May 2004 Archives
CD, Ranch 2004
Track list: Still in Me - Something to Hold on - More - You Know Me - Worth Living - Sunbather - Explanations - Perfect - Runner - Feel
I saw these ladies live years ago at Jyrock festival and finally they've come up with an album. It took a long time, but the wait was worth it - it's a great album. Their brand of rock is hypnotic, laid back and cool. Vocalist sounds sometimes quite like P J Harvey, which is always good. The music's soft and pleasing, like honey to my ears. Velvet hours, indeed. ****
CD, Maverick 2003
Track list: Nancy Sinatra: Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) - Charlie Feathers: That Certain Female - Luis Bacalov: The Grand Duel (Parte Prima) - Bernard Herrmann: Twisted Nerve - Queen of the Crime Council - The RZA: Ode to Oren Ishii - Isaac Hayes: Run Fay Run - Al Hirt: Green Hornet - Tomoyasu Hotei: Battle Without Honor or Humanity - Santa Esmeralda: Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - The 5, 6, 7, 8's: Woo Hoo - The RZ / Charles Bernstein: Crane / White Lightning - Meiko Kaji: The Flower of Carnage - Zamfir: The Lonely Shepherd - You're My Wicked Life - Quincy Jones: Ironside (Excerpt) - Neu!: Super 16 (Excerpt)
Kill Bill, vol. 1 was a decent movie. Style worked, but it lacked substance. Part of that style was the music, which was very well done. That seems to be case with Tarantino movies, all of which have rather good soundtracks. Kill Bill is certainly no different in that aspect. The soundtrack is full of interesting tracks. The compilation works without the context of the movie (and as with Tarantino soundtracks before, there are some dialog clips to bring that context). *****
CDx2 Copy Controlled, EMI Records 2003
Track list: Go West - Suburbia - Se a vida é (That's the way life is) - What have I done to deserve this? - Always on my mind - I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing - Home and dry - Heart - Miracles - Love comes quickly - It's a sin - Domino dancing - Before - New York City boy - It's alright - Where the streets have no name (I can't take my eyes off you) - A red letter day - Left to my own devices - I don't know what you want but I can't give it any more - Flamboyant - Being boring - Can you forgive her? - West End girls - I get along - So hard - Rent - Jealousy - DJ culture - You only tell me you love me when you're drunk - Liberation - Paninaro '95 - Opportunities (Let's make lots of money) - Yesterday, when I was mad - Single-Bilingual - Somewhere
This compilation album is a testament to the genius Pet Shop Boys represent. 35 songs, almost all of them very good or even better. Casual Pet Shop Boys listener will find all the gems, more dedicated fans might miss a track or two. A must-buy, unless one already owns all the albums. Still, this album does a good work of bringing the greatest hits together. Two new songs are included: Miracles is nice, while Flamboyant is one of the best Pet Shop Boys songs ever. *****
