REVIEW: Soundtrack, Austin Powers - The Spy Who Shagged
Me
- Chris Candreva
The release of a second Austin Powers movie can mean only one thing: Another soundtrack album. Like the first, the album contains both original material in the style of the 60's, as well as covers from that era. For fans of the first album, this one has a bit more of an 'edge' to it, but still successfully captures the spirit of the time.
By now I'm sure we've all heard the Lenny Kravitz cover of "American Woman" on the radio. Big Blue Missile covers the Zombies "Time of the Season, with STP's Scott Weiland singing. It's an interesting treatment, which after listening to several times I still can't decide if I like or not. Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello team up for a straight treatment of "I'll Never Fall In Love Again".
Mike Myers gives a humorous rap version of "Just The Two Of Us" as Dr. Evil, lifted directly from the movie. Myers also proves he's a comic genius by keeping it short, doing only a single verse, not grinding the joke into the ground. Finally, there is a remix of Quincy Jones' "Soul Bossa Nova", the original of which appears on the first Austin Powers soundtrack. Frankly, I'll take the original version, as remixing has added nothing.
One of the best tracks on the album for me is a previously unreleased BBC recording of The Who's "My Generation". It's them, live, in a studio from the early days. R.E.M. provides a stellar rendition of Tommy James' "Draggin' The Line", getting into the feel of the time to the extent that I wouldn't have recognized the band had it not been for the liner notes.
Another high spot on the album is Madonna's "Beautiful Stranger", which is the first song of hers I can say I actually like. Madonna's vocals are more authentic and far reaching than ever before, which might explain my surprising appreciation of this song.
The only track I've taken to skipping on repeated listenings was Scary Spice covering Cameo's "Word Up", but then again I never was a fan of the dance / club scene.
All in all, it's an interesting collection.
