UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD - MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

I've never actually seen this film. Just picked up the soundtrack because Depeche Mode had a track on it. The only place you can find the original version of the song. It was at a record store in St. Gallen, Switzerland and I found it used for something like 7 CHF. So I bought it. I'm not sure you could call the song an actual Depeche Mode track. It sounds more like a solo effort by Martin L. Gore. There's a lot of big names on this record and most of them you wouldn't expect to see together. Yet somehow this record comes together in a harmonious fashion. You expect it to sound like a big messed up pot of gumbo; instead it sounds and tastes delicious. Graeme Revell composed the score for the film and some of his more prominent pieces feature as segues throughout the album. I've heard some of his stuff on other scores and although I think he does a pretty good job, I also think he's predictable. There's nothing really outstanding about his material. It's a little offbeat, but still sounds similar to other work he's done.

The first band track is 'Sax And Violins' by the Talking Heads. I really like this track. It has a mellow, almost reggae sound to it until the chorus. Then they hit you with the full synth barrage. Excellent addition and opening number for the record. 'Summer Kisses, Winter Tears' is a cross between a lounge number and something you'd hear in a honky tonk bar about 3am. Julee Cruise's voice features nicely on this number. She croons like a female version of Chris Issak. Very similar sound. Neneh Cherry's 'Move With Me (Dub)', sounds like a stripped down version of the original tune, but it follows the previous song and maintains a haunting tempo. The next couple tracks move into a different style entirely. It's more hillbilly rock n' roll. Especially the Lou Reed number. Both of them are ok, but not my favorite tracks.

Can's 'Last Night Sleep' creeps back in and pulls you back into the midnight romp of the album. It makes you feel like a black hole is opening up all around you. Listen to the track in the dark at high volume. R.E.M.'s contribution keeps the sound in a dark place. while Elvis Costello's 'Days' takes a meandering punch at moving the record to the next phase. Nick Cave's track is hard to listen to. I've never been a huge fan of his and the narrative track, '(I'll Love You) Till The End Of The World' reinforces my disinterest. There's these awkward country'ish songs and then there's the trance rhythm songs that drag you down into a deep dark place. The Patti and Fred Smith track pitch you headlong back down that rabbit hole and then the Depeche Mode track comes in like salvation on high shining down from a Sunday cloud. Brush drums and electric guitar... A different and new sound for Depeche Mode.

Another segue by Revell and Jane Siberry's 'Calling All Angels' starts. Having basically created a name for herself by creating the saddest most heartfelt tunes in alternative films throughout the 90s, Siberry's contribution once again pulls your heartstrings. T-Bone Burnett's song is the one track I really feel doesn't belong on this record. It is, however, better than some of the other cuts. It's a rockin' number and certainly worth checking out. The Daniel Lanois song is another meandering country tidbit. I didn't enjoy it at all. Finally, U2 round the record out with there record selling contribution. Overall, this record is surprisingly good. It maintains a tempo and a feel. It's worth listening to and worth buying. Even if you're only after one of the many one-off tracks appearing here. My final words: THE UNDISCOVERED GEM OF SOUNDTRACKS.

UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD - MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK
01. Graeme Revell - Opening Titles
02. Talking Heads - Sax And Violins
03. Julee Cruise - Summer Kisses, Winter Tears
04. Neneh Cherry - Move With Me (Dub)
05. Crime & The City Solution - The Adversary
06. Lou Reed - What's Good
07. Can - Last Night Sleep
08. R.E.M. - Fretless
09. Elvis Costello - Days
10. Graeme Revell - Claire's Theme
11. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - (I'll Love You) Till The End Of The World
12. Patti Smith And Fred Smith - It Takes Time
13. Depeche Mode - Death's Door
14. Graeme Revell - Love Theme
15. Jane Siberry With K.D. Lang - Calling All Angels
16. T-Bone Burnett - Humans From Earth
17. Daniel Lanois - Sleeping In The Devil's Bed
18. U2 - Until The End Of The World
19. Graeme Revell - Finale

STRANGE DAYS - MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE

I saw this movie in the theaters and not only did I love the film, I was intrigued by the music in the soundtrack. Especially the Deep Forest tracks. As a fan of Deep Forest, finding a film soundtrack with unreleased tracks was really exciting. I tend to get extremely excited about groups when I first discover them and Deep Forest was no exception. Both of their cuts are interesting and sound similar to music they were producing at the time. The Peter Gabriel track is quite surprising and fascinating as they'd never recorded with an artist of his caliber before.

I was also excited about the Lords of Acid track even though it was released on their 'Voodoo U' CD. Skunk Anansie is a band I knew nothing about before seeing the film. They perform during the last scene of the movie and I was quite impressed by the look of the band and the intensity of the lead singer. I quite like both tracks. I later downloaded more songs from them to see if I'd be interested in picking up their disc, but I found their other material not nearly as rock intensive and somewhat lackluster.

The Jeriko One track sounds much better in the context of the movie than as a stand alone track. It's rather boring by itself. As for the Juliette Lewis tracks... One appears on the soundtrack and the other shows up on the single for 'While The Earth Sleeps'. Both songs were written by PJ Harvey who I've been interested in for some time. However, neither of these songs is particularly inspiring as performed by Lewis. I find them difficult to listen to.

Strange Fruit is another group appearing on the disc I'm interested in hearing more from. They also appear in the film. Another interesting performance. Prong contributes an interesting piece and the Tricky song is one of my favorites by him. Of the remaining tracks, only the Lori Carson song causes a reaction. I find the piece moving in a cinematic sense. Its position in the film is ideal and as a stand alone track, it's quite effective.

Overall, 'Strange Days' isn't the greatest soundtrack... But the exclusive content makes it essential for any number of collections. My final words: SPECIFICALLY ESSENTIAL.

STRANGE DAYS - MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE
01. Skunk Anansie - Selling Jesus
02. Lords Of Acid - The Real Thing
03. Tricky - Overcome
04. Deep Forest - Coral Lounge
05. Strange Fruit - No White Clouds
06. Juliette Lewis - Hardly Wait
07. Me Phi Me/Jeriko One - Herewecome
08. Skunk Anansie - Feed
09. Prong Featuring Ray Manzarek - Strange Days
10. Satchel - Walk In Freedom
11. Kate Gibson - Dance Me To The End Of Love
12. Lori Carson & Graeme Revell - Fell In The Light
13. Peter Gabriel And Deep Forest - While The Earth Sleeps