Across the Universe
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Free Music Notes for Across the Universe
Free Music Review: A Fun, Impressive Effort.
Hit: 5 Stars
Pay no mind to the purists who are absolutely enraged that a musical, much less an album, has been released featuring Beatles songs performed by artists other than The Beatles. Julie Taymor's wonderful film is a musical journey to the past, and a possible statement on our present. The soundtrack itself is a beautiful collaboration that does not butcher these classic songs, instead it shows just how vital and impressive they remain. The technical credits are flawless and the chosen vocals are fitting for each and every track. Its interesting how many of the arrangements give new meaning to these songs, just listen to "I Want To Hold Your Hand," where here comes back to life as a heartbreaking ballad of aching love. "It Won't Be Long" and "I've Just Seen A Face" are exhilarating and fun while "Let It Be" cries with gospel fervor. "Come Together" is a heavy blues jam that crawls with menacing grace. U2 fans will get a kick out of Bono's scorching rendition of "I Am The Walrus" and his equallly hallucinatory "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" (The Edge does backing vocals on this one). Some of the songs are turned into powerful, lush meditations fitting for our times like "Across The Universe" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" with their gorgeous orchestral touches. "Helter Skelter" is a burning rocker with a great, furious female vocal. "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" is turned into a solemn, dark jam. "Across The Universe" has gained many fans as a film musical, and indeed the movie is a great experience, but the soundtrack is also worth checking out, these are excellent arrangements with strong vocals of classic songs. Songs that are so timeless that indeed, these arrangements make them fitting for our own troubled era. It is hard to imagine someone who doesn't know at least one of these songs, but hopefully this album will introduce people to not just the Beatles catalogue, but the actual heart of the music.Free Music Review: want more songs
Hit: 3 Stars
The music is great but would have liked more of the songs included. ii would gladly have paid more - for a more complete soundtrack.Free Music Review: Goo Goo Ka Joob Revisited
Hit: 4 Stars
I have a feeling that most people interested in seeing the movie are going to have to wait for the DVD. I saw it here in Philadelphia where it played in the Ritz (the local art theater chain) and one suburban multiplex. Which means I doubt it it ever made it to anything much farther into the hinterlands. Trust me, you will want to see this movie - it is every bit as musically exciting and visually spectacular as Baz Lurhman's Moulin Rouge!.
But that means people hearing the soundtrack will be listening to the songs minus the film's sumptuous visual context. How does it hold up. you ask? Well, for starters, it's The Beatles. So right off the bat you have great songs. It may be the first time you have walked INTO a movie musical humming the tunes. These versions are all performed by the actors, and they acquit themselves just fine. Of particular note are Dana Fuchs (Sadie) and Martin Luther McCoy (JoJo), who do great approximations of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hedrix/Marvin Gaye. While the other actors aren't bad, they occasionally fall into the trap of sounding like "theater."
That claim certainly won't be dropped on the two rock cameos in the movie. Bono, along with one of my favorite undiscovered bands The Secret Machines, knock the stuffing out of "I Am The Walrus," while Cocker sings "Come Together" in a voice that only he can deliver. And Bono's closing this soundtrack out with "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" adds another notch to that song's list of great cover versions (Elton John, Black Crowes, Aimee Mann, The Hooters).
In addition, producer T-Bone Burnett seems gleefully happy to twiddle the arrangemnts. Most evident of his finger is the almost rockabilly arrangement given "I've Just Seen a Face" and producer Elliot Goldenthal slowing "I Want To Hold Your Hand" to a mournful ballad..which plays like a knockout in the film. (Incidentally, I loved Salma Hayak's cameo during "Happiness is a Warm Gun," included here).
There are a couple songs from the movie I wish were here ("All You Need is Love" and "I Want You" being the two most glaring) and one I am glad isn't (Eddie Izzard's "Being For The Benefit of Mr Kite"). But seeing as some of the songs performed in the film were done as little more then couplets ("Girl" opens the movie perfectly, but only with a single verse), if you want more you can get the deluxe version. And if the thought of Beatles covers irritates you, just buy The Beatles 1.
Free Music Review: Simply Awesome
Hit: 4 Stars
This is by far one of the bests OST i've heard, im really looking forward to watch the movie when it comes out... Free Music Review: Fabulous soundtrack!
Hit: 5 Stars
After seeing this wonderful movie I couldn't wait to get this soundtrack. It is fantastic, just like the movie.