Soundtracks

Well I personally thought this film was great and so did a lot of my friends, just goes to show you how weird we all really are. Great songs from Toadies "Unattractive" Porno for Pyros "Satellite of Love" Silverchair "Blind" (No Not THAT Blind!) and Jerry Cantrell "Leave Me Alone" this sndtrk was music that was used in the film but so unobtrusively that the film doesn't automatically put images in your head while you listen to the music, which can be a good thing as it is in this case. The only song that will put a scene from the movie in your grey matter is "Somebody to Love" because it is the Jim Carrey version and was the basis of a whole scene in the flick. Try it you'll like it. Not to heavy and not to light.

N8 R8: 7.5

Well you knew it was inevitable. Here is the South Park album done in a much more X-Files kinda way than other Soundtracks. Instead of taking music from the series and compiling it onto a little aluminum disc they had a bunch of artists make songs, some of which are about SP and some which aren't, and put them all on a disc. This CD doesn't dissappoint. There are numerous standout tracks. Where else are you gonna find Ozzy Osbourne, DMX, Old Dirty Bastard, and Crystal Method all working on a track together. The Master P song doesn't get old as quickly as you'd expect, plus there is Perry Farrel covering Chef's "Hot Lava" as well as all new songs by Primus, Devo, Vitro, and Rancid to name only a few. Instead of putting out a crappy album with one single on it like most people would do when something with South Park on it sells like hot cakes, the producer actually took the time to make a great compilation album with strong efforts from many talented bands and still maintain a lot of the humor value. As you'll notice when Eric Cartman covers "Sail Away" and Vietnam Ned does "Feel Like Makin' Love" as well as Chef's (Grammy Winner Isaac Hayes) numerous songs. I really like this album and I think most of you will too.

N8 R8: 8.0

An album put together to capture the moody feel of the motion picture. This album was available over 1 month before the movie opened in theaters and I picked it up on the day of release. From the first track by The Cure to the last by Jane Siberry this album kicked ass with tracks from NIN, STP, Rollins Band, Pantera, My Life With Thrill Kult, Violent Femmes, Helmet, and Jesus and Mary Chain. As much a snapshot of the year of 1994 as a musical background for the movie. This album captured the content of its time as well as great performances from all the contributing artists. Both the movie and the album are deserving of nigh unending praise. If you don't have it you need to get it!

N8 R8: 9.5

I don't really have much to say about this album although the phrase "Contrived for Cash" comes to mind. Unfocused and thrown together without a second thought describes this album and the movie. At least the music isn't tinted yellow/brown the whole way through. With a few bright spots such as Toadies "Paper Dress" Korn's "Sean Olson" and Deftones "Teething" they still cannot save this compilation from mediocrity. If you see it for 5 bones at a pawn shop go ahead but don't expect anything great because you will be disappointed if you do.

N8 R8: 4.0

A definite case of an album far outshining it's parent motion picture. I don't care how much you like Denis Leary or Emilio Estevez or even Cuba Gooding Jr. this movie sucks ass. It tries to play on urban paranoia and comes away dumb as hell. The soundtrack is a good effort in a new direction, taking 2 artists of different genres and pairing them up to make 1 track for the album. Hard Rock and Hip Hop, there are definite examples of one style overpowering the other mostly due to the fact that both of these genres are very lyrical in nature. Some pairings do bear sweet ass fruit though, Slayer/Ice T, Helmet/House of Pain, and Faith No More/Boo Ya Tribe all come to mind. Not as good as it could have been but that is always the risk when you try a new format. Good if you dig these musical styles but be forewarned if you hate Hip Hop you'll not enjoy yourself much with this one.

N8 R8: 7.0

Remember when I said sometime a sndtrk outpaces the very movie it is supposed to be part of? Well this is definitely one of those times. This movie blew chunks the size of small towns in Middle America but the sndtrk was pretty damn good for the time period (1993). Containing brand new songs from ButtRock Legends AC/DC, Queensryche, Aerosmith, and Def Leppard. Also containing new material from such Heavy (?) Acts as Alice in Chains, Megadeth, and Anthrax. And even some funk from Fishbone and Cypress Hill. This album will never be remembered as the biggest event of 1993 but it was definitely worth the 13.99 admission price. Like I said the movie is the worst thing about this album (well except maybe for Tesla!).

N8 R8: 5.1

Trent Reznor in the Hizzauzz!! Once again approached directly by a huge hollywood talent (this time being the brilliant David Lynch (Twin Peaks, Dune)) Trent takes on the task of producer on a quality sndtrk. This album draws brand new songs from David Bowie, Smashing Pumpkins, Marilyn Manson, and (then unheard of) Rammstein. These band mixed with the jazz-like instrumentals of Barry Adamson and Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks) and one new NIN song "The Perfect Drug" give you the distinct feel that you are in a Lynch work. I sometimes feel like "I am the Left Arm" when listening to this album. As for the movie I still haven't got this one figured out. Definitely a very well done and well thought out sndtrk. Quality, not star power, was the motivating factor here and it really shows.

N8 R8: 8.9

Collected and Produced by the godlike Trent Reznor this album is a mixture of everything from a new NIN track to a Patsy Cline tune to a Snoop Dogg bomb. Director Oliver Stone (Platoon, JFK) personally approached Trent to do this soundtrack. A must have for any Nails fan with the blistering new track "BURN" (one of my favoritist songs) and semi remixes of "something i can never have" and "a warm place". Bob Dylan, L7, Leonard Cohen and Patti Smith. Diversity. I love it. If you listen to the sndtrk you see the movie.

N8 R8: 7.9

This album is another try at the Judgement Night type of sndtrk. To anyone unfamiliar with this type of sndtrk it consists of taking 2 artists of different genres and pairing them up to make 1 track for the album. This time it's Heavy/Alterna bands and Electronica/Techno bands. It works very well in this case. With pairing such as Filter/the crystal method, Marilyn Manson/Sneaker Pimps, Korn/Dust Brothers, Silverchair/Vitro, Henry Rollins/Goldie, Slayer/Atari Teenage Riot, and Soul Coughing/Roni Size it should be apparent to every one that this would be one of my favorite listens. You'd be right to assume so. In some case one band's sound overwhelms the other's, such as the Manson/Pimps "Long Hard Road Out Of Hell". But for the most part it seems that egos were checked at the studio door. Most of the artists work hard to compliment each others sonic stylings and it shows thru. A very good album for fans of either genre and a heaven sent for a fan of both such as myself. Good Stuff Indeed.

N8 R8: 9.0

Well as you might expect this is nothing more than a compilation of wrestlers' ring entrances. On the other hand, ring entrance music plays an important part in who a wrestler is and entrance music has improved signigicantly since the 80z. The only real song, per se, on this CD is "The Greatest Show" from the ICP. All others were written by WWF music staff. The Greatest Show is the only real reason I bought this album but there are a few other nice little pieces, but in my opinion they are not enough to save this CD from mediocrity. Good trax are "Dude Love", "The Brood", and "Edge". The rest of the tracks are pretty old to the fan of pro wrestling. Once again this album is only really purchaseable if you are an extremist ICP fan such as myself.
N8 R8: 6.5

Another album that I picked up as soon as it was released, which at the time was a rarity. I never looked back, keep the cash, I love this stuff! Soul Coughing is introduced to me and I run with it! Great Songs from Foo Fighters, Filter, Meat Puppets, Sheryl Crow and Danzig. A sense of haunting loneliness is contained by all the best songs on this collection and it works greatly. When this album first entered the record stores only the one song from Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds had actually been used in the series, since that time 3 more of them have been. Despite this the album definitely captured an X-Files type of atmosphere and is a definite must own. Highly recommended.

N8 R8: 8.7

I add the sort of solely for the reason that this is not really a sndtrk in the strict sense of the term. This albums release coincided with "Fight the Future" but contains none of the music used in the film. Another great compilation album of music containing the spirit of the X-Files. This one is even better than "SITK of X" simply because there are no skip ahead songs (there are 3 on the first disc). In fact there are only 3 returning artists these being Filter (Yeah!) Foo Fighters (Yeah Again!!) and Soul Coughing (Super Yeah!!!). New contributions are present from Tonic, Ween, Better Than Ezra, Sting ( No not Wolfpac Sting!!), The Cure, Bjork and The Dust Brothers. This album straight up rules. Highly Recommended.

N8 R8: 9.1