Dear Evan Hansen (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

Editors’ Notes Ben Platt, as the titular hypersensitive teen, artfully carries the show in the debut musical scored by La La Land’s Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Emotionally authentic strings-and-guitar-propelled songs—particularly the out-of-control Act 1 finale, “You Will Be Found”—drive a story about loneliness that leads to an Internet-shaking misunderstanding. The soaring “For Forever” and righteous, rock-driven anger of Rachel Bay Jones (as Ben’s mother, in “Good for You”) help give this musical the emotional heft of a great pop album.