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This recording will be a revelation to those who were unlucky enough to catch the staging of Paul Scott Goodman's musical adaptation of Jay McInerney's iconic debut novel in 1999. The show turned the book's drug-fueled, nihilistic portrait of 1980s Manhattan into embarrassing mush. But apparently some thought Bright Lights, Big City was a diamond in the rough, because a studio recording has appeared six years after the production closed. And guess what? The show was worth recording. Goodman's pop-rock score is more varied and flavorful than it first sounded, proving there's something to be said for nipping and tucking. Surprisingly, the ballads and intimate numbers work a lot better than the more uptempo pieces, which still come across as a bit forced. And speaking of revelations--Eden Espinosa, playing three parts, shows a lot more range here than she does in Brooklyn and Christine Ebersole brings punchy, roaring flair to Jamie's boss Clara‹she should do more pop material like this. Kudos also to the wonderful Sherie Rene Scott, who shines in her ballad, "Kindness." Twenty years after the book came out, these lights are shining bright indeed. --Elisabeth Vincentelli