import/export...and everything in between

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Spiderman 3 vs. Batman Forever



I know this is somewhat old news, but I just saw that the new Spiderman 3 soundtrack has a gasp MySpace page. Who saw that coming? All cynicism aside, you get to listen to 3 new tracks from the album by The Walkmen, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Snow Patrol. Being the consummate YYY's fan that I am, I couldn't wait to hear their new track "Sealings."

So, I clicked. I listened.

Karen's voice sounds like she's a hostage--restained and urgent, but anchored by her signature nasally sex kitten coos. The guitar playing is delving into what Nick Zinner seems to love most: metal, but never reaches a frenzy. It goes from high paced chugging, to electronically-induced lullaby notes. It's understated and sinister... sexy.

"I want out / I want out...Drop drop down a floor / Shoot Shoot Out Your Mouth / These days I'm scraped from ceilings"

Karen mixes in her newly strong-voced high registered "oohs" in between the "love, love is in the middle" bridge. Lovely. It's a little too long for my tastes with only a verse, bridge and chorus repeated over 4:30, but when I hear you YYY's, I don't complain.

While I was listening I couldn't help but have a flashback to when I was 13 and the day the Batman Forever soundtrack was released. I trudged up to the specialty record shop in Maui and put down the 15 bucks to get the soundtrack. I think I was the only one on the island to buy it. Why was I so excited about a soundtrack? Was it Seal? Nay. Maybe it was me feeling cool for actually knowing who the Flaming Lips were, but beside all that I fell in LOVE with this soundtrack. It had PJ Harvey! Mazzy Star (a fucking unbelievable track... seriously, just go buy it in the used section for this song)! Redman rapping about Jim Carrey! U2 actually being sexy! Even the not-so cool bands like Brandy and Seal kill their songs with a layer of sultry Gotham gloom. To put it simply, no movie soundtrack had ever sounded this cool. It made my 13 year old ears liste--and learn a ton.

Which brings me back to Spiderman 3. It's being put out by Record Collection, which has been a US home for Ash and bands who happen to grace S3's soundtrack The Walkmen and Simon Dawes. Even though the "indie scene" is way over saturated with a. bands b. exposure and c. mid-thiry somethings having silly haircuts, it still warms any music lover/indie kid's heart (aka mine) to see such a great cull of bands appearing on a mammoth, mainstream soundtrack.

Let's compare:

Batman Forever Soundtrack


1. U2 - "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me"
2. P.J. Harvey - "One Time Too Many"
3. Brandy - "Where Are You Now?"
4. Seal - "Kiss From A Rose"
5. Massive Attack With Tracey Thorn - "The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game"
6. Eddi Reader - "Nobody Lives Without Love"
7. Mazzy Star - "Tell Me Now"
8. The Offspring - "Smash It Up"
9. Nick Cave - "There Is A Light"
10. Method Man - "The Riddler"
11. Michael Hutchence - "The Passenger"
12. The Devlins - "Crossing The River"
13. Sunny Day Real Estate - "8"
14. The Flaming Lips - "Bad Days"

Listen to songs here

VS.

Spiderman 3 Soundtrack


1. Snow Patrol — "Signal Fire"
2. The Killers — "Move Away"
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs — "Sealings"
4. Wolfmother — "Pleased To Meet You"
5. The Walkmen — "Red River"
6. Black Mountain — "Stay Free"
7. The Flaming Lips — "The Supreme Being Teaches Spider-Man How To Be In Love"
9. Simon Dawes — "Scared Of Myself"
10. Chubby Checker — "The Twist"
11. Rogue Wave — "Sightlines"
12. Coconut Records — "Summer Day"
13. Jet — "Falling Star"
14. Sounds Under Radio — "Portrait of A Summer Thief"
15. Wyos — "A Letter To St. Jude"
16. The Oohlas — "Small Parts"

Listen to MySpace here

It's a toss-up. I guess we'll have to wait until good ol' Spidey is released. But kudos to Wayne & co. for keeping it real 12 years later. Don't worry, Wayne, we like the grey!

As a treat for you all, here it is, my favorite B-side flashback:

Mazzy Star - "Tell Me Now"
(only a brief clip!)

Enjoy.

x, LA Broad

No comments: