Much like the movie, the Strange Days soundtrack propels listeners through a weird, apocalyptic alternate reality. Featuring a diverse mix of artists and styles, the collection should have something for almost every listener.
Naturally, on such a broad-ranging compilation, it's difficult to label one track as the best, but a good pick for standout song is Strange Fruit's "No White Clouds." Spoken-word verses of beat poetry over jazz instruments build the illusion of a cozy coffee shop, which is promptly torn down by choruses screamed over crunchy guitar chords. Imagine King Missile and Courtney Love appearing in Dot's Poetry Corner on "Animaniacs!" and you've got the idea - refreshing even to jaded alternative-rock fans.
Also exemplary, if not conciliatory, is "Here We Come," a sermon of vengeance on the upper class by Me Phi Me and Jeriko One. If you're angry at members of the white upper class, you'll relate to this song. Of course, if you happen to be a member of the upper class, or have recently been beaten by people who mistook you for one, it's very unsettling.
Our other favorites include the title track, a delightfully gothic cover of the Doors' "Strange Days" delivered by Prong with assistance from sixties relic Ray Manzarek. With a swirling organ, crunchy guitars and growling vocals, this song has appeal for everyone from flower children to metalheads. At the other end of the musical spectrum, Kate Gibson's near-lullaby "Dance Me To The End Of Love" is well-done, and ideal for a slow dance at the end of a hard night. The most anticipated piece on the album, "While The Earth Sleeps," is also a winner. Featuring Deep Forest's world-music rhythms and the distinctive - if unintelligible - vocals of Peter Gabriel, it is upbeat and enjoyable.
Deep Forest's other track, "Coral Lounge," features a bass line so overused in dance music that somebody must be collecting some serious royalty money by now. Joining it on our unremarkable list are "The Real Thing," a dance-trance synth piece by the Lords of Acid, "Overcome" by Tricky, and "Walk in Freedom" by Lenny Kravitz wanna-be Satchel. Skunk Anansie's two hard-rock tracks, "Selling Jesus" and "Feed," also fall short of exceptional, except in volume.
Of the two remaining tracks, Lori Carson and Graeme Revell's "Fall in the Light" is slightly more poppy than "Dance Me," with simple music and breathy vocals, but still good. "Hardly Wait," sung by actress Juliette Lewis, is an interesting experiment, and for those who can hardly wait to find out whether she can sing, we're not exactly sure. Her voice is distinctive, but between verses she sometimes sounds pained. Musically, though, this is a very easy song to listen to, with guitar work reminiscent of Pearl Jam.
