"The Million Dollar Hotel"
U2, Various Artists
CD Sale!
The Fly presides over the soundtrack to Wim Winders's latest
flick, "Million Dollar Hotel." Not only did Bono conceive
and cowrite the screenplay, he also convinced U2 to
contribute three stunning tracks (most notably the excellent
"The Ground Beneath Her Feet"). Bono also collaborates with
the all-star Million Dollar Band (Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno,
Bill Frisell) on a host of other exemplary cuts. The result
is one of the year's best soundtracks.
"The Beach"
Various Artists
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The soundtrack to the movie adaptation of Alex Garland's
Gen-X-meets-"Lord of the Flies" novel "The Beach" features
topnotch, adrenaline-infused tracks from the modern rock
pantheon, including Blur, Moby, New Order, and Sugar Ray,
plus a surprising collaboration between Barry Adamson and
star actor Leonard DiCaprio. Swoon.
"The Virgin Suicides"
Air
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This French duo's breezy electronica sets the musical tone
for Sophia Coppola's screen version of Jeffrey Eugenide's
novel "The Virgin Suicides." Meditative, somber, and at
times soaring, this album stands alongside their best work.
"Wonderboys"
Various Artists
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In the movie "Wonder Boys," an aging professor (Michael
Douglas) struggles with writer's block. Thankfully, the
Professor of Folk doesn't have the same problem: Bob Dylan
contributes a new and original song, "Things Have Changed,"
that evokes his best work on "Time Out of Mind." Also
included are a standout host of classic rock tunes from Neil
Young, Buffalo Springfield, Van Morrison, John Lennon, and
Leonard Cohen.
Oscar-nominated Aimee Mann, whose songs serve as an
emotional driver for Paul Thomas Anderson's film "Magnolia,"
recently appeared in an intimate, small- theater show
exclusively for Amazon.com. Listen to in-concert versions of
songs from the soundtrack; her previous album "I'm with
Stupid"; and her forthcoming "Bachelor No. 2." Also, listen
to an interview with Mann and download a song from
"Magnolia", exclusively at Amazon.com.
Find "Aimee Mann Live" at
CD Sale!
GRAMMY SOUNDTRACK WINNERS
*************************
Digitized insects, animated apemen, and shagadelic
time-traveling hipsters dominated the screen this past year,
and their soundtracks ruled the airwaves and the
Grammys. Madonna returned to form, Phil Collins teamed up
with one of the hottest boy-bands in the biz, and Randy
Newman looked at life from a bug's-eye view. Here are the
winners of the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in Soundtracks:
CD Sale!
OSCAR NOMINATED SOUNDTRACKS
***************************
Honored with eight nominations, "American Beauty" is a clear
favorite to dominate this year's Academy Awards ceremony. In
addition to its Best Picture nomination, the movie has
earned an Oscar nomination for one of the year's best
scores. Also, check out the nominations for Best Song, led
by Aimee Mann's "Save Me" from the soundtrack to "Magnolia."
Don't miss our red-carpet coverage of the 72nd Annual
Academy Awards!
Oscar Nominees, Best Picture soundtracks
CD Sale!
Oscar Nominees, Best Original Score
CD Sale!
Oscar Nominees, Best Original Song
CD Sale!
Complete 72nd Annual Academy Awards Coverage
CD Sale!
"Mission to Mars"
Various Artists
Release date: March 14
CD Sale!
"Crow: Salvation"
Various Artists
Release date: March 28
CD Sale!
Digitized insects, animated ape-men, and shagadelic,
time-traveling hipsters dominated the screen this past year,
and their soundtracks ruled the airwaves and the Grammys.
Madonna returned to form, Phil Collins teamed up with one of
the hottest boy-bands in the biz, and Randy Newman looked at
life from a bug's-eye view. Here are the winners of the 42nd
Annual Grammy Awards in Soundtracks, along with our thoughts
(and in some cases, our own choices).
SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
****************
Winner:
"Tarzan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack"
Mark Mancina, Phil Collins
CD on Sale here!
Grammy fave Phil Collins teams up with boy-toy all-stars 'N
Sync to croon the kiddie-pleasing "Trashin' the Camp," the
standout song on the soundtrack to the animated film about
everyone's favorite tree swinger. In addition to that hit,
"Tarzan" features four other Collins-penned tunes and a
score by Mark Mancina that captures the sounds and rhythms
of the jungle.
Our Pick:
"American Beauty: Music From the Original Motion
Picture Soundtrack"
Various Artists
CD on Sale here!
Sorry, but you couldn't pry "American Beauty" out of our CD
player with a chisel; its blend of almost-cheesy classic
rock and too-cool-for-school indie makes it a fixture.
Contemporary alt tracks such as Elliot Smith's sweetly
crooned "Because," Gomez's retro Southern-blues tinged "We
Haven't Turned Around," and the Eels' sidling "Cancer for
the Cure" are tempered by the Who's windmilling anthem "The
Seeker," Bobby Darin's sweetheart turn "Don't Rain on My
Parade," and the vintage exotica of Peggy Lee's "Bali Ha'i.'
It's the perfect soundtrack for suburbia gone awry.
SONG FOR MOTION PICTURE/TELEVISION
**********************************
Winner:
"Beautiful Stranger"
Madonna and William Orbit
From "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me--Music From The
Motion Picture" Various Artists
CD on Sale here!
Madonna scores a hit with her best single in years,
"Beautiful Stranger," on the soundtrack to this time-
traveling hipster flick. Collaborating with electronica
wunderkind William Orbit, Madonna evokes the shagadelic
spirit of the movie and morphs it into a groovy dance-floor
hit.
Our Pick:
"Buggin'"
Flaming Lips
From "Austin Powers: The Spy Who ShaggedMe--Music From The
Motion Picture" Various Artists
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Right soundtrack, wrong song. Nothing tops the psychedelic
weirdness the Lips can conjure up, and they contribute a
song perfectly suited to Austin Powers's "If the '90s were
the '60s" comic premise.
INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION FOR MOTION PICTURE/TELEVISION
******************************************************
Winner:
"A Bug's Life: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack"
Randy Newman
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Newman has long been revered in the pop world for songs that
sparkle with scabrous wit and satirical whimsy. Who knew
that he would also emerge as a superior scorer of animated
films? Newman trumps his success on "Toy Story" with the
score to the digital illusions of "A Bug's Life." With tunes
that range from Tin Pan Alley ditties to big-band swing, the
soundtrack leaps, soars, whirls, and buzzes like a bee in a
dandelion field. And the album's theme song, "The Time of
Your Life," features Newman's best lyrical wink-and-nudge.
Our Pick:
The Academy got it right. Newman's musical musings of a
displaced bug's escapades not only charmed the child within,
but the adult without. Like the movie itself, "A Bug's Life"
is the perfect father-and-son joint, with equal amounts
cartoon humor and sly irony.
OTHER GRAMMY WINNERS
********************
All the envelopes have been opened and the winners
announced. Santana stole the show with eight Grammys,
including Album of the Year and Song of the Year. Other
winners include Christina Aguilera, Tom Waits, and the Dixie
Chicks. Check out Amazon.com's full coverage of the Grammy
Awards at:
CD on Sale here!
WORD FOR WORD: AIMEE MANN
*************************
"If I was articulate and could talk to people about how I
really felt, I wouldn't need to put it in a song. But at the
time you're writing, you don't think about how anyone is
going to react to it because you're not going to play it for
anyone, as far as you know. I'm sure I felt that there was
not a forum for me to safely discuss things of great
concern. I'm sure that's why I started writing songs. I
happened to like music and language. Put it all together and
that's what comes out." --Aimee Mann, on her soundtrack to
"Magnolia"
Read Amazon.com's interview with Mann at
More on this CD here!
You can find the soundtrack to "Magnolia" at
More on this CD here!
NEW AND NOTABLE SOUNDTRACKS
***************************
"American Beauty: Original Motion Picture Score"
Thomas Newman
More on this CD here!
It wasn't released until months after the movie, but Thomas
Newman's innovative score to "American Beauty" was actually
worth the wait. Here, Newman creates a score that varies
between highly rhythmic, world-music-influenced passages
("Dead Already," "Lunch with the King") and the more subdued
("Mr. Smarty-Man," "American Beauty"). At 37 minutes, it's
short, but Newman and "American Beauty" fans will simply
love this moody little gem.
"The Beach"
Various artists
More on this CD here!
The soundtrack to the movie adaptation of Alex Garland's
Gen-X-meets-"Lord of the Flies" first novel, "The Beach,"
features adrenaline-infused tracks from the modern-rock
pantheon, including Blur, Moby, New Order, and Sugar Ray, as
well as a surprising collaboration between Barry Adamson and
the film's star, Leonard DiCaprio.
"The Cider House Rules"
Rachel Portman
More on this CD here!
Rachel Portman has created some of the most stirring
soundtracks of the last decade and her sonic portrayal of
"The Cider House Rules" is no different. Using an Aaron
Copland-inspired waltz, a strong melodic sense, and plenty
of subtle arrangements, Portman has created a soothing score
perfect for this movie's New England setting.
"The Sopranos"
Various artists
More on this CD here!
"The Sopranos" is simply one of the most innovative TV
series being broadcast these days. On the surface, the
show's soundtrack may be less than cutting-edge (Bruce
Springsteen, Bob Dylan), but there are some great,
lesser-heard gems as well. A3's title track "Woke Up This
Morning" is infectious and weird, and there are great cuts
from Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, and Little Steven and the
Disciples of Soul.
"Titus"
Elliot Goldenthal
More on this CD here!
You may decide that "Titus"--Julie Taymor's film version of
the Shakespeare play--just isn't for you, but you still owe
it to yourself to hear Elliot Goldenthal's wild and
unpredictable score. Sweeping orchestrations, elements of
jazz, a guitar solo or two from Helmet's Page Hamilton, and
swing combine on this gorgeous work. It's easily one of the
best soundtracks of the new year.
"Topsy-Turvy"
Carl Davis
More on this CD here!
Carl Davis's score for "Topsy-Turvy" is less an original
soundtrack than a Gilbert & Sullivan best-of. Here, we get a
sprinkling of Davis's original work (soft-hued
orchestrations) and some of the best musical numbers from
"The Mikado," "Princess Ida," and "The Sorcerer."
SOUNDTRACK GRAMMY NOMINEES
**************************
Every year, the Grammy Awards highlight some of the best
(and best-loved) soundtracks available. This year's nominees
include "Life Is Beautiful," "The Red Violin," and "A Bug's
Life," to name just a few. Check out this year's Grammy
nominees and see if your favorite soundtracks were
nominated.
CD Sale!
Felicia's Journey "Score"
Check it out here...
Twilight Zone "TV Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Pokemon (Soundtrack) "Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Annie "Original TV Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Toy Story 2 (Soundtrack) "Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
King Of The Hill "TV Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Simpsons "Go Simpsonic With The Simpsons"
Check it out here...
Dogma (Soundtrack) "Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Body Shots (Soundtrack) "Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Crazy In Alabama "Score"
Check it out here...
Buffy The Vampire Slayer "TV Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Austin Powers-Spy Who Shagged "Vol. 2-Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Three To Tango (Soundtrack) "Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Princess Mononoke "Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Hitman Hart-Wrestling With Sha "Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Choice Cuts "Wicked Sounds Of Horror"
Check it out here...
VA-Prime Time Wrestling Jams "Prime Time Wrestling Jams"
Check it out here...
Stigmata (Soundtrack) "Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Stir Of Echoes "Score"
Check it out here...
Mickey Blue Eyes (Soundtrack) "Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Blue Streak (Soundtrack) "Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Iron Giant (Soundtrack) "Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Whiteboys (Soundtrack) "Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
Alfred Hitchcock 100 Years
"Bernard Herrmann Film Score Tr"
Check it out here...
In Too Deep (Soundtrack) "Soundtrack"
Check it out here...
