Bat Out of Hell: The Musical: Due to some scheduling uncertainty, I ended up with tickets to see this show twice, and I'm so very glad that I did. Bat Out of Hell is super campy, slightly goofy, a lot of fun, and doesn't take itself too seriously (no show that features a middle-aged man stripped down to a metallic pink speedo while singing "Paradise By the Dashboard Light" can take itself too seriously). The plot is Peter Pan meets Romeo & Juliet (minus the death), and the overwrought teen vibes somehow manage to be charming. Andrew Polec (as protagonist Strat) and Christina Bennington (as his lady-love Raven) are both excellent, but my favorite cast member was supporting player Danielle Steers, whose voice could be a dead ringer for Cher's, especially on the standout number "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad". Lena Hall and Bradley Dean (as Raven's parents) are also a lot of fun to watch; their performances are melodramatic and over-the-top, but that's exactly what is called for when it comes to songs like the aforementioned "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". Other highlights include "You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)", "Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through", and the epic finale of "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)". I highly recommend the cast recording (featuring the original UK cast, including Polec, Bennington, and Steers), or I guess you could go listen to the original Meatloaf versions of all the songs as well.
"Señorita", Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello: It took a while for this song to grow on me, mainly because the lyrics seem unsuited for a duet, but it's finally gotten to the point where it is often stuck in my head. I am powerless against anything involving Shawn Mendes.
Mood, Jon McLaughlin: This is a lovely instrumental album that showcases Jon McLaughlin's prowess as a piano player. The whole album has a wonderful clarity, and it's suitable for either relaxing or focusing. It's only fault is that it's a mere 26 minutes long.
Winter Stories, Brian Culbertson: Another beautiful piano instrumental album, but one that evokes cozy firesides, without being explicitly Christmas-y. Winter Stories pairs perfectly with John McLaughlin's Mood to create a mellow soundscape for comfy nights on the sofa as the days get shorter.
Judy: This biopic of Judy Garland is full of tender and heartbreaking moments (such as when Judy goes to the home of and has dinner with a gay couple, when she calls her daughter long distance from London to acknowledge that she can't give her children what they need, or when she breaks down on stage), imbued with devastating emotion thanks to a wonderful performance from Renée Zellweger. The showstopping night club numbers of some of Garland's greatest hits are also a wonder to behold. The cinematography for these scenes is especially good, with the bright lights and vivid colors of the stage rendered with such clarity that they nearly pop off the screen. Judy is a beautiful film from an aesthetic point of view, but it is also beautiful because of the humanity that it captures in all of the characters.
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