Category: Soundtracks (CD’s)

JUSTICE IN THE BARREL {Young Guns II} (by Jon Bon Jovi: Blaze of Glory)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 11, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 6:49 Min.

As the album’s longest track (including gunshot sound effects), this ‘inspired-by’ effort appears on Jon Bon Jovi’s 1990 Blaze of Glory soundtrack for the Young Guns II movie.

Note: Also portraying ‘Chavez’ in the film, Lou Diamond Phillips is among this track’s credited back-up singers.

REVIEW:

It’s too much of a good thing. Despite delivering one of the album’s best melodies, Jon Bon Jovi over-indulges this song, in part due to a lengthy, sound effect-laden intro. The lyrics are solid, as is the instrumental work, but this bloated track should have edited down by one to two minutes. As a download option, it’s accurate that listeners get their money’s worth, in terms of bang for the buck. Yet, “Justice in the Barrel” is really more a glorified middle-of-the-pack tune that works fine on playlists, including workouts.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars

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WILD WOMEN DO (by Natalie Cole: Pretty Woman movie soundtrack)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 11, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 4:04 Min.

Recorded by Natalie Cole, this upbeat pop tune is the first cut off 1990’s Pretty Woman movie soundtrack.

REVIEW:

An energetic Natalie Cole is absolutely on her game, as the appealing R&B/pop melody makes a perfect fit for her vocals. The downside, unfortunately, is that the suggestive lyrics brazenly play up inferences of Pretty Woman’s glamorous depiction of prostitution. It’s a shame, since Cole’s dynamite performance would otherwise make this dance tune a contender for re-discovery.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6½ Stars

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GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE TV SERIES THEME {Cover} (by “Weird Al” Yankovic: Dare to Be Stupid)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 11, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 1:05 Min.

Covering the goofy theme song from the same-named 1967 cartoon series, “Weird Al” Yankovic includes his version on his 1985 comedy album, Dare to be Stupid. His rendition’s popularity later landed it on the soundtrack for the 1997 live-action film adaptation starring Brendan Fraser.

REVIEW:

In a rare instance of a straight-up homage, “Weird Al” Yankovic is at his best. It’s a fresh and endearing tribute to the cheesy Tarzan spoof. Though it’s only a minute long, this track is one of Dare to Be Stupid’s highlights.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars

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ALL I WANT IS YOU (by U2: Reality Bites movie soundtrack)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 6, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 6:32 MIN.

This ballad by U2 is the seventh track on 1994’s Reality Bites movie soundtrack. The song is originally from U2’s Rattle and Hum album released in 1988.

REVIEW:

It’s vintage U2. While The Knack’s effervescent “My Sharona” is the tune most associated with Reality Bites, it’s this somber U2 effort (even as a re-issue) that steals the soundtrack. Imbued with thought-provoking lyrics and a poignant melody, “All I Want Is You” is highly recommended.

BRIAN & ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING: 8½ Stars

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BATMAN FOREVER [Movie Soundtrack] (by Various Artists)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 3, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 59 Min.

Released through Time Warner in 1995, this partial soundtrack sports five songs from Batman Forever, plus another nine supposedly inspired by the film. Tracks from Elliott Goldenthal’s instrumental score aren’t included, as his work would be allotted its own separate album. The fourteen tracks are:

Title: Artist: Running Time:

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me U2 4:46
One Time Too Many PJ Harvey 2:52
Where Are You Now? Brandy 3:57
Kiss From a Rose Seal 3:38
The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game Massive Attack & Tracey Thorn 4:06
Nobody Lives Without Love Eddi Reader 5:05
Tell Me Now Mazzy Star 4:17
Smash It Up The Offspring 3:26
There is a Light Nick Cave 4:23
The Riddler Method Man 3:30
The Passenger Michael Hutchence 4:37
Crossing the River The Devlins 4:45
8 Sunny Day Real Estate 5:27
Bad Days The Flaming Lips 4:39

REVIEW:

Track 8’s “Smash It Up” aptly describes the lack of continuity in this Gotham City hodgepodge. Popular through their heavy MTV and VH1 music video rotation, Seal’s multi-Grammy-winning “Kiss from a Rose” and U2’s “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” (despite its nonsensical lyrics) are this album’s definitive highlights. Brandy’s likable “Where Are You Now?” is another asset. Yet, The Devlins “Crossing the River” ballad serves up this album’s unexpected gem. Tracks 5-6 would make terrific solo downloads, no matter their tenuous connection to the Batcave.

Trying too hard to be mid-90’s hip, the assortment of remaining tunes end up as background noise. Their primary detriment is that these shallow tracks are near-impossible to recognize as even correlating to Batman Forever. Case in point: Nick Cave’s Track 9 oddly mimics Val Kilmer’s impersonation of Jim Morrison in The Doors instead of Kilmer’s one-and-done Batman. In essence, this shameless paycheck-heavy soundtrack pleads guilty to pop overkill. Its best half-dozen or so songs paired with Elliott Goldenthal’s instrumental highlights would have sufficed as a more satisfying and cohesive musical package. Batman Forever’s middling soundtrack is a good garage sale or thrift store find, but it’s not worth pursuing a new copy.

PACKAGING:

The casing is standard-issue. Of note is that the CD itself doesn’t offer any track info.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5 Stars

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AXEL F. (by Harold Faltermeyer: Beverly Hills Cop movie soundtrack)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 2, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:04 Min.

Performed by composer-conductor Harold Faltermeyer, this instrumental appears on 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop film soundtrack. The recurring theme narrates Eddie Murphy’s Detroit police detective ‘Axel Foley,’ as he searches for illicit evidence proving who killed a childhood friend.

REVIEW:

It’s likely one of the most enduring movie instrumentals of the 80’s. Harold Faltermeyer designed this catchy theme to be synonymous with Axel Foley’s sneaky ingenuity/improvisations, not to mention his team-up antics with fellow cops Taggart & Rosewood (John Ashton & Judge Reinhold). Faltermeyer’s spot-on instrumental work here remains a gem. For soundtrack playlists or just simply ‘80s nostalgia, “Axel F.” is a can’t- miss download option.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars

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ALMOST PARADISE (by Ann Wilson & Mike Reno: Footloose {1984} movie soundtrack, 15th Anniversary Edition)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 2, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:49 Min.

Recorded for 1984’s Footloose film soundtrack, Heart’s Ann Wilson duets with Loverboy’s Mike Reno. Including the soundtrack’s 1998 15th Anniversary Edition, this radio-friendly love song has subsequently appeared on a number of ‘80s pop compilation albums.

REVIEW:

Pairing Ann Wilson and Mike Reno in a romantic duet was an inspired choice, given the gorgeous melody. There’s no mistaking that their polished vocals are electric, as both of them are at the top of their game. The song’s weakness clearly isn’t Wilson and Reno; rather, it’s more the overly sentimental lyrics. Suffice to say, “Almost Paradise” risks soaring into romantic pop drivel.

Even so, as long as the lyrics are more of an afterthought, the song makes a good choice for ‘80s pop and road trip playlists. The only other caveat, ironically enough, stems from Footloose itself. Whether it’s interpreted as adult lust and/or loneliness, this song’s yearning context seems, at best, awkward, if applied to the film’s love-struck (and underage) teenagers portrayed by Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars

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ALL TIME HIGH {from Octopussy} (by Rita Coolidge: Best of Bond … James Bond, 2008 edition)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 2, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:03 Min.

Originally for 1983’s Octopussy starring Roger Moore, this James Bond tune was recorded by Rita Coolidge. This song has since been re-released on various compilation albums, primarily multiple updates of the Best of Bond … James Bond (which assembles the franchise’s theme songs to date).

Note: The Best of Bond … James Bond series includes a 40^th anniversary edition in 2002 and a subsequent update in 2008 for Chris Cornell’s “You Know My Name” from Casino Royale.

REVIEW:

Reminiscent (or perhaps too imitative) of Carly Simon, Rita Coolidge’s breezy vocals are this tune’s best asset. Otherwise, “All Time High” would likely fade into easy-listening obscurity, as even casual fans might not recognize this classy Early ‘80s love song as a James Bond theme. Its chief claim to fame, otherwise, is that “All Time High” is the first Bond title song to exclude the movie’s title from its lyrics (1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’s instrumental theme, notwithstanding).

In an intriguing, yet perhaps not coincidental, twist, “All Time High” sounds vaguely similar to Lani Hall & Michel Legrand’s “Never Say Never Again,” — which was also released in 1983 for Sean Connery’s same-named Bond film competing against Roger Moore. While the sly Hall/Legrand tune is closer to a lounge act performance, Coolidge’s “All Time High” has a more polished melody. Frankly, it makes too little difference, as both of these 1983 Bond tunes are at best average.

If given a choice, though, one might prefer finding Hall’s “Never Say Never Again” over Coolidge’s “All Time High,” as Hall’s jazzy tune is catchier.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars