playing with different characters in different battlefields. 

Screenshot of "Overwatch Cinematic Trailer"

Still, despite Overwatch is famous for its gaming experience, it also has much to talk about the soundtrack. The whole music in the album could be divided into three parts, music of preview animations, maps, and interludes of the game. For preview animations, the music of them usually includes multi-oriented features which related to the animations' plot. Take "The World Could Always Use More Hero (Cinematic Intro)" for example, it was used in the "Overwatch Cinematic Trailer" as a commercial advertisement before the game release, briefly illustrated the structure of Overwatch's story and maybe the motivation of two kids to become a hero that fight against villains.

Beginning of the game in "Route 66"

End of the game in "Hollywood"

The music of maps are varies since there are a pile of maps with varies style. "Hanamura", "Temple of Anubis", "Hollywood", "Route 66", and even "Nepal" have their own features of Japan, Egypt, LA, Midwest, and temple of Nepal. These music would be played in the preparing period of game before having a exciting battle in these delicate maps. Finally, the highlight or the play of the game would be showed after having a fierce fight, which every player would like or even eager to get the MVP of the game. "Victory" is the most essential part with inspiring and exciting mood, which is very impressive that we would think of the play of the game whenever we hear it.

We all want to be the MVP of the game, since there would be a replay of your excellent performance.

Watching the play of the game feels quite good if you are the MVP and got lots of kills.

Album Information:

1. Overture - Sam Cardon
2. Rally the Heroes - Derek Duke
3. Temple of Anubis - Derek Duke
4. The World Could Always Use More Heroes (Cinematic Intro) - Neal Acree, Sam Cardon, Derek Duke & Cris Velasco
5. King’s Row - Derek Duke
6. Legacy - Cris Velasco
7. Prepare to Attack - Neal Acree & Derek Duke
8. Hanamura - Derek Duke
9. Old Soldier - Derek Duke
10. Watchpoint: Gibraltar - Derek Duke
11. Numbani - Derek Duke
12. Situation Critical - Derek Duke
13. Hollywood - Derek Duke & Adam Burgess
14. A Future Worth Fight For - Derek Duke
15. Volskaya Industries - Derek Duke
16. Dorado - Derek Duke
17. Victory - Neal Acree & Derek Duke
18. Route 66 - Derek Duke
19. We Are Overwatch - Neal Acree & Derek Duke
20. Nepal - Derek Duke
21. …And Overwatch for All - Sam Cardon, Cris Velasco & Derek Duke

Ref:

1. Overwatch Soundtrack Review - Soundtrack Geek

2. Overwatch Game Audio Review - The Sound Architect

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (Original Soundtrack)

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn is a Japanese animation movie which is originated in the novel of same name written by Harutoshi Fukui and adapted into seven movie episodes in 2010 in order to celebrate the 30th anniversary of gundam series. Directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi and music composed by Hiroyuki Sawano, both the new visual effect applied and the majestic surrounding music made it a great commercial success, which includes the box office,  the sales of novel, manga, and of course, gundam model toys.
The whole movie started from the meet of a boy and a girl, Banagher Links, a student, and Audrey Burne, the princess of Zabi. However, it was just a beginning of suffering. Banagher soon discovered the meaning of his family background, world situation, wars between Earth Federation and Neo Zeon, and the heavy burden of hope, or even curse, from a peace treaty, Laplace, in sequence. Gradually, he assumed his responsibility and got ready to fight for peace by piloting RX-0, the unicorn gundam.

Unicorn Gundam RX-0 in NT-D mode

The Fierce Fight between SinAnJu and RX-0, also a fight between Full Frontal and Banagher

  

 Full Frontal                                              Banagher Links

Since the story talks about wars, we cannot miss the exhilarating part, "MOBILE SUIT," during the unicorn gundam transformed from normal mode to NT-D. Besides, "BRING ON A WAR" and "FULL-FRONTAL" would also be recommended for those who like intense feeling with Japanese style, especially the later one represent the confrontation with Banagher's enemy, Full Frontal. For lyrical one, "ON YOUR MARK" is one full of hope as if it's the dawn after dark. Last but not least, the most essential part must be "UNICORN", which is the soul of these soundtracks while it is full of power, magnificent but also tender and inspiring, just as the movie lines go, "Humanity alone possesses a god the power to trascend the now, the inner god called 'possibility'."

Album Information:
1. U.C.0096
2. UNICORN
3. THE UNIVERS
4. MINEVA
5. MOBILE SUIT
6. LAPLACE
7. MARIDA
8. A LETTER
9. INFERNAL AFFAIRS
10. E.F.S.F
11. PIANO TO ANNA
12. ON YOUR MARK
13. FULL-FRONTAL
14. BRING ON A WAR
15. INEQUALITY~A CLOUD OF WAR
16. OTTO~FOR A CHANGE
17. LIFE & DEATH
18. THE DISTANT PAST
19. GO ON A FORAY
20. FEAR→SORROW
21. H@RO
22. RX-0
23. LICHT MEER
24. ZERO GRAVITY

Ref:
Gundam Unicorn - Official Website
Soundtrack Review - Anime Instrumentality

Links and Picture Sources:
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