BWW CD Review: The Cast Recording of DOGFIGHT

Dogfight, a musical based on the 1991 movie starring Lili Taylor and River Pheonix, is the product of young brilliant minds who are up and comers in the theatre industry. The show follows the story of three marines who have a "Dogfight" - a competition to see who can bring the ugliest girl to a party. But, when 18-year-old Birdlace (Derek Klena ) asks out Rose (Lindsay Mendez), a plain-jane waitress, in efforts to win the competition, he ends up getting not at all what he expected.

With the help of director Joe Mantello (Wicked, Assassins), and book writer Peter Duchan, Dogfights composer and lyricist have created an original and innovative show. The show won the 2011 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater. The show's book and lyrics are the increasingly popular composing team Pasek and Paul - Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The pair are the minds behind shows like Edges, songs from the TV show Smash, and A Christmas Story: the Musical. Their songs have been sung by esteemed Broadway performers, such as Krysta Rodriguez, Aaron Tveit, and Gavin Creel.

With Dogfight, Pasek and Paul have showcased just why they have quickly become such a big deal in the theatre community. The score of the show is of Rent, Next To Normal, and Spring Awakening caliber. They have a knack for modern show tunes that loosely fit into the pop-rock musical genre. Except, their scores go beyond the genre of show tune. Their music can stand alone outside the context of the show, which is what makes listening to the soundtrack like listening to music on your iPod - not listening to songs from a musical production. The songs are not heavy on dialogue, which makes it easy to listen to them outside the context of the show. It is their variety of musical styles present on the recording that make the show innovative.

Every song is a new experience as all tracks have a different feel to them. The track "Hey Good-Lookin," is a toe tapping jazzy tune that will have you bopping and snapping. Conversely, "Some Kinda Time" is a fast and upbeat group number that showcases how all the artists' voices fit perfectly together. The recording features numerous beautifully sung ballads by Lindsay Mendez (Godspell), like "Nothing Short of Wonderful," and "Absolutely Perfect." However it is Mendez's ballad "Before it's Over," that shines with the raw honesty and passion in Mendez's voice.

Also featured on the cast recording are great duets like "First Date/Last Night," sung by Mendez and Derek Klena (Carrie), and "Nothing Short of Wonderful," which Mendez sings with the talented Annaleigh Ashford (Wicked, Legally Blonde).

The cast recording provides an amazing listening experience. The songs are toe-tap inducing and will have you rocking out. The recording can be whatever you want it to be, for those who have seen the show it will help you relive the show's magic. For those who are just listening for the music, you will be able to follow the story but ultimately jam out and get fragments of the show's story line in the minimal dialogue. Dogfight is a unique piece with a killer soundtrack that even people who aren't theatre nerds would benefit from listening to.

The soundtrack will be made available for download on April 30, and will be available for purchase as a CD on May 21. The recording can presently be preordered.

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