lambchops's Full Review: Last Action Hero by Original Soundtrack
Have you ever seen a movie so awful you found it difficult to continue watching? Was the music the only thing that kept you interested?
You must have been watching Last Action Hero because it, my friends, was an embarrassment even to Arnold Schwarzenegger. No amount of money or promotion could persuade audiences to watch that pile of steaming crap.
There was one thing positive that can be said about Last Action Hero (besides coming to an end). The music kicks some serious butt. Fans of rock and roll could only be grateful for the relief that this soundtrack brings. In support of such a crap-tastic film, this 12-song disc could have been a massive flop. Instead, what it offers up is a snapshot of great bands from the early 1990s. This, as everybody knows, was a trying time. In the wake of grunge, hard rock and metal were all but forgotten. The band here prove once and for all that pure rock and roll is here to stay.
Last Action Hero contains original offerings alongside staid classics. It combines new acts with proven ones and in the end it’s hard not to enjoy the album. Think about it for a moment—we have Alice in Chains alongside AC/DC and Aerosmith next to Queensryche. This is an outstanding sampling of what rock had to offer in 1993. Even better is that the vastest majority of the bands here are still well known and many still make great music. This is easily one of the best rock soundtracks of the 1990s.
There are a handful of songs that really jump out at me. The first is the album opener, Big Gun performed by the always exciting AC/DC. Despite the movie’s failure, Big Gun landed atop the largely alternative/grunge dominated rock charts and even today gets plenty of radio airplay. Loud, wild, and exuberant it represents everything that the band has always been about. Guitars and drums along with Brian Johnson’s gruff wail give great energy to this mid-tempo rock hit. I can’t imagine a better way to kick off this soundtrack.
More impressive still is that three more songs were modest hits in their own right. Alice in Chains graced the charts with the amazing original track What the Hell Have I. Driven, grinding performances make this one of their must-hear songs. Layne Staley’s vocals are incredible as are Jerry Cantrell’s riffs. Cantrell also strums on a sitar which is an unexpected embellishment. If Alice in Chains fans want to own everything they’ve ever done, they will need to invest in this soundtrack as it’s the only non-greatest hits or boxed set release you can find this song. Queensryche (Real World) and Def Leppard (Two Steps Behind) are also impressive songs. The former is a beautiful, dramatic track song on which Geoff Tate’s deep voice is most lovely. Two Steps Behind is an unusually light, melody, and even orchestral offering from Def Leppard. The sublimely perfect performances and production are completely in line with everything else the band has ever done.
Soundtracks all too often lack consistency. There are no problems with the quality of Last Action Hero. Megadeth’s brutal Angry Again is one of the most immediately entertaining and melodically engaging songs they did in the early 1990s. It’s hard not to listen to Dave Mustaine’s delivery. Aerosmith’s classic Dream On is also here and as always the gorgeously dramatic song is incredibly moving. Alice in Chains also makes another appearance with still another new song, A Little Bitter. While it is an impressive track, it doesn’t quite succeed as much as What the Hell Have I but it still is well worth hearing.
There are a few problems as Last Action Hero nears its end. Swim from Fishbone and Cock the Hammer from Cypress Hill are fine enough songs in their own right but they don’t fit the album too well. With that said, I still enjoy them. The only real difficulty I have with this disc is with the ridiculous Last Action Hero from Tesla. It hasn’t aged well nor is it anywhere near as cool as the other songs. It leaves me dry and bored. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that the title track of a crappy movie is, well, crappy.
You can pick up this CD for next to nothing used. Rock fans will enjoy its kick-ass consistency and great selection of bands. Plus, this is the only place outside of the individual band compilations that many of these songs are available. I find it impossible not to love an album (even if it is part of Last Action Hero) that includes Alice in Chains, Megadeth, Queensryche, AC/DC, Def Leppard, Aerosmith, and others.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Big Gun - AC/DC
02. What The Hell Have I - Alice In Chains
03. Angry Again - Megadeath
04. Real World - Queensryche
05. Two Steps Behind - Def Leppard
06. Poison My Eyes - Anthrax
07. Dream On (from "MTV 10th Anniversary Special") - Aerosmith
08. Little Bitter, A - Alice In Chains
09. Cock The Hammer - Cypress Hill
10. Swim - Fishbone
11. Last Action Hero - Tesla
12. Jack And The Ripper - Michael Kamen and The Los Angeles Rock And Roll Ensemble featuring Buckethead
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Original Title: Last Action Hero: Music From The Original Motion PictureCondition: NEWArtist: Last Action Hero: Music From The Original Motion Picture...More at iNetVideo.com
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