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Written by Gregg Shapiro
Dec 30, 2010
"For Colored Girls"
"127 Hours"
"Scott Pilgrim Versus the World"
"Bored to Death"
‘For Colored Girls…’
Tyler Perry’s toxic film adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s “For Colored Girls…” has rightfully come and gone from movie screens. On the other hand, “Music From and Inspired by The Original Motion Picture For Colored Girls” (Atlantic) is vastly better than the film and definitely deserves a longer lifespan. Knockout tracks by Lalah Hathaway (“Sun”), Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (“Longer & Stronger”), Estelle (“All Day Long”), Janelle Monáe (“Without A Fight”) and, especially, “Four Women” (Nina Simone, Simone, Laura Izibor and Ledisi), make this one a keeper.
‘Burlesque’
A much better singer than actress, Christina Aguilera dominates “Burlesque: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” (RCA), where she slaps a new coat of paint on a pair of Etta James tunes – “Something’s Got A Hold On Me” and “Tough Lover.” The problem with putting these songs at the beginning of the disc just shines a light on how inferior newer compositions such as “Express,” “Show Me Your Burlesque” and the revision of “The Beautiful People” are, although Xtina makes the most of them. As the ballads go, “Bound To You” is more successful than the overwrought Diane Warren-penned, “You Haven’t Seen The Last of Me,” sung by Cher.
‘Black Swan’ and ‘127 Hours’
The critically acclaimed movies “Black Swan” (starring Natalie Portman and directed by Darren Aronofsky) and “127 Hours” (starring James Franco and directed by Danny Boyle) have essential soundtracks. “Black Swan: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” (Sony Classical) and “Music From The Motion Picture 127 Hours” (Interscope) feature scores by composers Clint Mansell and A.R. Rahman, who previously worked with Aronofsky and Boyle, respectively.
‘It’s Kind of A Funny Story’
“Music from the Motion Picture It’s Kind of A Funny Story” (Rhino/Focus) is a hipster’s delight compilation, beginning and ending with a pair of Broken Social Scene songs (“Not At My Best” and “Major Label Debut”). It grows more interesting with tracks such as “Smash It Up” (Parts 1 & 2) by The Damned, “Happy Today” by The WoWz, “Where You Go” by Elden Calder, “The Ills” by Mayer Hawthorn and an exquisite piano rendition of The Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind,” performed by Maxence Cyrin.
‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’
Love or hate the “Twilight” movie series, the soundtracks stand on their own. Muse, cited by series author Stephanie Meyers as an inspiration, appears once again on “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” (Summit/Chop Shop/Atlantic) with the song “Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever).” Fitting tracks by Florence & The Machine (“Heavy In Your Arms”), Sia (the Kate Bush-like “My Love”), Cee Lo Green (“What Part of Forever”), a duet by Beck and Bat For Lashes (“Let’s Get Lost”), and suitably enough, Vampire Weekend (“Jonathan Low”), also make this a soundtrack into which you can really sink your teeth.
‘Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World,’ ‘Kick-Ass’ and ‘Iron Man 2’
The “Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World” (Universal/ABKCO) sounds pretty much like what you’d expect from a movie based on a comic book in which the titular character is also a musician in his 20s. For instance, songs performed by Pilgrim’s band Sex Bob-Omb were composed by none other than Beck (Hansen). The soundtrack also includes contributions by Frank Black, Metric, Broken Social Scene and Beck himself, as well as T. Rex and The Rolling Stones, among many others. Also consider “Kick-Ass: Music from the Motion Picture” (DGC/Interscope) and “Iron Man 2” (Columbia), with music by AC/DC.
‘Glee’
Thanks to “Glee,” TV soundtracks are gaining in popularity. “Glee: The Music, Volume 3-Showstoppers” (Columbia) lives up to its name. This is especially true on group numbers such as “Hello, Goodbye,” “Gives You Hell,” “Beautiful” and “Bad Romance,” as well as on star turns, including “One Less Bell To Answer/A House Is Not A Home,” performed by Kristin Chenowith and Matthew Morrison; “Physical,” sung by Olivia Newton-John and out Emmy Award-winner Jane Lynch; “Dream On,” by out actor Neil Patrick Harris and Matthew Morrison; and “I Dreamed A Dream,” as sung by Idina Menzel and Lea Michelle.
‘The Vampire Diaries’ and ‘Bored To Death’
Like the “Twilight” soundtrack, “The Vampire Diaries: Original Television Soundtrack” (Virgin) uses cool music, including Placebo’s cover of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” “Hammock” by Howls, the “Vampire Diaries” remix of “Bloodstream” by Stateless, Digital Daggers’ cover of Tears For Fears’ “Head Over Heels” and “All You Wanted” by Sounds Under Radio. The Jason Schwartzman HBO series “Bored To Death” wears its hipness pedigree on its fashionable sleeve on “Bored To Death: The Soundtrack” (WaterTower Music).
The list of artists on the disc, which includes M. Ward with Zooey Deschanel, Freelance Whales, Andrew Bird, Lykke Li, Dan Auerbach, Dawn Landes and TV On The Radio, speaks for itself.
‘Sex and the City 2’
Soundtracks to movies based on TV shows are a bit more hit or miss. Most would agree the movie “Sex and the City 2” sucked, to put it mildly. Yet, the “Sex and the City 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” (WaterTower Music) is worth owning simply for the songs by the Sex and The City Men’s Choir (including “Sunrise, Sunset”) and Liza Minnelli’s rendition of “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).”
