APPLAUSE

Applause AE128 Super Shallow Acoustic-Electric Guitar, Ruby Red
$349.50
This instrument might actually be in a class of its own. That is, it would be extremely difficult to find a guitar in this price band that comes even remotely close in terms of quality; not only with regard to craftsmanship, but certainly the sound it produces. The Applause exceeds expectation whether it is unplugged, amplified, or even run directly through a mixer. Beyond sounding comparatively spectacular, it is far more durable than perhaps any other hollow-bodied instrument on the market due to its components and design. The electronics are reliable and the instrument is accessible, or playable, to even the most novice of musicians. This guitar is the ideal instrument for a beginner or a younger musician, simply because it is cost efficient, durable, and as easy to play for the price as one might be able to find anywhere. Even experienced guitarists will almost certainly appreciate its action, sound and durability if not only for the purposes of practice and travel. This is an exceptional value and an excellent instrument.

Applause (Original 1970 Broadway Cast)
$18.98
A few months ago, I raided a dollar bin and was lucky enough to get a copy of Promises, Promises. I immediately fell in love with the old/new mix of this score: Bacahrach's love ruminations were not rock, but polished torch song, informed by rock.

So, I have been slowly wading into musicals of this period, and picked up Applause. True, this does have some pop/rock mannerisms, circa 1970. But where on Promises, these sound organic to the theme of the show, on Applause, they feel completely grafted onto what is otherwise old school broadway scoring.

On "But Alive," the band jumps from a typical show tune number to a horn interlude that could be from Beyond The Valley of the Dolls. As soon as these rock shadings catch the attention, they are gone without a trace, and it is back to old school stage shtick

Bacalls singing has a strange growl to it. Listen to "Who's that Girl." the lyrics are a bunch of cleches "daddy-o, jumpin jive," as is the music. Bacall shouts out the words in a nicotine voice, as if she does not know whether to sing them natrually, or with a tough gal raz mataz persona.

Compare this to the emotional fluidity Jill O'Hara displayed on Promices: O Hara sounds like a real person, singing about a real person's romance problems. She is communicating with you. Bacall sings in broadway cleches to sing about broadway cleches. You can feel the stage, and yourself in the audiance pit. There is nothing to connect with.


I don't claim to know a lot about classic Broadway musicals, and so perhaps there is something about this i am missing. Maybe i don't understand the whole asthetic.

But I really, really don't like this.

**p.s. It is 3:30 am on the east coast and i am tired, but I have to play Promices Promices, so i can get Applause out of my head before I crash--bill 7/4/09. Good Morning**

Applause
$0.99

Applause!
$15.98
On this cd Danny Wright stubbed his toe a little bit. I have other cds by him that are better than this one.For this cd Danny choose an average repertoire and not nearly enough household name songs. I would have preferred more songs that I knew and liked, than the ones that are performed here.Danny did a good job of playing on this project. He seemed to know his material.Recommendation: I can not give a buy signal for this cd.