Matilda OBC album vs. OCR album

[carlodowd]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 10:14am

Just listened to the OBC album and i must say i do not like it. They have made the orchestration WAY to complicated. The OCR from London is so much simpler and nicer to listen to. I love all the songs, they are great but i think they made a mistake upgrading the orchestration. The show is about a sweet innocent girl and the music needs to reflect that which in the OBC version i dont think it does.

Just wondering what do other people think?

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 10:24am

I went to the theater yesterday to buy the CD but it did not come in as scheduled. They said they hoped it will come in on Tuesday or Wednesday. Haven't done I-tunes..I want the CD with the liner notes, etc.I am curious - some people love it so far, and some people don't.

I think Matilda is way too loud much of time - so it sounds like I might agree with you but I am keeping an open mind. I am certainly looking forward to hearing the 4 USA girls who I know better than the Stratford girls (except for Kerry) and seeing who is doing which parts.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 11:27am

Are the lyrics comprehensible on either recording?

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 11:43am

Yes, but with some slight variations. There are different lyrics in miracle, and the "Eat it up, lick it up..." has been cut from Bruce. If you want a cheat sheet:

Better on OCR:
The Smell of Rebellion
Bruce
Quiet
Naughty
School Song
When I Grow Up

Better on OBC:
Pathetic
My House
This Little Girl
The Hammer
Telly
Revolting Children
Loud

It's hard to say which recording is better. The new one is definitely better for orchestrations and individual voices, but the OCR has a fuller sound. I also think the OCR Matilda is better. The newer ones are great too, but they don't have much vibrato and their phrases tend to be shorter. I'm sure that's how they've been directed to do it, but in matters of personal taste I'd take the OCR just in terms of Matilda's songs. Miss Honey's songs are most definitely better on the new recording. It's difficult with the Trunchbull. Bertie changed the voice so much that it's unrecognizable from the one on the original recording. The lower register worked better with The Smell of Rebellion. It's one of my favorites on the OCR and among my least favorites on the OBC.

I also don't like that they cut Miracle into three parts, making the second part mostly dialogue except for the doctor's verses.

I started off really disliking the new Loud. It's a lot broader and crazier than the one on the OCR, but it grew on me. It borders on being scary. I don't think that's what they were going for, but there's a menacing layer to Mrs. Wormwood that wasn't there before.

Updated On: 9/29/13 at 11:43 AM

[darquegk]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 11:59am

The ensemble characters, child and adult, are less grotesque on the OBC, for better or worse. For example, the Bully on "School Song" sounds conceivably like a "stylized adult child" in the OBC, while sounding like the love child of Gimli and Hagrid on the OLC. The "obnoxious children" in Miracle are less obnoxious on the American recording than the British.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 12:24pm

I think I would have a hard time with anyone other than Kerry Ingram doing the Escapologist dialogue. I am so in love with her interpretation from the original cast.

In terms of the actual songs, I hope to be more objective.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 2:25pm

Kerry Ingram didn't do "I'm Here" on the OCR, Josie Griffiths (who also sang "Naughty") did. Ingram did "Miracle" and "When I Grow Up" (possibly "My House" too though I can't tell). Adrianna Bertola did "Quiet."

I love the OBCR, though it is vastly different from the OCR. I fell in love with the score through the OCR and find it so dry (in a wonderful way), subtle and sophisticatedly quirky. The OBCR is livelier, for sure, and better sung in terms of all the adult tracks. With the Matilda's, its a case by case basis on vocals. I think Oona Laurence is fantastic on "I'm Here." Bertola's "Quiet" is pretty definitive and miraculous when you think of how controlled and beautiful she sounds for being so young. Shapiro's "Quiet" is fantastic, as well, but no matter whose version I've listened to, they've all paled in comparison to Bertola.

The only two songs that I've felt were made lesser on the OBCR due to orchestration and musical direction are "When I Grow Up" and "Smell of Rebellion." I don't like the clipped singing of the words on the OBCR, and while Bertie was brilliant live, I think his performance on the OCR translates better without visual as opposed to the OBCR, which can sound a tad shrill. It's still a fabulous cast recording, nonetheless, and both reflect the musical in very different stages of its conception. I also think Minchin's new lyrics are brilliant. Just as brilliant as the former ones.

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 3:03pm

As a complete package, I believe I prefer the new OBCR. However, I do get what everyone else is saying. To me, on the OBCR, "When I Grow Up" is a lot more complex musically and sounds beautiful, but on the OBCR it is simpler and maintains beauty as well as an even more whimsical/fun feel (which is probably a byproduct of the simpler orchestrations). Additionally, I miss the emphasis on the alphabet letters during the second singing of "School Song" that was present on the OCR. It helped maintain the visual concept of the action onstage without having to see it. And, I do wish "Miracle" had been left in one part.

"Revolting Children" is so much better on the OBCR, though. I love it all.

[MorningGlow2]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 3:23pm

I feel both ways about the orchestrations. I love listening to soundtracks and therefore have a bias towards towards orchestrations and picking out the various instruments. But listening back to the OCR, I appreciate the subtly of some of those songs, especially when you think about the style it was originally written in - Tim Minchin and his piano.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 3:25pm

^^^Wickedfan, I didn't say she did "I'm Here". I was referring to the dialogue (as I noted) with the Escapologist... which is definitely Kerry. They cut to Josie with the song but went back to Kerry with the words. I recognize her voice and one of the mom's confirmed when it first came out.



Updated On: 9/29/13 at 03:25 PM

[RozeeRossi]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 8:54pm

I, overall, prefer the OBC. I'd have to say, the only ones that to me are better on the OCR are Quiet, When I Grow Up, Story 4, and Smell of Rebellion (although I do find the new sound very interesting). And I must say I like the OBC's Bruce better, simply because they added in a male bass line, along with the clearer sound, and I adore hearing Miss Honey practically fangirling at the end rather then sounding inspiring and encouraging.

[carlodowd]

Posted: 9/30/13 at 10:45am

Yeh I feel the same as most of ye. Its just to over the top for the simple excellent lyrics

[frankenleeestein]

Posted: 9/30/13 at 10:37pm

I must be the only one who likes the OBCR "When I Grow Up" more?

I think my favorite improvement overall (aside from cutting it into three parts) is "Miracle". The juicier orchestrations compliment it perfectly, I think. And I MUCH prefer John Arthur Greene's solo to the OCR one.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 9/30/13 at 11:11pm

I find myself treating the new OBCR and OCR like recordings of Les Mis. I enjoy them all for different aspects, but there is usually one that I will always "go to," which for me is the OCR.

Don't get me wrong I also love the new OBCR recording, especially for the fact that it is a more complete recording. But I prefer Bertie on the OCR. I still love listening to what he's done with Trunchbull on Broadway (you can hear the leaps and bounds he's come with his characterization) but nothing can beat how he sounds on the OBCR especially that note he hits at the end of "Smell of Rebellion." And of course i don't think anyone will ever beat the beautiful performance in "Quiet" from the OCR. It's just too perfect in my ears. Subtle and haunting, although Milly does an amazing job for someone her age.

I do agree that Miss Honey sounds better in the OBCR, especially "My House." Also the new orchestrations are great, as well as a better Doctor during Miracle. I find the Wormwood's to be even on both recordings, different but all excellent, I really can't choose. For example when the OCR Mrs Wormwood hits this great high note near the end of the song, Lesli instead does this crazy screaming bit right before "Think you're clever?!" in place of the same note; which made me laugh out loud. But both are fantastic choices. Also someone mentioned Mr Wormwood sounds so much younger on the OBCR than the OCR which I also enjoyed (as he'd just too immature to even have a child) but again both men sounds terrific.

Btw, does anyone know if Bertie got vocal problems during the run? I couldn't help but wonder if he was damaging his voice from the crazy amazing stuff he was doing.

So since we're discussing vs. I have to choose OCR over OBCR due to the perfect performance Bertie gives on the original recording, and the divine recording of "Quiet" which is my favorite song in the show.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 9/30/13 at 11:13pm

Btw, for those interested in hearing Bertie doing legit singing (it's gorgeous). From Parade with Laura Pulver (Irene Adler from the BBC Sherlock as Lucile)
All the Wasted Time

[binau]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 6:56am

The Matildas do a much better job sustaining notes at the correct pitch on the OCR compared to the OBCR.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 2:31pm

Isn't "OBCR recording" redundant?

[tazber]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 4:16pm

Original Broadway Cast Recording?

I don't see it if it is.

Or do you mean because it's mostly the same cast?

[getatme]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 4:50pm

OBCR Recording would read as "Original Broadway Cast Recording Recording."

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 4:54pm

*wink*

[Frank8]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 6:58pm

It sounds really great. I'm so glad they got to do a Broadway recording. They deserve it. It's sad when shows come over from the West End and the US company doesn't get a cast album. It has definitely evolved and I think the Bway version is clearer than the London recording.

[NotTheComfyChair]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 11:07pm

I think the CD is finally on sale at the theatre. I was walking past and saw someone buying a CD that looked like the artwork we've seen online. If someone here buys one, let us know if it has the same bonus tracks as the deluxe iTunes. I don't think it will but I'm hoping...

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 11:09pm

I believe that the deluxe version is only on iTunes. But it's only two tracks (Naughty and the Cut Song).

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 11:36pm

Stop hoping. The two extra songs don't fit on a single CD. It would have to be on two CDs.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 12:33am

Does anyone else find Ryan Steele's "AGHHHHH!" really really funny on the OBCR version of Revolting Children? It's such a weak take on the line, and in the 4 times I've seen it, he always does it so much more intense. On the CD, its more of a, "UHHHHhhhhhh"