Category: Digital Songs & Albums

DOUBLEBACK (by ZZ Top: Recycler)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date March 12, 2023

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:53 Min.

From its 1990 album, Recycler, this ZZ Top rock tune would accompany the closing credits of Back to the Future, Part III that same year. In one of the film’s 1885 sequences, the band makes a cameo appearance performing an instrumental version of the song. Unsurprisingly, ZZ Top’s “Doubleback” music video is a commercial for the movie.

Note: “Doubleback” is not included with composer Alan Silvestri’s score on the 1990 soundtrack. Re-imagined with a country music twinge, the same-named acoustic rendition (as heard in ‘1885’) appears in its place. This track lasts under ninety seconds. The acoustic version’s extended 3:13 minute cut was subsequently added to the soundtrack’s 25^th Anniversary Edition.

REVIEW:

Appropriately enough, “Doubleback” is its own nostalgia time machine. Vividly conveying Marty McFly’s Old West adventure, ZZ Top sounds near the top of their game. Working off a rip-snorting melody, the catchiness of this pulsating tune remains undiminished. Even if “Doubleback” isn’t a priority download, adding it sometime to a favorite rock, soundtrack, or workout playlist makes good sense.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Pop, R&B, Soul, & Dance Rock & Symphonic/Metal

I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU {Cover} (by Adanna Duru: American Idol Season XIV)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date December 1, 2022

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 4:08 Min.

In 2015, American Idol contestant Adanna Duru covered Joan Jett’s 1988 rock hit, “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” Duru’s rendition was subsequently released as a single and as a track for the season’s Top 11 album.

Note: Duru finished in 10^th/11^th place in American Idol’s fourteenth season.

REVIEW:

Despite Idol’s instrumentals reasonably mimicking Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ hard rock melody, Adanna Duru’s vocals are initially bubblegum tame. Hence, one is left anticipating a weak rendition of Jett’s tune directed at Disney+ programming. Yet, once she gets comfortably warmed up, Duru’s second half of the song comes alive. Duru doesn’t echo Jett so much as she finally pushes her vocal efforts to fit the lyrics, not to mention the song’s energetic vibe.

Even if her cover doesn’t justify a solo download, Duru’s take on Joan Jett is still fairly solid.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Pop, R&B, Soul, & Dance Soundtracks (Digital)

NEVER FORGET {Cover} (by Jehramae Trangia: 2017 single)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date December 1, 2022

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:49 Min.

In 2017, Filipino singer Jehramae Trangia (then a teenager) covered Michelle Pfeiffer’s ballad, “Never Forget,” from the soundtrack of the same-year film, Murder on the Orient Express. From her ‘music video,’ it appears that Trangia is singing off a pre-recorded instrumental of “Never Forget” (possibly one from the film itself).

REVIEW:

It is inevitable that the youthful Trangia would fall short of Pfeiffer’s mellow sound imbuing the song’s haunting context. Still, Trangia’s likable vocals interprets “Never Forget” perhaps more as a tragically-fated young romance. If so, her version would be hypothetically ideal to accompany a teenage ghost story film.

Overall, with this cover as evidence, then Trangia’s potential suggests a bright future in the recording industry.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Pop, R&B, Soul, & Dance Soundtracks (Digital)

BEND TIME BACK ‘ROUND (by Paula Abdul: Greatest Hits)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date September 29, 2022

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:56 Min.

First released in 1992 on the Beverly Hills 90210 TV soundtrack, this dance-pop tune was not a track on any original Paula Abdul album. However, it has been subsequently included on at least two Abdul retrospective compilations: 2000’s Greatest Hits and 2007’s Greatest Hits: Straight Up!

REVIEW:

It’s vintage Abdul, as far as this tune sounding like some lost relic from 1988’s Forever Your Girl album. Both Abdul’s endearing vocal performance and a catchy Late 80’s dance melody make the most of the song’s unremarkable lyrics. For Paula Abdul fans, the energetic “Turn Time Back ‘Round” is a nostalgic pop treat, in large part due to its relative obscurity.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5 Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Rock & Symphonic/Metal

WITH OR WITHOUT YOU {2016 Cover} (by Amy Lee: Recover, Volume 1)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date September 22, 2022

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 4:09 Min.

Covering U2’s “With or Without You,” Evanescence’s lead vocalist, Amy Lee, performs this track for her 2016 solo album, Recover, Volume 1.

REVIEW:

If not for the familiar lyrics, one might not even recognize Lee’s Halloween-ish take on such a seminal U2 hit. She certainly deserves credit for re-imagining the ballad through the lens of Evanescence’s indie rock sound. The closest comparison one might draw is to Ciara’s version of The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It, Black,” when hearing Lee’s slow-paced vocal performance merge with the creepy melody.

Still, Ciara has nothing on Lee, musically speaking, as far as producing a eerie vibe. Lee’s cover, in that sense, is in a league of its own.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars

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LOVE THEME FROM SUPERMAN III (by Giorgio Moroder {& Helen St. John}: Ewok Celebration)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date July 22, 2022

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:15 Min.

Recorded for 1983’s Superman III film soundtrack, Giorgio Moroder supplied its instrumental love theme utilizing synthesizer romantic pop.

Note: Helen St. John is officially credited on the soundtrack as the love theme’s performer, though Moroder produced much of the long-out-of-release album.

REVIEW:

Given how Superman III explores Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) & Lana Lang’s (Annette O’Toole) platonic Smallville reunion, this exuberant instrumental oddly has no place within the film’s storyline. At most, there may be a few faint strands briefly heard in the movie’s underwhelming background (or possibly it was meant for some subsequently deleted scene). More so, Moroder & St. John’s soaring tune doesn’t necessarily age well forty years later.

For its time, the theme’s lush sound serves up appealing ear candy, though nothing in the melody resonates with Reeve’s Superman whatsoever. Contemporary listeners, however, couldn’t be blamed for deeming this theme an excess of Early 80’s instrumental romantic drivel, as filtered through a synthesizer. Case in point: there’s at least on-line version (possibly a cover) credited to St. John that reeks of electronica dreck.

If one still wants to find a presumably authentic version, there’s an obscure source. Released in 1983, Meco’s Ewok Celebration disco novelty album includes Superman III’s dreamy love theme (credited to Moroder only) on its B-side. Unlike the on-line St. John track, this rare Moroder rendition is relatively enjoyable on its own merits – without linking it to the cinematic Man of Steel.

Notes: As of this writing, Ewok Celebration is still available as a vinyl. The album was also released in cassette form.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars

Classical Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Soundtracks (Digital)

PSYCHO – SUITE FOR STRINGS III. THE SWAMP {Cover} (by Jura Margulis: The Most Frightening Music in the Universe)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date April 19, 2022

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 2:33 Min.

In homage to composer Bernard Hermann’s score for 1960’s Psycho film, Russian pianist Jura Margulis contributes this orchestral track. This instrumental cover appears on the 2009 classical compilation album: The Most Frightening Music in the Universe.

REVIEW:

Despite the instantly ominous undertone, this track quickly becomes too quiet. Listeners will have to crank up the volume just to capture the instrumental’s full effect. Possessing a remarkably authentic sound, this cover succeeds in conjuring up one’s imagination of Anthony Perkins as the original Norman Bates.

Yet, the track is likely too short to leave enough of a lasting impression, as far as being a solo download option.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4 Stars

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Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Soundtracks (Digital)

MAKING TODAY A PERFECT DAY (by The Cast of Frozen Fever: 2015 single)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date April 19, 2022

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 5:01 Min.

Frozen’s animated 2015 mini-sequel, “Frozen Fever,” has a cold-stricken Elsa guiding her sister, Anna, through a series of birthday surprises inside and outside their castle. Partially told through narrative dialogue, “Make Today a Perfect Day” primarily features Frozen cast members Idina Menzel & Kristen Bell, with help from castmates Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad, among others.

REVIEW:

Working off a well-scripted narrative, Kristen Bell (as Anna) and Idina Menzel (as Elsa) are in endearing form. Josh Gad’s Olaf and Jonathan Groff’s Kristoph also make nice contributions amidst this catchy song’s chorus. As charming as this track is, the sole odd note is the demure finish — a poignant last dialogue exchange between Elsa and Anna is so faint that it’s practically inaudible. For Frozen fans, this tune makes an ideal addition to related playlists.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars

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