Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A soundtrack fueled by human emotion, 30 May 2001
This soundtrack captures the emotional resonance of the movie and extends it beyond the snippets of musical score. Contain some of the best music of the grunge era as well as old favourites, this soundtrack is more than just a piece of merchandise. The product of ex-Soundgarden voaclist, Chris Cornell, the soundtrack sways from heavy to light without frustrating the listener. Contains the only legally available version of Pearl Jam's, State Of Love And Trust, worth the price alone, as well as original music from Chris Cornell. As with the film, the soundtrack highlights the cultural change and the youth that was emerging at the begining of the 90's. This is more than a mere soundtrack,it is the voice of a generation.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Soundtrack for a Generation, 30 Jul 2004
I hate this soundtrack. I truly despise it. Why? I'm 15. I missed it all.Damn. Other than that it is simply awesome. Thanks to this little gem (and I say gem, both it and the movie are rare as hell on the highstreet) I am a major Pearl Jam fan. And to top it off, this contains two of their greatest songs from the period. "Breath" is simply amazing. What it's about I'll never know (Doors I think; don't ask) but it is amazing. Greatest riff since "Alive". Add to that a few Cornell/Soundgarden numbers along with a spot of Hendrix and even the AIC classic "Would?" (Ironically their most bland and lyrically inferior song ever) and you have a soundtrack to rival anything. And yes, that includes Blues Brothers. This rocks. Like grunge? You'll love... no, scratch that. You NEED This. 5 stars.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unearth a time capsule from the early 90s, 17 Dec 2006
This is not just the perfect soundtrack to the movie "Singles", but to the time and place the movie was made in. This is a Polaroid snapshot of the angst-ridden rock that was pervading the airwaves of America, and to a lesser extent, the rest of the world. Like the songs on the radio playlists at the time, the music on the soundtrack comes predominately from the Pacific Northwest.
It opens with the Alice In Chains tribute to fallen soldier Andrew Wood, "Would?", which was one of the bands biggest hits (though, as is often the case, in no way indicative of their greatest work). The bassline alone signals what is to come. This was one of the few tracks which could be found on other albums.
The next track, "Breath", the first of two on this album by Pearl Jam cannot be found elsewhere (to my knowledge). Both it and "State of Love and Trust" are non-album tracks that should clinch the purchase of this album for any self-respecting Pearl Jam fan.
Chris Cornell's "Seasons" is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard - a pretty little acoustic ditty. I was expecting Chris' solo album to sound more like this, and was quite disappointed when it turned out not to be.
I have to admit to not being particularly enchanted by the Paul Westerburg contributions, but the Lovemongers (aka the Wilson sisters from Heart) put out a thumping version of Led Zep's "Battle of Evermore". Considering I like neither Led Zep nor Heart, I am constantly surprised by how much I enjoy this cover version! It really is good.
"Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns" is probably the best Mother Love Song released. They were a great band, and I love virtually every song I've heard by them, but (sadly) it was possibly a good thing Andrew Wood died. Without his death, we would not have seen Temple of the Dog, and perhaps not Pearl Jam either. Nor would we have heard "Would?" by Alice in Chains, nor "Far Behind" by Candlebox. (And I'm sure the list could go on...)
"Birth Ritual" is the best Soundgarden song never to make it onto one of their albums. In fact, it is quite easily one of their best songs, full stop. Hard hitting from the get go, the song is closest in sound to the material from their "Badmotorfinger" album.
Mudhoney were (in fact, are, I believe!) one of the most underrated Seattle bands. I can't say I particularly enjoy much of their music, but "Overblown" is a great song, and I know they have a lot of fans out there. Given that half of Mudhoney was half of Green River (and that the other half of Green River became Pearl Jam, by way of Mother Love Bone), their pedigree is as good as you could get. For my money though, Green River is a better band. (And Soundgarden's cover of GR's "Swallow My Pride" does not even touch the original.)
I love the inclusion of Jimi Hendrix on this album. He comes in from way left-field, but to my mind fits in far better than Paul Westerburg - because he is actually from Seattle. And this is a good song, and interesting choice for the album.
Screaming Trees were relatively successful in America, and relatively unheard of outide the States. In fact, Mark Lanegan is probably better known now through his solo work and contribution to Queens of the Stone Age than he ever was during his time with the Trees. I love the Trees, and I wish they'd not split up. Their sound changed considerably after they left SST Records to sign with Sony, and changed even more after original drummer, Mark Pickerel, departed. "Nearly Lost You" must have been their most successful single, and the album it came from ("Sweet Oblivion") also their most successful. It is worth buying that album, as it is worth buying any Trees release!
The soundtrack finishes with another non-Seattle band, but the music and mood of the Pumpkins fits perfectly with the Seattle artists (again, considerably more so than Paul Westerburg). This is my favourite song by the Pumpkins, and this version can't be found elsewhere. (I can't even bring myself to listen to the edited version on their greatest hits album!)
In short, this is a near-perfect soundtrack. If it wasn't for the anomaly of Paul Westerburg, it would be right up there. But for now, it will have to settle for second, with "The Crow" perched up top. If I could give it four and a half stars, I would. And, as Alice In Chains said at the beginning of the album, "If I would, could you?"
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