Michael Friedman’s score for the musical adaptation of The Fortress of Solitude is out of this world—there’s just no other way to describe the album, recently released by Sh-K-Boom. It’s a must own for fans of musical theatre and classic R&B. If you missed the show down at The Public, you can go to Joe’s Pub on April 13 to see the cast perform the score live in concert (and you should). Below, we react in animated GIFs as we give The Fortress of Solitude original cast recording a first listen.
1. Prelude
Oh $hit, this is going to be special.
2. The One I Remember
This GIF works so well cause this song goes from bopping along, to two-step to full-out living in the moment.
3. The Time Keeps Changing
4. Grab Something (And Never Let Go)
This music is fan-f*in’-tastic. Wow. No show sounds like this.
5. Superman/Sidekick
Kyle Beltran & Adam Chanler-Berat’s voices sound great together.
6. White Boy
In this song, there is a legit mash-up of ‘Play That Funky Music White Boy’ & ‘“Hava Nagila.’ Case closed.
7. The Ballad of Barrett Rude, Sr.
God bless Andre De Shields. Children, this is how you actually stop a show, stop an album, stop traffic.
8. Painting
Just when you think you have this score figured out, Friedman throws in this gorgeous, folky We-Didn’t-Start-The-Fire-esque song that paints a picture of the Brooklyn at the time and packs a hell of an emotional punch.
9. This Little World
10. Take Me to the Bridge
And the funk is back. Yas Gawd! (Cut to legit dancing in the office) Can’t believe this isn’t an act break song.
11. High High High School
Fans of ‘80s rap/hip-hop will LOVE this track. And so will theatre kids, because I do. Gosh, all these tracks would be ‘the’ big act one finale in another show.
12. I’m Busy Now (So Don’t Bother Me)/Act One Finale
13. Act Two Prelude
Short intro back in and now let’s bring on Kevin Mambo.
14. If I Had Known Then (What I Know Now)
Kevin Mambo for the Lortel, for the Drama Desk, for whatever else we can throw at that man for this performance.
15. Bothered Blue
16. Take It Baby
17. Who’s Calling Me?
18. Something
True confession: I have listened to this song every. single. day. since the album came out. I'm obsessed. It's a must-own; download it now, I'll wait. #RebeccaNaomiJonesForPresident
19. This Little World (Reprise)
Love how the songs come together here.
20. The Ballad of Mingus Rude
Kyle Beltran and Michael Friedman are insane talents. To have this song in the score and execute it like this…wow. Another must-download track.
#Everything
21. Sidekick (Reprise)
So angelic.
22. Superman (Reprise)
Beltran's voice is a gift.
23. The Gift
24. Middle Spaces
The 'Fortress of Solitude' listening experience was just transcendent. Thank you Michael Friedman, the future of musical theatre.
Buy this album now and see the cast sing it live at Joe's Pub on April 13.
