Rent by Original Broadway Cast

Pros: Great music and message, CDs stand alone without having seen the live show or movie...
Cons: ...Can be a bit racy at times, Mimi's voice can be annoying, pricey ($25-30)

Note: This review reveals minor details of the musical/movie's plot. The Broadway Musical, Rent, has gotten a lot of buzz recently due to it's theatrical release last year, but it's been on the stage since 1996. Jonathan Larson (who ...

Pros: Excellent cast and music
Cons: Inconsistent lyrics

I don't care what anybody says- Rent is good. It isn't a groundbreaking masterpiece, and it doesn't live up to its hype. Still, it is one of the best musicals of the 1990s and deserved to win its Tony for Best Musical.

The...

Pros: Some great songs, interesting characters, and an engaging storyline.
Cons: If you can't take time to sit and get into Rent, it's not much fun.

Loosely based on the Puccini opera La Boheme, Rent was written by the unfortunately deceased Jonathan Larson(he died the night before the show opened in 1996). The Broadway musical(really more of a rock opera) deals with the relationships...

Pros: Great lyrics, original cast recording, excellent score (Jonathan Larson is phenomenal)
Cons: Racy lyrics, may offend some

I became a Rent fanatic after seeing the show only once (sadly, I've only seen it once.) When I got the opportunity to purchase the CD at a great price (I believe I got it on sale for about $16,) I jumped at the chance. I loved the play (you can ...

Pros: GREAT music, interesting story (if you can follow it)
Cons: CD is expensive - adult language and situations may offend some

Okay, the first time I had even heard of Rent was when our high school music teacher offered tickets at a ridiculously low price for the students and their parents to go, if they so desired. Having no idea what the storyline was, when my (then) 17 year...

Pros: Talented cast delivers Larson's lyrics with spunk, precision, and vitality
Cons: You might not like these voices as much as ones on stage at the moment

The first time I saw RENT, I had no idea what to expect. I was on a class trip to NYC, and had purchased a ticket to the show because of all the hype I'd heard surrounding its release and its creator's subsequent death. Before the performance, I quickly...

Pros: the score, the emotion
Cons: Stevie Wonder song plus a couple others

RENT is incredibly addictive. There are so many songs that you want to belt out and dance to. While the soundtrack is best appreciated after you have seen the show, it still is fun for those who haven't seen it. The songs really covey the spirit of...

Pros: the entire story on a double CD
Cons: doesn't come with tickets to the show ;)

This is my second try on this review. The first time I did it, I wrote in a rather skimpy fashion. Take two! :)

I like Rent. I like the play, but I must say that the music from it is good enough to listen to outside of the show itself. I have...

Pros: very eclectic, great beats, catchy lyrics
Cons: may not be what everyone is expecting

Most people are going to go on and on about RENT as the musical, what the plot is about, and things like that... But I wrote a review on the musical. This is about the Original Cast Recording - a fine CD to add to your collection, and a lot of fun to...

Pros: Wonderful music; Gritty, real feeling the characters
Cons: Some flimsy lyrics; Trained vocalists may be annoyed by untrained voices (a.k.a. people who are definitely not experienced singers.)

RENT is an absolutely wonderful show, which I had the privilege to see when it came to my area, playing at the Civic Theater in San Diego. While it is far from perfect, and someone obviously capitalized on the death of the creator, Jonathan Larson, to...

Pros: Master work full of emotion and power
Cons: No video to go along with it!

Rent is the most raw modern musical I have ever heard. There are things in this album that will make you cry and laugh, sometimes at the same time! There are other parts that will make your skin crawl. This is a musical based on the lives of poor...

Pros: Touching every time you listen, sing along lyrics
Cons: None!

I actually do not have my own 2 CD set, though I have two bootlegs =), but after listening to my bootlegs, and my sisters copy, I can tell you that this show is *amazing*. Sure 2 or so of the songs are a bit cliched and sound like your typical love song...

Pros: every song is excellent
Cons: none

I usually enjoy musicals, but never love them. This was not the case with Rent. When I went to see it at the theater, I was hesitant because I had made plans to do something else and in actuality did not want to change my plans. Luckily, I chose not to...

Pros: positive philosophy--amazing music--loveable characters
Cons: amateurish lyrics in parts--first act confusing

I'm not much into the whole artist scene. I'm an artist. But I don't usually _like_ the artist crowd. Therefore, I was wary of Rent. I was expecting something rather self-indulgent, a smoking, sexy, "I'm-way-too-deep-for-this" sort of thing--...

Pros: Very unique and unlike other musicals on Broadway at this time
Cons: Not a real great show for children

Double-CD's are EXPENSIVE, which is why, considering the fact that I knew NOTHING about Rent at the time, I bought "The Best of Rent - Highlights from the Original Cast Album." The first time I listened to it, I was very unsure of my opinion of...