"This is the cd that has lived in my car for the past few weeks, a definite must have for any RENT fan or anyone who loves honest, innovative music. "Living Alive" is wonderful. It seems like many Broadway stars feel the need to include a song on their solo albums about changing the world or learning to love yourself, and they usually come off as pretentious and/or naive. This song, however, has a great message that really seems to come honestly from Ant's heart and experience."Look Around" is sweet and quiet, a pleasant listen. "Then Again" is fun and upbeat. "Human Tornado" is hysterical, and I always seem to picture Daphne Rubin-Vega dancing around to it. "Always" is beautiful and haunting; I always play this song when I'm driving and it's dark out. "Just Some Guy" is also sweet, but I have one little problem with it. In my head I'm picturing Ant and whoever he's singing about having a quiet moment together when these back-up singers suddenly pop up in the middle of their bedroom. Always disconcerts me. :)"Goodbye" is one of my favorites. It's so empowering. :) I play this one when I'm driving at night and need to stay awake. :) "Room to Breathe" is gorgeous and touching, another one of my favorites. "Lesson #1" is so sad that it's almost tangible. "Visits to You" is my current number one favorite at the moment (it changes from time to time). It's beautiful and powerful and you can tell that it's coming straight from experience. "Damn Spot" is just hysterical. "Now I Know" is also beautiful.What makes this cd so great is the variety of the music on it but most especially Anthony himself. He's such an honest and expressive singer; you can tell what he's feeling as he sings. And hey, THERE'S A VIDEO ON THE CD! I'm probably the only moron who owned the cd for weeks before discovering it. :)"
Expressive Representation of Broadway Singer
Joesph Biggs | NYC | 04/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's hard not to love Anthony Rapp. He sings so honestly. It's like looking into his soul. His voice is so expressive. Any fan of modern Broadway, particularly of expressive emotional musicals such as RENT and performers like ADAM PASCAL and RIKKI LEE TRAVOLTA should buy this CD."
Anthony rocks my world
brier | United States | 12/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anthony Rapp's soulful voice drives home his wonderful songs on his debut album--although one can hardly call it a debut album, after he's done so many musicals! There's not a bad song on this album, although some shine more than others. He shines on the slower songs, like the haunting "Room To Breathe" (one of my three favorites on the album), and the beautifully orchestrated "Always"... "Lesson #1" is also a pleasant listen. Ant's voice doesn't quite fit on all of the rock songs--I adore "Living Alive", but the mix is a bit off (or maybe it's just me), and at some points it's hard to hear his voice. "Human Tornado" is a different, quaint listen; however, by the end of the song, you're ready for it to be over. The song was well executed and definitely witty, but the end drags a bit.However, the truly great songs: "Goodbye"--a tune with a really powerful message--is utterly fantastic. My repeat button is wearing out from listening to it. It's as close as Ant gets to pure rock, and the song truly glistens. My alltime favorite, though, is "Out Out Damn Spot"--so incredibly INVENTIVE! An upbeat ballad about...well, good Lord, just listen to it. It has showtune aspects and so much humor and his voice just soars with it. :) Not to mention "Just Some Guy"--an incredibly sweet, jazzy little ballad--"Visits to You"--a tearjerker that you can tell was written from personal experience--and "Look Around", the cute little title track that's about the same as "Human Tornado"--both are highly listenable, but they get tiring after awhile.All in all, this album is FANTASTIC. A must-buy if you're branching out from musical theatre, or you enjoy "alternapop" with excellent lyrics and musicianship.I adored Ant's voice in RENT, and this album just makes me feel fantastic about his future in the music business!"
A HEART & SWEET SOUL
John D. Mandes | Hershey, PA USA | 01/04/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There's nothing about Anthony Rapp's latest effort, "Look Around," that's complicated. No nuclear physics or complicated mathematical logarithms. Just pure, simple human truths wrapped up in beautiful lyrics and wonderful melodies and tied up neatly with Rapp's well-tuned voice.
The eclectic collection of songs on "Look Around" traverses several musical styles from a seemingly hard rock and slightly overwrought "Human Tornado" to the simple beauty of "Lesson #1."
I had, of course, heard Rapp in "Rent" and heard of him from that musical and other stage efforts. However, I was unprepared for the quality this singer-songwriter accomplishes on his own. He's at his best with uncomplicated accompaniment, as in "Just Some Guy," "Lesson #1," and "Now I Know." His voice lifts his beautiful lyrics off the score onto which they are written and they surround you as you listen, and more importantly, are moved by them. These three pieces also happen to be my favorite tracks from this CD. The other tracks are quite enjoyable. "Visits to You" is at first playful and turns haunting by the songs end.
One or two of the tracks have a hard-edged accompaniment that doesn't seem to quite mesh for what Rapp was attempting to attain with this CD. But this small blemish does nothing to diminish the overall worth of his work in "Look Around."
Don't be put off by the lack of track samples. If you like Anthony Rapp or know nothing about him, you will really enjoy this CD. You will listen to it and see the heart of a sweet soul sharing with us some simple human truths."