Search - GrooveLily :: Groovelily: Sleeping Beauty Wakes

'Beauty' inspires the new Groovelily musical

Steven Valenti | Cleveland, OH | 04/21/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Sleeping Beauty Wakes," the new musical by the band Groovelily, is a clever juxtaposition of the fairytale "Sleeping Beauty" on a modern love story set in a sleep disorder clinic. Band members Valerie Vigoda, Brendan Milburn, and Gene Lewin perform all the songs, as they did in their terrific earlier effort, the Little Matchgirl-inspired "Striking 12." Unlike that recording, there's no narration, so you'll have to rely on the cd's liner notes to grasp the rather complicated storyline (Book by Tony winner Rachel Sheinkin).



As with "Striking 12," the songs contain a fine theatrical sensibility and sharp lyrics. Vigoda is a great vocalist, with Milburn close behind. The propulsive opener "Can You Cure Me?" draws you right in, and from there you get a variety of flavors, from pop, rock, to jazz, and a couple fun, sort of child-like "fairy tale"-styled numbers (I think I just coined the name of a new music genre). A couple songs probably veer too close to adult contemporary("Drifting" is a good song, but the dentist-office-Kenny G flourishes are a turn off), but overall, this is a highly enjoyable, versatile album. Now I would like to see Vigoda and Milburn, who wrote the music and lyrics, write a score for a proper musical. They would be a great addition to the growing field of pop-rock musicians writing for the stage.

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Another masterpiece from a new voice in American Musical The

Steven I. Ramm | Phila, PA USA | 05/25/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When you listen to a Groovelilly album you'd swear that there are more than three members in the group. The productions are that big. While they started as a pop/rock band, it was their production of " Striking 12" - the contemporary take on Hand Christian Andersen's "The Little Match girl" that brought them to the musical theater audience. (Playing that album - which you MUST have - every Christmas is as much a tradition as watching "It's a Wonderful Life" or "A Christmas Carol". They proved that it was not a one-shot effort when they wrote and recorded "A Little Midsummer Night's Music" two years ago. Now comes the third of their audio musical theatre pieces - "Sleeping Beauty Awakes". Again, they contemporize the story by having this well-known fairy tale take place in a sleep-deprivation clinic. The production is a bit heavier than on the previous efforts, and it helps to have the liner notes with the plot summary and the complete lyrics (in print that you can actually read!) during the first few listens. Once you've got the hang of it, the songs are clearer the next time around.



I only gave this album four stars because it doesn't quite reach the peaks of "Striking 12" - a true FIVE-STAR classic.



No, Groovelilly doesn't create "rock operas", or even "pop operas", they create mini-masterpieces for your ears. AI can only wonder what's up their sleeve next.



The do perform these shows live in concert - and if you get the chance, see them! - but there are only three of them and their touring schedule is limited. Thank you to PS Classics for letting everyone experience Groovelilly in the comfort of their home. (By the way, their CDs are an even better experience when listening with headphones with your eyes closed.



Steve Ramm

"Anything Phonographic"/In The Groove





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Amazing!

J. P. Stephenson | DC USA | 04/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stumbled upon this and haven't stopped listening to it. Smart lyrics, fantastic melodies. This definitely will appeal to musical theatre junkies. The songs tell great stories. Beautiful voices. Listen. Enjoy. Over and over."