Hedwig and the Angry Inch
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Free Music Notes for Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Free Music Review: Wicked Little Soundtrack!
Hit: 5 Stars
In a year when trying to find good music is like trying to get a date with a man of the collar, we are blessed to have the music stylings of Stephen Trask's beautifully written Hedwig & the Angry Inch. I don't think I'd be going out on a limb to claim this is not only the best soundtrack of the year, this is EASILY one of the best albums. I was drug out to see this gender bending movie by the friend of a friend, and within a matter of days, I became hooked on the music of this Post Modern Fable of love, lust, and almost fame. Mitchell, the voice of Hedwig, does what most seasoned performers/musicians/vocalists are too scared to do these days- he refuses to bang you over your head with lyrics that scream to be banged over your head. His subtle vocalizations compliment the tone of such amazing ballads as "Wicked Little Town." In fact, his rendition of "Wicked Little Town" (there are two versions on the CD, one performed by Trask) is the best ballad to hit the music scene in a long time. When Mitchell sings such well crafted lyrics as, "I see the sun is in your eyes, and hurricanes and rains, black and stormy skies," you are reminded of what music is all about- and if you're not, you don't have a pulse. Trask's rendition of "Wicked Little Town" is not as powerfully sung as Mitchell's, but you've got to admire him for taking the music from his strongest song, and giving it completely different lyrics. It makes me wonder why this doesn't happen more in music. Nevermind the J.LO(class) remixes of songs, which have the end-goal of trumping up bad singles to sell to teen markets- Why aren't the amazing lyricists giving different perspectives and words to the same melody- as we see with the "Wicked Little Town" tracks on HEDWING & THE ANGRY INCH.
Trask takes you on a trip with this CD, from fable-esque love songs ("The Origin of Love") and beautiful ballads ("Wicked Little Town") to REM-like revivals ("Midnight Radio") and almost on the edge of hard rock cuts ("Tear Me Down"). The other jewels in his proverbial crown are found when he is having outright fun with the lyricism. Take for example "Sugar Daddy," which fleshes out an incredible metaphor of sweets and sex. You don't need a sweet tooth to appreciate such whimsical lines as, "Hey Sugar Daddy, Hansel needs some sugar in his bowl." "Wig in a Box" also shines bright in the movie soundtrack recording, and offers the album a deliverance in well thought out camp with a rocking melody to match.
Of course, watching Hedwig on a screen will only exponentiate your enjoyment of this soundtrack, but I'm willing to bet the only people who buy the CD are the one's who have already seen (and love) the movie or play. Thank you Stephen Trask for giving me the gift of music in a year I desperately needed it. You have taken the edge off in a time it was needed.
Free Music Review: A Great Album
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first saw the film "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," I knew I had to get the soundtrack. While I liked the soundtrack instantly, I found that it grew on me more over time. These songs are not just background music to tie in with a movie/play, but are in fact very well-written and memorable.
It's hard to pinpoint the genre these songs could be labeled. It's a combination of many things--alternative rock, theatrical/musical, retro 70s glam, cabaret, punk--this soundtrack really can't be pigeonholed. All of the songs were written by Stephan Trask. Trask is one of the most underrated songwriters of today. He has a knack for writing inventive and original catchy songs that have great hooks and sing-along-choruses.
Most of the songs are sung by John Cameron Mitchell, who plays Hedwig in the play and movie. Mitchell possesses a very powerful voice. Mitchell is somewhat soft-spoken in the film and its documentary. On this CD, his singing is at times soft-spoken, but he can also really belt out the tunes. Miriam Shor (who plays Yitzak in the play/film) backing vocals are a perfect compliment to Mitchell. The album's other singer is Stephan Trask. Trask sings five of the songs, as the character Tommy Gnosis (although he did not play him in the film). He also has a fine voice. Bob Mould (of Husker Du) (guitar), Ted Liscinski (bass), and Perry James (drums) provide a killer back-up band.
Listening to this album all the way through is sort of like a journey through different emotions. The content and tone of the songs are quite varied. It's defiant and angry (Tear Me Down, Angry Inch, Freaks), morose and bitter (Wicked Town), accepting and good natured (Wig in a Box), heavy (Exquisite Corpse), and the sensitive (In Your Arms Tonight).
No matter what kind of music you like most, this soundtrack is sure to enhance any collection.
Free Music Review: Album of the Summer
Hit: 5 Stars
Ya know those (rare) albums that you compulsively listen to ALL the time--in the shower, during the drive to work, during lunch break, while reading before bed--and wake up having the songs immediately in your head? "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" is one of those gems. The explosive tracks "Tear Me Down," "Angry Inch" and "Exquisite Corpse" speak to my punk sensibilities. The beautiful lyrics of the "Origin of Love" and "Wicked Little Town" fill my romance quota for the day, virtually guilt-free. (Listen to the Tommy Gnosis version of "Wicked Little Town" right after "Origin of Love," it makes more sense.) The fun and feel-good tune "Wig in a Box" and the two-steppin' "Sugar Daddy" get me singing and usually smiling. My favorite track is by far "Midnight Radio." With homage to "strange rockers" like Patti, Nico, and Hedwig herself, this song is a true rock anthem. John Cameron Mitchell's (Hedwig) passion ignites the song and sends it home, and Miriam Shor's back-up vocals give me shivers. While I enjoy the songs Stephen Trask sings (lyricist/songwriter of "Hedwig" and voice of Tommy Gnosis in the movie) I find myself forwarding his tracks to get to Mitchell's more powerful vocals. The songs "Nailed" and "Freaks" are the exceptions--the lyrics of both these songs are excellent. This is the album to buy. The story of Hedwig is original, funny, and painfully realistic about a human finding herself and becoming whole and true, at all costs. See the movie, get the album. I'm (unfortunately) a newcomer to the "Hedwig" scene, but I'm in love. I'm going to buy the original cast recording of the play (the lyrics are included in this version, which are disappointingly absent in the movie soundtrack), and be a die-hard Hedwig fan for life.Free Music Review: Absolutely wonderful.
Hit: 5 Stars
I saw the movie during the summer, and it was great. It was better than I had originally got the impression of, and it blew me away. The feeling of Hedwig and "her" song is very touching and human. Her reasons and actions, motivations and personality are all very understandable and real. I recommend seeing the movie first, otherwise you might just think this album is a bit strange, but afterwards, this album seems a necessity. The same day I saw the movie I got the album. The tunes are very catchy, and very fun. They evoke a sense of freedom though saddness in some. Tommy Gnosis' songs are on here too, and they have good style, but if you've seen the movie, you know they can't touch the real Hedwig stuff. Hedwig's "Wig in a Box" and "The Origin of Love" are very memorable. This CD has some tracks on it that weren't in the movie, like "Nailed","In your arms tonight", and "freaks", as well as "long drift" but they are fitting for the style of this album. They are sung by someone else, and I don't know exactly who it is, but my guess is Stephen Trask, who wrote the album with John Mitchell Cameron (the guy that played and sung Hedwig in the movie and on the stage). I haven't personally seen the musical, but I really hope I do someday. I highly recommend this album. It's fun, heartfelt, and made me love Hedwig even more.Free Music Review: Phenomenal film, phenomenal soundtrack!
Hit: 5 Stars
Unlike so many musicals, both film and stage, where the music basically removes us from the story simply to demonstrate the cleverness of the composer or the "talents" of the performers (e.g., the perfectly awful 'Rent'), the music in 'Hedwig' fits perfectly within the context of the story, and probes the deepest psyche of the protagonist. Yet the soundtrack album also manages to stand as a great rock'n'roll record on its own. Most of the tracks are beautiful updates/homages to the mid 70s to early 80s art-punk scene (catch the lyrical and vocal tone homages to Lou Reed, David Bowie, and Chrissie Hynde). There are some other great surprises here, too, like the Tommy Gnosis tracks, especially the tongue-in-Jesus-freak-cheek punk of "Nailed" and the whimsical two-step "Sugar Daddy". The real showcases, however, are the gorgeous "Origin of Love" (maybe a bit hokey, but beautifully romantic, regardless of sexual orientation) and the soul-stirring "Midnight Radio". The album certainly makes more sense in the context of having seen the movie or the stage production, but even if you can't get to a theatre, this is a must-have album for any appreciator of scathing wit and heartwrenching lyrics against a glampunk backdrop.