Glee: The Music, Vol. 2

Personnel: David Loucks, Emily Gomez, Tim Davis , Kamari Copeland, Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer, Dianna Agron, Amber Riley, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele , Jenna Ushkowitz, David Baloche, Jayma Mays, Jenny Karr, Mark Salling, Keri Larson, Nikki Hassman, Tiffany Palmer, Chris Mann , Windy Wagner, Matthew Morrison, Adam Anders (vocals).
Audio Mixer: Peer Astrom .
Recording information: Chalice Studios, Hollywood, CA; Masterplan Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; WEstlake Studios, Los Angeles, CA.
The second Glee soundtrack throws a bone to the show's supporting characters, with Jenna Ushkowitz (the faux-stuttering Tina) singing her first solo and Amber Riley (Mercedes) receiving a larger chunk of airtime. Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison continue to steal the show, though; Morrison delivers one of the album's most inventive songs with a mash-up of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and "Young Girl," while Michele sings the absolute pants off of everything the producers give her. The album sometimes strays away from choral arrangements and focuses on individual actors, but it's hard not to sing along with a song like "Jump," where the cast replaces Eddie Van Halen's keyboard riff with bright choral harmonies. ~ Andrew Leahey