To be completely honest, this record is the reason I’ve been procrastinating on this project. After all, I feel like I JUST did Godspell. And that’s pretty much the same thing, right?

Well, kind of. They take largely from the same source material, but with widely different takes on it. JCS is less hippie-ish and more focused on the psychology of Jesus and Judas, to which the show owes much of its success. Not to mention that this album is much rockier, dipping its toes into prog and metal. And the talent here is second to none. Music by Andrew Lloyd Weber? Lyrics by Tim Rice? Yeah, okay. That’s a tried and true recipe for success. And while most musicals’ soundtracks are a bit anemic when stripped from their stage element, Jesus Christ Superstar doesn’t suffer the same–probably because the musical was based on this album rather than the other way around. While it’s a demanding listen, it’s a rich and rewarding experience.