Search - John Bucchino, Andrea Burns, Jessica Molaskey :: It's Only Life

It's Only Life
John Bucchino, Andrea Burns, Jessica Molaskey
It's Only Life
Genres: Pop, Soundtracks, Broadway & Vocalists
 
  •  Track Listings (23) - Disc #1

It's easy to compare John Bucchino's It's Only Life with Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World. Both are revues collecting the songs of talented young composers. Both were directed by Daisy Prince, and both star And...  more »

     
?

Larger Image

CD Details

All Artists: John Bucchino, Andrea Burns, Jessica Molaskey, Brooks Ashmanskas, Billy Porter
Title: It's Only Life
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: P.S. Classics
Original Release Date: 1/1/2006
Re-Release Date: 5/30/2006
Genres: Pop, Soundtracks, Broadway & Vocalists
Style: Musicals
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 803607063924, 803607063924

Synopsis

Amazon.com
It's easy to compare John Bucchino's It's Only Life with Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World. Both are revues collecting the songs of talented young composers. Both were directed by Daisy Prince, and both star Andrea Burns, Jessica Molaskey, Brooks Ashmanskas, and Billy Porter (though he was replaced for the New World recording by Ty Taylor); It's Only Life adds Gavin Creel. And Brown contributed two vocal arrangements to It's Only Life. But Brown has a kickier, more percussive style in both his writing and piano playing, and he leans heavily on rock and gospel influences. Bucchino is more lyrical and introspective, his piano playing is the only accompaniment here, and Stephen Sondheim is a major influence. But both are terrific storytellers, and It's Only Life collects both new songs and songs that cabaret audiences have loved for years such as the beautiful "Sweet Dreams" and "It Feels Like Home," and the witty "Painting My Kitchen." And Bucchino also shows a jazzy side with the ensemble numbers "That Smile" and "It's Only Life," plus a piano interlude. There's also an inevitable comparison to be made to Bucchino's all-star recording Grateful, and both have their strengths, but It's Only Life benefits from a more cohesive (and excellent) cast that recorded the show shortly after their January 2006 Lincoln Center concert performance. The CD booklet has lyrics for all the songs, even the stage transitions that are not on the 79-minute CD. --David Horiuchi

Similar CDs

 

CD Reviews

Songs to Make You Believe in the Power of Music Again
Art Lover | 11/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been keeping an eye on John Bucchino's music for about 20 years, and know (and have loved) some of the songs on this CD from previous collections. However...the new songs on this album practically made my heart leap out of my chest! I believe that this is the finest cabaret songwriter alive today, and his songs are deep, and chewy, and soul-affirming, and unpredictable...and in touch with something deeply spiritual. Not a lot of "popular" music can stand up to analysis, but this stuff gets better and more meaningful the more intense the scrutiny. It's ridiculous to compare him to Jason Robert Brown or anyone else. This is a unique artist, courageously self-revelatory, smart, uncynical, and generous."
The Best Album of 2006
Bill Stella | Somerville, NJ USA | 11/09/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"There's little more to say.



Great songwriting, great performances. Just one superb song after another.



No clunkers, no instances where I wish they spent a little more time making it better.



If you are fascinated by songwriting, and know how difficult it is to compose new, fresh, masterful songs which seem to appear almost effortlessly produced, music that both aspires to classic status and connects to listeners without requiring a degree in music appreciation, then you have to hear John Bucchino's songs."