Search - Mark Isham :: Cool World: Original Motion Picture Score

Bad movie, great soundtrack

Edward Moore | Chicago, IL | 02/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Too often, great movies produce soundtrack albums that don't reflect the quality of the movies they come from. Sometimes, though, lousy movies have wonderful soundtracks that deserve to exist separately from the dreck that spawned them, and "Songs from The Cool World" is one such album. The movie it comes from might be weak, but the CD represents a terrific sampler of early technodance songs from the likes of Thompson Twins, Mindless, The Future Sound of London and, of course, the acknowledged master of techno, Moby; a couple of his earliest hits can be found here. There are also tunes from David Bowie (who does the lead track), Ministry and Brian Eno. My fave track, though, and the reason I bought the album in the first place, is "Sex on Wheelz," a fun, rowdy, nasty song that plays hard from beginning to end.In short, this is a fun, varied, thoroughly danceable soundtrack CD that far exceeds the quality of the movie it's attached to. Skip "Cool World," but buy the album and dial it up."

Real Cool Soundtrack

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 04/12/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of the first techno/electronica soundtracks to gain prominence was the soundtrack to Ralph Bakshi's Cool World, which garnered mixed reviews. I'm ambivalent about it myself today, but my love of the soundtrack has not diminished, but actually gained higher levels of appreciation.David Bowie leads off with "Real Cool World" in yet another one of his chameleonic incarnations. Even though clocking in at over five minutes, its quick-beat techno rhythm is not prolonged agony. It's the next track, the Thompson Twins' "Play With Me," my favorite by the way, that is unlike anything Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie have ever done. Sure, they ruled with Here's To Future Days, but in terms of keeping with the thematic sound and feeling of the movie, this song succeeds admirably.When are the Pet Shop Boys not the Pet Shop Boys? Answer: when Neil Tennant does lead vocals in "Disappointed," in his side project Electronic, also with Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr.The hardest song is the Ministry's Psalm 69 song, "N.W.O." and that boosts the album as well. It's the next song, the Cult's "The Witch," which is unlike anything from the new-wavy Love or AC-DC crunch of Electric. There's an industrial buzzing punctuated by chords slightly reminiscent of Electric. Ian Astbury sounds muted by the fuzz and buzz of this song. Still worthwhile, though.Moby contributes two songs here, "Ah Ah" and "Next Is The E." This is early Moby at his best, and his triple figure BPM and soul-tinged female vocalist is in its best in "Next Is The E.""Do That Thang" out-kapow's "Next Is The E" in its energetic vivaciousness, hard guitar chords, funky vocals, electronic effects on overdrive chaos. I dare anyone to hear this song and not feel energized.Sassy is the key with My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, especially with the guitar crunchy "Sex On Wheelz," with its hard-driving vocals. "Her Sassy Kiss" is different, with whirly synthesizers and brassy inclusions.The last three songs belong to the ambient category, with Pure's "Greedy," Brian Eno's "Under" and Tom Bailey's sexy and seductive "Industry And Seduction," complete with grinding metal on rock, whizzing sounds, sirens, light whips, and panting. "Under" brings about the contemplative image of staring at the stars, with the neon lights aglitter below in the never sleeping city from a high floor apartment window.A case where the soundtrack is leagues more superior than the movie, and where the techno/industrial/ambient unity is achieved."

The CD that got me into Techno-Dance-Industrial Music

Timothy M. Dolan Jr. | Newport News, Virginia USA | 03/31/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I will always remember this CD as being THE CD that got me into Techno music. I still like it to this very day. The movie it came from was interesting, but not very good, but the soundtrack is fantastic. I tell anyone interested in finding out about Techno-Dance/Industrial music to get this CD early on. Various styles exist on this soundtrack, but all of the songs are all good in their own way. An excellent CD to find out what styles of Techno you like. My favorite songs are the Tompson Twins - Play With Me (Techno-Dance/pop), MLWTTKK - Sex on Wheels (Techno-Industrial), and F.S.O.L. - Papua New Guinea (Techno-Electronica). The closest other CD to this would be "The Crow" Soundtrack (More Industrial in flavor though). Highly Recommend."