REVIEW: Soundtrack, Shooting Fish (Capitol) /
Soundtrack, City of Angels (Warner)
- Bob Gajarsky
To paraphrase Dickens, this is a tale of two soundtracks. Both feature a fair number of previously-released cuts, but that's where the similarity ends. One is constructed with the best bands money can buy (or license). The other is built with cutting edge acts that won't likely bring big bucks to the label, but can provide endless pleasure to its record buyers. Can you guess which is which?
City of Angels, the Nicholas Cage/Meg Ryan flick, looks like the invite list at a music awards show. Industry vets such as John Lee Hooker, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, U2 and Peter Gabriel team up with newcomers including Sarah McLachlan, Paula Cole, Alanis Morrissette and the Goo Goo Dolls to make this a star-studded album.
The Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris" includes a 20-piece string ensemble and the eagerly-anticipated Alanis Morrissette "Uninvited" also features strings - is completely unlike anything from Jagged Little Pill.
Alanis' first new contribution since the 15 million selling Jagged Little Pill makes a sharp departure from that drum programmed album. Morrissette *sings* on "Uninvited", exposing her vocals to previously unexplored new heights. Depending on your feelings towards Alanis, the vocals are either stunning or awful - and there's some justification for both sides of the fence, as her voice sometimes can't reach the new limits. Glen Ballard is nowhere to be found on this cut, and Morrissette explores with mid-eastern influenced strings in this slow, haunting song.
"Uninvited" fits in well with the remainder of the soundtrack, due to its slow, downbeat feeling. Gabriel's "I Grieve" best pulls off the trick, but songs such as "Biko" set the trail for this effort. Although it will likely sell millions, this is more on behalf of the vehicle (marketing team and movie) than the quality of the cuts within.
On the other hand, Shooting Fish - pays homage to an era gone by. Featuring uptempo 'British' music with roots firmly planted in the 60s Bacharach era, this soundtrack is dominated by lesser-known 'modern' acts from the other side of the pond.
Two top 10 (UK) singles from Space's debut record, Spiders, may be unfamiliar to American listeners ("Me & You Vs The World", "Neighbourhood"), but are instantly recognizable in their native land. Unfortunately, since the band was recently dropped from their American label (Universal), Yanks may not get to see any music from Space without going to the import bin.
The Bluetones "Bluetonic" is a dead ringer for vintage Stone Roses, and Supereal's "Body Medusa" - appearing in a mix from Leftfield - is the perfect antithesis for the lounge scene. Dubstar's "In Charge" is two and a half minutes of synthesized harmonized Britpop, and the Supernaturals "The Day Before Yesterday's Man" is more Britpop which pays respect at the bedside of Brian Wilson. Oldtimers Jackie DeShannon and Dionne Warwick are also included here, along with another Bacharach-covered song ("I'm A Better Man (For Having Loved You)") by David McAlmont.
Two soundtracks with different marketing budgets. Two different ends of the alternative spectrum. But still, either one is an infinitely better soundtrack than one about a boat which sunk 80 years before...
