Sorry if I came across a little brusquely with my questions--I just read what I wrote before, and I sounded a bit rude. My apologies for that.
Am listening to all the excerpts now, and I hear what you're saying. The instrumentals (so far, anyway) sound gorgeous (although I wonder how the transition from 'Masquerade' to 'Why So Silent' will be), but the vocals sound a little emotionally flat. But I could just be biased.
Edit: Read this in a review: "Original show orchestrator David Cullen has fashioned compelling new contemporary arrangements to frame Webber's songs -- which now conclude with the lilting, upbeat new ballad he wrote for the film, "Learn to Be Lonely," sung by Minnie Driver's Carlotta."
It finishes with an upbeat ballad sung by Carlotta?!
Edit 2: Just read another review, and apparently it's just the closing credits song, which is still random, but not as bad as what I'd thought. Here's the quote: "The tagged on new song, sung my Minnie Driver is fine, but does not FIT with this show. I understand why it is placed over the closing credits.....My recommendation, DO purchase, and do so with an OPEN mind!! If you do, you won't be disappointed."