Welcome to this Glorious Mess: Like-minded individuals wandering this Great Big Green and Blue Ball called Earth together. Online. So welcome and enjoy.
Part two of the continuing saga that is the celebration of my "Shuffling off this mortal coil", or my "dirt nap" or my "going to the big Whatever in the sky". If you missed the first one here is the playlist. NOW...
Grab a beer...yes a last request and sit back and listen.
The Beatles – Tomorrow Never Knows The Twilight Singers – Bonnie Brae The Black Angels – Bloodhound On My Trail Cowboy Mouth – Joe Strummer Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Into My Arms Johnny Cash – The Man Who Couldn’t Cry (live) John Vanderslice – Exodus Damage The Replacements – Within Your Reach Whiskeytown – Sit and Listen to the Rain Tom Waits – Warm Beer and Cold Women Ben Harper – Waiting On an Angel The Beach Boys – God Only Knows Martin Sexton - Hallelujah
As a child of the 1980s (Yes I was born in 1985...I'll be 23 in less than a week *cough*), I grew up listening to Prince and well I also grew up watching the cheesy Batman movies that Adam West did. Obviously, Prince grew up watching those films too. For the first modern Batman movie (way back in 1989), Prince actually did a good chunk of the Batman soundtrack. I guess Tim Burtin was a fan of Prince or maybe Danny Elfman was like "I want to work with Prince for the film's score." Either way, "Batdance" by Prince is rather cheesy, but awesome. Not to mention, it's pretty fun to play around Halloween. Plus, you can't beat Prince at possibly his weirdest with a bunch of Kim Basinger look-a-likes...or maybe you can?
For the 1992 Batman Returns, Elfman teamed up with Siouxsie and the Banshees. Okay so maybe I lied about this entry not featuring "gothic" music, but it does make sense that Siouxsie would be used for a Batman movie of some sort. So here's "Face to Face" by Siouxsie and the Banshees. (Notice how there's some keyboard lick that sounds similar to their other hit at the time, which was "Kiss Them for Me")
In 1995, Joel Schumacher took over the Batman series and well started to create crap. Not that Batman Forever was totally terrible. It was awesome, cheesy, and fun. (Oh but Batman and Robin was awful! More about that in a few moments) One thing I don't get is how with Burton the movies were like dark graphic novels, but the soundtracks were more like a film's score, which can be boring. And Yet with Schumacher, the movies were like the terrible cartoon that was on Fox after school, yet the soundtracks had some pretty great choice moments. (In terms of comic books and cartoons, the only cartoon that was close to their own comic book was X-men. Just for the record!)
As a kid, I remembered U2 being on the BF soundtrack (review of "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me") but aside from that seriously overplayed Seal song, I had little interest. A few years ago, my friend was talking about the movie and the soundtrack and to my surprise the soundtrack is quite awesome. I actually picked myself up a copy back in 2006 for a dollar. Who knew Nick Cave (okay so he's actually in this entry for real), The Offspring, U2, PJ Harvey, Michael Hutchence, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Flamming Lips, Mazzy Star, Method Man, and Massive Attack (featuring Tracey Thorn from Everything But The Girl) would all be on the same soundtrack for a Batman movie? Not to mention, there were some good moments from two unknowns - the Devlins and Eddie Reader. In terms of pop music, yes Brandy is on there, but the track was written and produced by Lenny Kravitz. It's rare that a movie soundtrack is half decent, so as you can tell, this soundtrack is one of those stranger than fiction kind of moments.
And now for the song, you've been waiting for...
U2 + Val Kilmer = even better than the real thing. oh yes.
Here's a bonus: Nick Cave - There is a Light
Fast forward to 11 years ago, summer of 1997...George Clooney as Batman, which seemed okay. Chris O'Donnell as Robin again, cool. The Governator as Mr. Freeze...um... terrible! This movie resembled the awful cartoon the worst probably. At least the soundtrack, though not as fantastic as BF, was half decent. Loads of Batman fans hated Batman and Robin, and with good purpose, just look at Arnold's lines as Mr. Freeze. Not to mention, people weren't too keen on the idea of Batgirl let alone Alicia Silverstone playing Batgirl. Though I'm sure there are some people out there who would admit Uma Thurman did make a good Poison Ivy.
Enough about the film, how about that soundtrack. Just like the AMG review said, this movie soundtrack only has a few good moments. The rest is rather skippable, especially that terrible R. Kelly song "Gotham City". (I'm not even going to post a link to the music video for that one.) So you got a cool track from the Smashing Pumpkins that would in retrospect be viewed as a taste towards Ava Adore, a good solid track from REM's Monster leftovers, a surprising track from Underworld (it's no Born Slippy, but hey Underworld are great anyway), a good trip hop track from Moloko, and Jewel's "Foolish Games" which was a huge hit - very beautiful song the first few times you heard it, but soon it got overplayed. Then there's tracks from the Goo Goo Dolls and Soul Coughing, as for the rest of the soundtrack, it's rather forgettable.
Because I am a good sport, here's the Smashing Pumpkins:
Since 1997, we've been blessed with the directing talents of Christopher Nolan. Thank God! I actually just saw Memento for the first time a few weeks ago and was totally blown away by it. I now see why everyone made such a huge deal about him directing the new Batman movies. I really enjoyed Batman Begins a lot. It was like how Batman was suppose to be (which is what Burton even did as a director). Yet I'll admit the whole time I was watching the movie, I wanted to hear U2's "Thrill Me..." I guess my only compliant about the newest films is that they don't have much modern music in them. (I could totally see Gnarls Barkley, Interpol, MIA, David Bowie, She Wants Revenge, OutKast, The Alkaline Trio, and AFI being a part of a Batman movie soundtrack!) Then again, there is this wonderful, classic, timeless appeal to just having an orchestra doing the film's score.
I am hoping that The Dark Knight lives up to the hype. But here's a good question, is it possible that Heath Ledger might get an Oscar for his performance as the Joker? I'm saying this not because he's now unfortunately dead, but because the first time I saw him in costume, which was this past November, I got scared. I'm not one to get scared of clowns either! When I saw the previews and trailers, I thought "No way could that be Heath. It doesn't sound or look like him!" Needless to say, I will be not getting any sleep tonight, because 1. I'll be watching the movie very late, 2. I'll have nightmares about clowns (just kidding...maybe) or 3. I won't be able to sleep because I haven't seen the movie yet. Either way, I plan on giving a review once I see it and I promise, not to spoil anything.
ps- For those who need to get a batman fix right away, FX is showing Batman Begins tonight. TNT is showing Batman Forever tonight. and for Tim Burton's Batman ABC Family is showing that one this weekend.
Picking up where his wonderful and painfully ignored Grinderman project left off but that shouldn't be much of a surprise since the man himself is painfully ignored on the radio. I will gladly admit that he is not for everyone. You might need to "dive in" and immerse yourself in the cd for awhile. Let it wash over you. Dare I say marinate yourself in NICK and his Bad Seeds. Enjoy the uncomfortable and the grandness and the intelligence. I mentioned Grinderman...here is a taste
This is his 14th studio album and if you don't know The Prince of Darkness from Down Under it is time to expand your cd collection. At a time when Paul is just skating by so that he can pay for divorce court this man will blow your mind. In a good way.
Enjoy the adventure. Plus the man was in Wings of Desire
a few cds that were close - that I thought about for CD of the Month were The Wood Brothers, Sun Kil Moon, and of course the Replacements Re-issues. Remember to get "Let it Be" if you only want to purchase one.
What up people? Heard anything good? Seen a great movie? Or a totally bummer of one? Send me the review and I'll post it at the NEXT Website. Yes NEXT is about new music but we do more than listen to music so share your intelligence with the rest of the NEXT lovers. Thanks.
On to the discs
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig, Larazus Dig!!! Not one but three "!"s. How cool is that? Great title too. This cd picks up where Grinderman left off. Warning though if you don't know Nick Cave he is not for everyone. This cd remembers the ROCK in a very sexy way...no strike that a sensual way. Almost like a modern Doors like sleaze.
The Breeders - Mountain Battles Still rockin' after all these years. Recorded over different times in different places and in different languages too. If you are looking for the next ultra hit and/or something as catchy as "Cannonball" I will just tell you to keep looking. Great cd though and though.
Tapes N Tapes - Walk It Off Internet darlings improve upon a good thing. This sequel is better than the first. Kinda like "Empire".
Others to watch, listen to or just download a few choice cuts. Man Man travels in Tom Waits/Frank Zappa territory and mostly succeeds. Also I think I need to listen to "if Children" one more time. I think you can just put them on your "watch list" and hope the next cd builds on the good stuff. Also a bit disappointed with the new Clinic. I really, really wanted to like this one. C+ or B- if I'm feeling it but probably the C+.
