Paul Simon
The Capeman, the eagerly anticipated new musical conceived and scored by Paul Simon, doesn't open on Broadway until January, but the singer-songwriter is jumping the gun with this vibrant pseudo-cast album. Simon, who will not appear in the production, sings most of Capeman's score on Songs, jumping from character to character, while additional vocals are provided by the musical's talented cast. His story choice—the true tale of a Puerto Rican gang member jailed for killing two teenage boys in 1959—is a meaty one, and to tell it he has successfully woven together lush doo-wop harmonies, smoldering salsa beats and honky-tonk grit. He has concocted such a potent score that his soft-spoken vocals seem to mute the music's force. While it's a delight to hear Simon singing new material, his music will no doubt be better served by sturdier singers on the upcoming cast album. (Warner Bros.)
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