Glee Cast

The songs from this high school musical-dramedy really shouldn't be so engaging. After all, a big part of Glee's draw is actually watching the ridiculously talented cast deliver its campy, choreographed show choir covers of pop songs, so it seems reasonable the recording might fall a little flat. And admittedly, this album isn't quite as exciting as the on-show performances. Yet something about it grabs you -- and that something is star Lea Michele's lovely, powerful bell of a voice (especially when she duets with fabulous guest Kristin Chenoweth). Oh, and that Journey cover.

Translating American Idol-style stardom to CD depends on the X-factor of good original
material. Glee, Fox's mix of The Breakfast Club and High School Musical, solves that by
recycling classic hits. In Glee-land, rock, tween pop and Tin Pan Alley aren't at odds —
Journey, Jordin Sparks and Kanye are all karaoke fodder. Star Matthew Morrison couldn't
rap his way out of a 98° rehearsal. But Amber "Mercedes" Riley crushes Jazmine... More >