I won't judge you if you haven't listened to the Grammy-winning Hamilton soundtrack yet. In fact, I really can't because I didn't listen to it in full myself until a couple of weeks ago, despite its digital release in September of last year. After all, it's a tall order: 46 tracks spread over about 2 hours. I had definitely been a fan of the concept, and all of the songs I had listened to so far, but nothing could prepare me for what I was blessed with listening to it. Nothing can prepare you for it either, but here are a few reasons why you should listen to the cast album if you haven't already:
The Concept
“Hamilton”, written by genius writer/performer Lin-Manuel Miranda, tells the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton through the lens of hip-hop. Actors of color play the lead roles and the lyrics are written in modern vernacular. Basically, you’re getting a history lesson while bopping your head and lip-syncing to the catchy raps. The music is radio-worthy, with rap lyrics and flow as good as anything your favorite rapper has released, but perhaps more exciting is the fact that the music is diverse. Alexander’s wife Eliza sings the love song “Helpless”, which sounds like it could be a Sara Bareilles tune, before her sister Angelica performs “Satisfied”, which sounds like an Beyoncé worthy R&B Jam. It’s never boring. The beats switch up with each track, and as soon as the album catches you with its style, it guts you in the heart with its story. Which brings us to…
The Album Will Hold You Over the Show
Hamilton is notoriously sold out until Fall, and that makes many fans of the show left *ahem* helpless. However, one of the most fascinating things about the album is that the listener truly gets the entire story. Miranda stated on "CBS Sunday Morning" that he originally envisioned the show as a concept album (meaning an album that tells a story but isn’t necessarily meant to be on stage or screen) leading to an entirely complete listening experience. It’s possible that since the story is based on historical record, Lin’s not too worried about spoilers for the show. Therefore, the album moves through the entire plot of the story, and just listening intently will make you laugh and – in due time – cry at the adventures of Hamilton and friends. Each voice is incredibly distinctive (Daveed Diggs’ Lafayette is a stand out), and listening to the show is a more than adequate substitute for the show; At least until you can snag tickets that is. How the show makes you care so much about a man we know best for being on the 10-dollar bill is fascinating. This brings us to our final point…
It’s Freakin’ Brilliant
If you’ve heard all of the hype and were skeptical, or if you assumed it wasn’t for you because it’s Broadway, you’re wrong on both fronts. Miranda’s writing is absolute genius, and the cast’s love of the material is evident in their energetic (and technically perfect) voices. Once you have heard it once, the songs will likely be stuck in your head and stuck in your favorite playlist. In a bittersweet point, Lin stated on Good Morning America that the original cast were all contracted to perform for a year, with their future plans up to them and their teams. This means it is completely possible that seeing the show with the original cast isn’t even an option for most of us, and that the album is the best version of the show that will be available to most of us. Either way, “Hamilton” is a phenomenon worth being a part of, from the opening rhythm of “Alexander Hamilton” to the show’s beautiful ending “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story”. Until you can see the show, listen to the album and you’ll likely be listening over and over again. You’ll rarely find an album that we leave you more satisfied.
