Rocky Balboa: The Best of Rocky
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Free Music Notes for Rocky Balboa: The Best of Rocky
Free Music Review: My dear old boy
Hit: 4 Stars
You made me dream another time, Sly.
Will you try again?
Francesco
Free Music Review: you probably will only enjoy it for the vocal tracks
Hit: 3 Stars
The Good
Ah, that familiar trumpet introduction of "Gonna Fly Now (Theme From Rocky)." It was enough to pump up underdog Rocky Balboa for his chance at glory against the reigning champ Apollo Creed in the first Rocky, and there's no doubt it pumps you up as well when you channel your inner Rocky. "Eye of the Tiger" from Rocky III was the quintessential athletic anthem of that time period. It quite possible inspired all sports to incorporate entrance themes. Most notably wrestling and boxing. It put Survivor on the map too, but somehow is looked upon as one of the cheesiest anthems today.
Sad but true, but "Living in America" was my first real introduction to James Brown. His performance in Rocky IV was just as energetic as the song itself. If you have any doubt about how big Survivor became after "Eye of the Tiger," they returned for Rocky IV with "Burning Heart." First off, how many bands are asked to return with a theme song for a high successful movie franchise? Second, Rocky III & IV were probably the best and most successful ones in the series. Do you remember the theme to Rocky II or V? I've made my point.
Rocky IV actually spawned some great AOR music. Robert Tepper's "No Easy Way" out is a prime example with its powerful pulsing keyboards and emotional vocals. The often overlooked John Cafferty track "Heart's on Fire," will get your adrenaline pumping for sure. How can you forget Rocky training rugged in the cold mountains of Russia while he prepared to face the medically engineered Ivan Drago? It was cool to see the Family Guy pay tribute to it in an episode last year.
The Bad
Not that Rocky V was all that great, but only one track is included and it's a Bill Conti instrumental. Speaking of Conti, this album pretty much features his instrumental contributions to the movie series. With the exception of the songs above, who really wants to sit and listen to 11 instrumentals from Rocky on their radio? I guess Three 6 Mafia figured they could follow up their Oscar win with another movie contribution in Rocky Balboa (Rocky VI), but they fail to delivery. I just don't see Rocky as a rap guy anyway, after years of rock anthems. That's probably why the songs from Rocky V aren't here.
The Verdict
I'm sure everyone has seen at least one Rocky movie in there lifetime (you're not a real man anyway if you haven't seen them all). This latest collection of tracks is great for a trip down memory lane, which in essence is the point behind the latest Rocky Balboa movie. However, with all the movie clips and instrumentals, you probably will only enjoy it for the vocal tracks.
Free Music Review: Good but not nearly definitive
Hit: 3 Stars
This isn't so much a soundtrack to Rocky Balboa as it is a survey of all the soundtracks in the Rocky franchise. A lot of great stuff is included, like Bill Conti's memorable piano bits and anthemic fanfare, and pop-rock hits "Eye of the Tiger" and "Burning Heart" by Survivor. But some key music is omitted, like Vince deCola's stirring synth work for "Training Montage" and "War" from Rocky IV. Instead, other less stellar tracks are featured, like rap / hip-hop junk like "Can't Stop the Fire" from Rocky V and "It's a Fight" from the new film ( a gangsta-rap style track complete with profanity and devoid of originality). Like others above, I'd like to have seen a more complete collection, possibly two discs, which perhaps collects all the great Conti stuff from I, II, II and "Balboa" on one disc, with all the pop-rock stuff on a second. Til then, just take this one and mix it up with "Training Montage" and "War" from IV, plus "Vigil" and "Nana Ninni / Two Kinds of Love" from II and you'll be okay. Oh, and you'll have to download "Take you Back" from iTunes, cuz it ain't on here.Free Music Review: "Cut me 3 Stars
"Cut me Mick" because I don't see all of the best tracks on this CD. This CD has a good mix of music tracks from the Rocky series but there are alot of the the better tracks missing. "Philadelphia Morning", "First Date". "Take you back", "Vigil", and Eye of the Tiger. How can you leave out these emotion filled tunes??? I wish they would've made this a 2-CD collection. Just about all of the tracks from Rocky I should be included because it gave the audience an emotional picture about Rocky's life and what he was going through. Oh well, not to shabby but could've been great! I gotta go work out now.....that's what these tunes do to you.Free Music Review: Rehash
Hit: 3 Stars
As much as I love the "Rocky" series, I wish I'd not bothered to buy this CD. With the exception of Three 6 Mafia's "It's a Fight," the songs in "Rocky Balboa: The Best of Rocky" are identical to those in soundtracks from the previous films. If you have those, you won't need this one.