Hedwig and the Angry Inch

The soundtrack follows the cast album pretty faithfully, except that the whole thing somehow feels turbocharged. Fast numbers like "Angry Inch" (with fab backup vocals by Miriam Shor) and "Exquisite Corpse" rock harder; ballads like "The Long Grift" and "Midnight Radio" are more poignant. The original off-Broadway cast recording was good, but now everything feels sharper, better defined. Even Hedwig's backing band, the Angry Inch, is beefed up by ex­Hüsker Dü Bob Mould on guitar, while Girls Against Boys contribute to "Freaks," a track that would be right at home on an old David Bowie album. Even your punk pals will approve when they catch you listening to this musical. --Elisabeth Vincentelli