Bakersfield is a musical hotbed, with a sound and style all its own. Here are the 10 best Bakersfield bands of all time, representing a variety of genres.
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Hamilton: An American Musical [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
The original Broadway cast recording of Hamilton: An American Musical was released on September 25, 2015, by Atlantic Records. The album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 chart, and ultimately peaked at number three. It won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, and was also nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Hamilton is a hip-hop musical about the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, with music, lyrics, and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The show draws heavily from hip-hop, as well as R&B, pop, soul, and traditional show tunes; it casts non-white actors as the Founding Fathers and other historical figures. The musical made its Off-Broadway debut at The Public Theater in February 2015, and transferred to Broadway in August 2015.
Critical reception to the cast recording was overwhelmingly positive. Allmusic’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it “a revelatory experience,” writing that Miranda’s “lyrics are so dense and allusive that they demand multiple listens to be decoded and absorbed” but that “the music is so propulsive and infectious that it’s easy to get swept up in the moment.” Ben Brantley of The New York Times wrote that the album is “pretty close to perfect,” while Jon Caramanica of The New York Times called it “a stunner.” Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield wrote that the album is “one of the greatest cast albums ever made,” while Entertainment Weekly’s Marc Snetiker called it “a game-changer.”
The Wall Street Journal’s Terry Teachout praised Miranda’s use of hip-hop as a vehicle for storytelling, writing that he “finds in rap a flexible idiom capable of conveying both high drama and low comedy, pathos and bathos, soaring eloquence and colloquial wit.” He also praised the performances of Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr and Phillipa Soo as Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, calling them “standouts.”
In a five-star review for The Guardian, Alexis Soloski wrote that Miranda has “created a work that captures the best of what theatre can offer: thrilling live performance wedded to intricate design and electrifying music.” She praised the album for its ability to capture the energy of the live performance, while still allowing listeners to appreciate Miranda’s lyrics.
The A.V. Club’s Genevieve Koski gave the album an A-, writing that it’s “an impressive document of a phenomenon.” She praised Miranda’s lyrics and called the performances of Odom Jr., Soo, Christopher Jackson as George Washington, Renee Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler, Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Jonathan Groff as King George III, and Jasmine Cephas Jones as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds “all superb.”
Pitchfork’s Hazel Cills gave the album a 9.3 out of 10, writing that it is “full of heartbreak and hope, anger and love.” She praised Miranda’s lyrics and called the performances of Odom Jr., Soo, Jackson, Goldsberry, Diggs, Groff, and Jones “all superb.”
Dear Evan Hansen (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Dear Evan Hansen is the original Broadway cast recording for the Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen. The album was released on February 3, 2017, by Atlantic Records.
The album features all of the songs from the musical, performed by the original Broadway cast, including Ben Platt, Laura Dreyfuss, Rachel Bay Jones, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Mike Faist, Will Roland, and Alex Lacamoire. The music and lyrics for Dear Evan Hansen are by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, with a book by Steven Levenson. The album was produced by Greg Wells, Alex Lacamoire, and Benj Pasek.
Dear Evan Hansen is a musical about an anxious high school senior, Evan Hansen, who fakes a relationship with a deceased classmate in order to gain popularity. The musical addresses themes of mental health, suicide, lying, and social media.
The original Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen opened at the Music Box Theatre on December 4, 2016. The production was directed by Michael Greif and starred Ben Platt as Evan Hansen. The show won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score.
The Greatest Showman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The Greatest Showman is one of those movies that you can’t help but sing along to. The soundtrack is even better, with a mix of old and new songs that will get you moving. Even if you’re not a fan of musicals, you’ll find yourself tapping your toes and singing along to these catchy tunes.
The movie tells the story of P.T. Barnum, played by Hugh Jackman, and his creation of the circus. It’s a feel-good film that will leave you inspired and uplifted. The soundtrack reflects this, with upbeat songs like “The Greatest Show” and “This Is Me.” There are also more emotional numbers like “Never Enough” and “Rewrite the Stars.”
No matter what your mood, there’s a song on this album that will fit it. And if you’re looking for something to get you out of a funk, look no further than “The Greatest Show.” It’s impossible to listen to this song without smiling.
So whether you’re a fan of musicals or not, give The Greatest Showman soundtrack a listen. You might just find yourself falling in love with it.
La La Land (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
If you haven’t seen La La Land yet, do yourself a favor and go see it. Then, come back here and buy the soundtrack because it’s one of the best movie soundtracks in recent memory.
The music in La La Land is so good that it will stay with you long after you’ve left the theater. The soundtrack is a perfect blend of classic Hollywood sounds and modern pop, with a healthy dose of jazz thrown in for good measure.
Every song on the album is catchy and will get stuck in your head, but my personal favorites are “Another Day of Sun,” “City of Stars,” and “Audition (The Fools Who Dream).” If you’re a fan of the movie, I think you’ll find that the soundtrack is even better than you remembered.
So do yourself a favor and pick up the La La Land soundtrack. It’s one of the best movie soundtracks in recent memory and it’s sure to put a smile on your face.
Moana (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The Moana soundtrack is one of the best movie soundtracks I have ever heard. The songs are so beautiful and the movie is so well-made. I highly recommend this soundtrack to anyone who loves music or movies.
The first song on the soundtrack, “How Far I’ll Go,” is an instant classic. It’s a beautiful ballad that perfectly captures the spirit of the movie. The second song, “You’re Welcome,” is also incredibly catchy and will get stuck in your head for days.
The rest of the soundtrack is just as good, with songs like “We Know the Way” and “Shiny” being standouts. Even the instrumental tracks are incredible, with the score being some of the best I’ve ever heard.
Overall, the Moana soundtrack is an incredible album that I would highly recommend to anyone. It’s perfect for fans of the movie or anyone who loves great music.
Beauty and the Beast (2017 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The 2017 film Beauty and the Beast was a live-action retelling of the 1991 Disney animated classic of the same name. The film’s soundtrack was composed by Alan Menken, who also composed the original film’s score, with lyrics written by Tim Rice. The album was released by Walt Disney Records on March 10, 2017.
The soundtrack received generally positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic’s Heather Phares praised the album for its “wonderfully nostalgic” feel, while IGN’s Robert Workman felt that it was “a strong collection of songs that help bring this tale as old as time to life in a new way.”
The lead single from the album, “Be Our Guest”, was performed by Ewan McGregor and Emma Thompson in the film. The song peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, making it the highest-charting song from a Disney animated film since 1998’s “Belle” from the original Beauty and the Beast.
Other notable tracks on the album include “Something There” performed by Dan Stevens and Emma Watson, and “Beauty and the Beast” performed by Watson and McGregor.
The Lion King (1994 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the official soundtrack album for the 1994 Disney animated film The Lion King. It was released on July 19, 1994, by Walt Disney Records. The album features songs written by Elton John and Tim Rice, and a score composed by Hans Zimmer. It also features performances by Lebo M, Carmen Twillie, Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Sally Dworsky, Zoe Leader, Tsidi Le Loka and Laura Williams.
The album earned rave reviews from music critics and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Score and the Grammy Award for Best Album of Original Instrumental Background Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards. In 2003, the album was ranked number 66 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Frozen (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The Frozen soundtrack is one of the most popular and well-loved soundtracks of all time. It features some of the most iconic and well-known songs from the movie, including “Let It Go” and “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”. The music is written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and the album is produced by Walt Disney Records.
The Frozen soundtrack is incredibly catchy and will have you singing along within minutes. It’s full of heart and emotion, and perfectly captures the spirit of the movie. The songs are beautifully written and performed, and they’ll stay with you long after the movie is over. If you’re a fan of the movie, or just a fan of great music, you need to check out the Frozen soundtrack.
Coco (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The official soundtrack for the 2017 Disney/Pixar film “Coco” features an original score by Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (“Up,” “Ratatouille”), as well as traditional Mexican songs performed by the cast. The album also includes the end-credits song “Remember Me” written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and performed by Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) and Natalia LaFourcade.
The original score was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with a 90-piece orchestra, and features authentic Mexico-inspired instrumentation including guitarron, vihuela, jarana, requinto, trumpet, and horns. It captures the film’s colorful visuals and emotional journey with sweeping melodies, heartwarming themes, and toe-tapping rhythms.
The traditional Mexican songs on the soundtrack include classic rancheras and boleros performed by the cast, as well as modern pop songs with a Mexican twist. These catchy tunes perfectly complement the film’s festive atmosphere and will get your toes tapping. Standout tracks include “La Llorona,” “Un Poco Loco,” and “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat.”
The end-credits song “Remember Me” is a beautiful ballad that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled. Sung by Miguel and Natalia LaFourcade, it perfectly captures the film’s themes of family, tradition, and love.
Whether you’re a fan of the film or not, the “Coco” soundtrack is sure to please. It’s a gorgeous collection of music that will transport you to another world.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (Special Edition)
The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my all-time favorite movies. I was so excited when I saw that it was coming out on Blu-ray. The picture and sound quality are both amazing. This is definitely a movie that was meant to be seen in high definition.
The special features on the Blu-ray are also great. There’s a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, alternate endings, behind-the-scenes footage, and much more. It’s really cool to see how this movie was made and all of the hard work that went into it.
If you’re a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, then you need to own this Blu-ray. It’s an essential part of any Halloween or Christmas movie collection.