The Mood, the Feel, the Music (and a little about U2)
Written: Nov 15 '01 (Updated Nov 16 '01)
Product Rating:
Pros: Some evocative instrumentals; Miss Sarajevo
Cons: Some unmemorable moments make this a patchy collection
The Bottom Line: U2 may be the obvious players here, but the puppet master is surely Brian Eno who succeeds for the most part in translating mood to music. Rating: Strong 3/5.
seraf's Full Review: Original Soundtracks 1 by Original Soundtrack/Pass...
I'm not entirely sure how many of the following tracks are soundtracks to *actual* movies. I know at least one of them is. For the rest I'll just take the liner notes' word for it. So anyway here's my (first ever) track-by-track view of U2 and friends' (mainly their long-time collaborator Brian Eno) instrumental-oriented effort.
This album was released some time between U2's 'Zooropa' (1993) and 'Pop' (1997), and for the band it's perhaps inspired by the former's foray into electronica. From the title one would expect more to come, but judging by its underwhelming sales, that's probably wishful thinking.
But stuff the sales and the charts. Whenever I think 'soundtrack' I go for ways of capturing the feel of a film's theme. And how well does 'Passengers' perform based on this simple requirement?
1. United Colours
Starts off all atmospheric, with twangy bits coming in shortly after. The locomotive-like effects gradually give in to more urgent, supernatural ones. Good fit for 'United Colours of Plutonium' which is (yep, you've guessed it) a ghost story set on a train.
2. Slug
U2's frontman Bono makes his first appearance here but his singing and lyrics are inconsequential. The peaceful dawn-like ambience and the Indian-like percussion are the main performers. (To Brett Anderson of Suede: See? That's how you use the word 'Indian.' 'Indian Slug' is infinitely more relevant than 'Indian Strings'!!).
3. Your Blue Room
Bono once again, but in a more central role. Faint organs, laidback bass and drums. Adam Clayton's voice and The Edge's guitar make their appearance near the end. Nice relaxation tune.
4. Always Forever Now
Getting upbeat now, with drums and bass on the foreground building up in tempo to an echoing synth chorus. Bono offers to sing the song title. Good music to do something fast to. Even better if you finish doing it by the end of the track. (Well, yea I may be crude, but at least I'm practical...)
5. A Different Kind Of Blue
Morsel of a track not really worth noticing. Unless it's Brian Eno's voice you're dying to listen to.
6. Beach Sequence
The title says it all. Walking along an empty beach, slightly muted sun, rolling waves, gentle breeze, hearing nothing but this track. And yes, while doing this 'time shoots on by' as Bono helpfully reminds us.
7. Miss Sarajevo
Sounds of rain opens the first real song on the album. Sombre, slow-moving track makes way for a performance by famous tenor Pavarotti. I'm no opera fan/critic, nor do I understand Italian so I'll accept this as an OK celebrity cameo. Overall a meaningful, sometimes even poignant tale of the Bosnian plight in the early 90's.
8. Ito Okashi
Almost nothing here except for Holi's measured vocals (yes, in Japanese). Again the foreign language barrier defeats me, but I appreciate a good female singing voice any day.
9. One Minute Warning
Played over the end credits for 'Ghost In The Shell,' a pre-Matrix-era manga (Japanese animation) feature (see my review). Percussion-driven affair with Holi's processed contribution and, yes, The Edge's trademark resounding guitar. Moderately exciting.
10. Corpse (These Chains Are Way Too Long)
Boy oh boy. Have a quiet evening alone at home and play this one. The Edge lends his flatly despairing (or despairingly flat) vocals over what sounds like chains slapping on a hard stone floor (even more unsettling if I relate it to the song title). Fairly hair-raising.
11. Elvis Ate America
Bono puts on the accent as he runs over all things Elvis Presley. Fairly weird.
12. Plot 180
A non-descript piece that could be used in any film and probably still remain unnoticed. Very skippable.
13. Theme From The Swan
Subdued strings and not much else. Definitely one for the background.
14. Theme From Let's Go Native
Straightforward fare that any half-competent band can pull off, let alone U2. Still, a good antidote for the drowsiness caused by tracks 12 and 13.
'Passengers' is not a well-balanced soundtrack by any means. Not that it's meant to be one in the first place, since the tracks were meant to belong to different films. Still it's worth it if you're not averse to the ambient and/or avant-garde. For those looking to complete their U2 and/or Brian Eno catalogue, this is quite essential.
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