The Sound of Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim -- is he a genius? Is he genuine? His work is masterful, his lyrics are both insightful and inciteful, his music is....well, very Sondheimic. He wonderfully crafts melodies but when boiled down, really its one melody. Into the Woods for example, the five-note melody is the mode of the entire musical. Sometimes I enjoy this, but the first time listening to a Sondheim musical, I cannot help but notice how this song sounds like that song, or this rhymes with that. Each one of his musicals, brilliant in some regard, is unique, but they are definitely written by the same man. Call him genius or a nut, but let the records stand that his shows are good ideas, overdone lyrics, typical songs, and half-baked productions. If there are those who can agree or disagree, please convince this on-the-fence fan that Sondheim really is worth his salt.