Velvet Goldmine: Music From The Original Motion Picture
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Free Music Notes for Velvet Goldmine: Music From The Original Motion Picture
Free Music Review: "The Whole Shebang". . . and so much more
Hit: 5 Stars
A caveat: I have yet to see this film. I always heard excellent things about it, but just never got around to checking it out. Now I definitely will, for if it is only half as good as the soundtrack, it must be a masterpiece (or close to one, at least). This is one of the best soundtracks I've heard in quite a while, with an exquisite combination of songs. I don't have many albums in which I truly enjoy all of the tracks, and "Velvet Goldmine" is one of them. "Needle in the Camel's Eye" is essential Eno. "Hot One" is sexy, captivating, and just plain cool. All of the "Venus in Furs" tracks are excellent, especially "Ladytron" and "Tumbling Down." Grant Lee Buffalo's "The Whole Shebang" is a well-crafted and fun little ditty, guaranteed to make you bop. Placebo's cover of "20th Century Boy" sounds astoundingly like the original, to my ears, but is nevertheless well done, with true dedication and gusto. Speaking of T. Rex, I had never heard "Diamond Meadows" before, but it is a very cool song (but then again, isn't most of his repertoire?). I especially like Teenage Fanclub's and Donna Matthews' cover of the (cult?) classic "Personality Crisis;" it doesn't sound particularly like the Teenage Fanclub I've known and loved for years (e.g., it lacks that distinctive "power pop" sound so often associated with the band, but this is a good thing. . . it demonstrates the band's "range," perhaps?). There are a few songs by musicians I had never heard of, and am really happy to have had an introduction to them via this album. Most soundtracks aren't really cohesive, in the sense that the tracks often seem kind of like they were thrown together, with relative rhyme and reason (although sometimes this approach does work). Not so with the "Velvet Goldmine" soundtrack: the songs seem to be woven together from an intensely competent musical loom. The album gives a worthy homage to the "glam" period in rock and rollhistory. However, there are a few things I find (only mildly) questionable: Where's Bowie? Queen? Pop? (The cover of "TV Eye", by Wylde Rattz, does the original song considerable justice, but shouldn't an original Iggy tune have been included?). I also can't help but feel that Bowie's sensational "Velvet Goldmine" (or, at least, a cover of it) would have been great on this album. And Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love," though a great song, seems to be a bit out of place on this album. Perhaps my opinions regarding the placement of this song on the album will be changed after I have actually seen the film. However, the "Roxy Music" song, "Virginia Plain," works perfectly. And Steve Harley's "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) closes the album wonderfully. Again, this is one of the best soundtracks I've heard in years. It's diverse, but in an extremely artfully and well-constructed manner. It's obvious that a lot of work was put into placing all of the tracks on the album, which still appears refreshingly carefree. This must be a difficult task, which would explain why most soundtracks just aren't nearly as compelling as this one. It hasn't left my stereo in days. And I can't imagine ever getting tired of it. It also doesn't seem to be solely exclusive to glam rock afficionados; anyone who loves music will most likely really enjoy this album. The only other soundtrack I can think of at the moment which rivals "Velvet Goldmine" would be the "Trainspotting" soundtrack, which has become a "tried and true" classic. This one should, too, if it hasn't already. A mind-ravellingly awesome collection. Now I just can't wait to see the film!
Free Music Review: Velvet Glammine
Hit: 5 Stars
We live in fictitious times where fictitious bands release fictitious albums. The movie VELVET GOLDMINE told the story of made-up rock stars, based in no small part upon the real lives of some of the more notable glam rockers of the late-60s and early-70s. The soundtrack therefore is split between fiction and reality (or as close to reality that glam got, which, to be honest, isn't that close). Many of the songs are taken from that era of rock, while the rest are modern (1998) recordings of both cover versions of songs from that time as well as recent writings done in that style.This is one of my favorite albums, and I say that as a casual fan of both the original era and of the bands today that are heavily influenced by that musical genre. It's not meant to be a beginner's course in glam music, but it serves that purpose well anyway. We've got the dreamy, atmospheric, pretentious songs, the fast rockers, the goofy songs about spaceships, etc. This is great campy, fun music, and it's, as the CD case states "to be played at maximum volume". The modern recreations of the glam style are done extremely well. Since most of the bands were already heavily drinkers at the well of neo-glam (Pulp, that's you), presumably performing these songs weren't a stretch for them at all.
A lot of famous names from today's music scene pop up in the credits for this album. Thom York, better known as the little guy from Radiohead, sings on a few of the tracks performed by the Venus In Furs (one of the movie's fake bands; the name taken from The Velvet Underground song). And R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe is listed as producer.
An album that can be listened to all the way through without skipping substandard tracks is a rare thing indeed. What an album like that is also a soundtrack, it's almost a miracle. While this is a great overall CD, I will admit to fondness for some songs over others. A few times while driving home from work, I've repeated listening to Steve Harley's "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)" more times than is probably healthy and enough times that I would have received very odd looks had my fellow commuters been able to hear what I was up to.
Whether you're a fan of glam, or someone who would like to be, I think this is a great place to start. While the lack of any appearances by David Bowie himself does mean that the album lacks a major foundation in glam's short history (apparently he was planning his own semi-biographical film and wanted to focus on that instead), what's actually here is fantastic. Any album with Lou Reed's goofily surreal "Satellite of Love" on it is worth having, and I can recommend this to almost any rock fan who doesn't take music too seriously.
Free Music Review: As authentic and accurate as it gets!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
I don't have the time right now for a real wordy review, but I have to say that this is the most infectious, authentic and 'accurate to the genre' soundtrack ever made! The original numbers like "HOT ONE", "BALLAD OF MAXWELL DEMON", "THE WHOLE SHEBANG" and "WE ARE THE BOYS" have all the charisma and sleezy sweet melody of original 72/73 era glam rock. I'm also extremely impressed with the excitingly fresh cover versions of the ROXY MUSIC, STOOGES, T.REX and ENO tracks; a fantastic job by SHUDDER TO THINK, PLACEBO, WYLDE RATTTZ* and THE VENUS IN FURS( with surprisingly good vocals from actors Ewan McGregor(in the Iggy role, with Wylde Ratttz) and Jonathan Rhys Meyers(in the Bowie role, with The Venus In Furs.) The soundtrack is also dosed with great originals like ENO's "Needle In The Camel's Eye", ROXY MUSIC'S "Virginia Plain", LOU REED'S "Satellite Of Love", T.REX's "Diamond Meadows" and also, an excellent finish with the happily rousing "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" by Steve Harley. It puts a smile on your face after hearing great dark tracks like "BABY'S ON FIRE." To Tracy, also from NJ(a couple of reviews below), BOWIE is my favorite too, a major rock hero of mine since the age of 6 in 1972. Wow, was it fun to live through all the great ch-ch changes as a young rock fan; to me, the ultimate rock star! It IS a shame that Bowie wasn't more involved in The VELVET GOLDMINE soundtrack (I mean at least get Bowie's Ziggy era track, "VELVET GOLDMINE" in there right?!?) but the fact is, Bowie didn't want to be involved in the soundtrack or the movie for basically, two reasons.. ONE: He felt that there were a good number of inaccuracies in the story and too much of an overblown fantasy to it. TWO: He's working on his own true and accurate ZIGGY STARDUST story to become a major motion picture, hopefully released in 2002(can't wait for that, huh?!) However, this soundtrack works great, even without the inclusion of Bowie tracks. Come to think of it, Bowie is such a dominant force that it "may" have hindered the believability of the soundtrack somehow to have his songs within it.
Well, I guess I did have the time for a wordy review after all. I can't help it, this is the best soundtrack that I've ever owned! It grabs you at the beginning and doesn't let you go till the end, THE MARK OF A GREAT ALBUM!
Free Music Review: VELVET GOLDMINE Soundtrack is like buried treasure
Hit: 5 Stars
Well, the film had its moments. Roughly chronicling the life of David Bowie during his "Ziggy Stardust" period (arguably, the period in which he did his best material). As cinema, it celebrates really great rock and roll, with plenty of sex and drugs propelling the music.If nothing else, it might make androgynous 'gay boys' less threatening to society as a whole, since it's clear from the film and the soundtrack, that many of the great songs of the 1970's were the direct result of gay boys falling in love with each other--or at least having serious crushes that could only be satisfied by a lusty night, perhaps after a show and lots of good drugs.
The presence of many of the glam-rock years's superstars are hinted at, or represented directly through song covers in the soundtrack. No song by David Bowie appears in the movie, though "Velvet Goldmine" is itself a Bowie tune. Iggy Pop and the New York Dolls are honored with cover versions of "TV Eye" and "Personality Crisis", respectively; Both of which outshine the originals. New material is presented here too. "We Are The Boys" is a killer rock song, and it even has a great dance beat.
While I have nothing against "Girl Groups", it has always been my firm conviction that rock and roll is a game for boys: testosterone and male energy fuel the music, and compared to the material in the V.G soundtrack, the "Lilith Fair" bunch sound like they belong in a nursing home. Great women ROCKers are a joke! I can name them all on one hand, and still have fingers left over. There's Janis Joplin, Joan Jett, and maybe one or two others. To hell with political correctness here; in rock, there's no equality: boys simply rule. Girls, go Country & Western.
Anyhow, Velvet Goldmine is like buried treasure. Not easy to locate, but well worth the effort to dig up. The boys here just about outdid themselves. After listening to this CD, I went & picked up a few others from that era...you should too.
Recommended: SWEET, Desolation Boulevard; AEROSMITH Get Your Wings, Rocks; TODD RUNDGREN Something/Anything?; QUEEN (Queen -- first CD); IGGY & THE STOOGES Funhouse; DAVID BOWIE Aladdin Sane, Best Of 1969--1974; LOU REED Transformer; VELVET UNDERGROUND Loaded; ROLLING STONES Sticky Fingers, Exiles on Main Street
Free Music Review: An amazing soundtrack to go with an amazing movie
Hit: 5 Stars
This has to be one of the best soundtracks of all time. It certainly has my vote as the best soundtrack ever. A great mix of early '70's gems and new classics, from varied sources: Shudder to Think, Pulp, Lou Reed (who's appearance seems to "make" a soundtrack), supergroup The Venus In Furs, Brian Eno , and Roxy Music. Its one of the cds that one can bother relax to, or dance and sing along with, depending on one's mood. It is versatile, fresh, and it is stunning. My personal favourites are "Hot Ones" and "The Ballad of Maxwell Demon". I especially enjoy the beautiful piano arrangement that runs through "Hot Ones"; it's exquisitely sad and beautiful . Most of the songs really hold the spirit of the movie, and the movie's characters. Speaking of characters, this album's only flop is the Wylde Rattze's rendition of "TV Eye", with Ewan Macgregor on vocals. MacGregor is one of the worst singers I have ever heard, and his vocals can't compare to Rhys-Meyers, who has a beautiful, sad voice that conveys emotion quite well. It's the only song that I have to flip past on my cd player. I'm not ecstatic about "Personality Crisis", but it has an infectious energy that even I get swept up in. Producers Michael Stipe, Todd Haynes, and Randall Poster have come up with a real keeper with this album, which fully captures the energy and spirit of the glam rock era, just as the movie did. so take my advice: buy this cd, play it, "And boogaloo a rhapsody divine..." P.S. The casting for this movie was amazing; I don't believe another actor could have played Brian Slade the way Johnathan Rhys-Meyers did. He is one the best new actors, and deserves all the praise he gets.