1 |
Desolation Row - My Chemical Romance (3:01) |
2 |
Unforgettable - Nat King Cole (3:28) |
3 |
The Times They Are A-Changin' - Bob Dylan (3:14) |
4 |
The Sound of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel (3:07) |
5 |
Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin (4:31) |
6 |
I'm Your Boogie Man - KC & the Sunshine Band (4:03) |
7 |
You're My Thrill- Billie Holiday (3:24) |
8 |
Pruit Igoe & Prophecies - Philip Glass Ensemble (8:37) |
9 |
Hallelujah- Leonard Cohen (4:37) |
10 |
All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix (4:01) |
11 |
Ride of the Valkyries / Budapest Symphony Orchestra (5:22) |
12 |
Pirate Jenny- Nina Simone Live (6:39) |
SOUNDTRACK REVIEW:
First thing first, you won’t find Smashing Pumpkin’s “The End is the Beginning is the End” on this 54 minute soundtrack album. Yes, after the mind blowing trailer, we are as addicted to that song as you are. Go track down the soundtrack to Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin (1997) if you really want to own that song. It’s the best thing to happen to that mess of a movie, but that’s another issue altogether.
The compilation of songs for this Zack Snyder directed movie is pleasantly soothing. For a movie that’s this graphically violent, we are surprised to be rocked off our chairs by the opening track “Desolation Row”, a cover of the Bob Dylan song performed by American rock band My Chemical Romance. Following that rollicking song is a series of evergreen hits that you’d want to own on CD, but never had the opportunity to.
Be it jazz musician Nat King Cole’s lovely “Unforgettable”, famed singer/ songwriter/ author/ poet/ painter (!) Bob Dylan’s calming “The Times They Are A Changin’” or singer songwriter duo Simon & Garfunkel’s classic “The Sound of Silence” (which also appeared in another classic movie “The Graduate”), you’d find yourself smiling while listening to these hits.
If you have watched the movie, then these songs would have even more impact – because of Snyder’s powerful visualization of the graphic novel. You’d never imagine how these melodic songs can be accompanied by such strong visuals on screen. You’d have to watch the movie to experience the magic yourself.
We’d never forget how The Philip Glass Ensemble’s hypnotic “Pruit Igoe & Prophecies” (first written for the groundbreaking film “Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance”) is played against Dr. Manhattan’s affecting voiceover narration in the movie. We’d never stop thinking about how Leonard Cohen’s holy “Hallelujah” is played against Nite Owl and Silk Spectre II’s lovemaking scene. We’d also never get the image of Dr. Manhattan and The Comedian’s Vietnam war scenes out of our minds when it’s accompanied by Budapest Symphony Orchestra’s “Ride of the Valkyries”.
A powerful collection of music for a visually powerful movie indeed.
ALBUM RATING:
 
Recommended Track: : : (8) Pruit Igoe & Prophecies (The Philip Glass Ensemble)
Review
by John Li |
