One of the best soundtracks EVER (Cruel Intentions - Soundtrack)

Member Name: lorraryall

Product:	Cruel Intentions - Soundtrack
Date:	25/07/03 (1269 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Variety of sounds and styles, The songs all feature in the film, Mixture of well known and lesser known songs/artists

Disadvantages: A large number of slow tempo songs

Cruel Intentions has to be one of the biggest teen films of the 90's and with good reason, its mixture of humour, sex and a fantastic cast really sets it up to do well. And it really did, with a large percentage of the population having seen and (mostly) loved this original film, loosely based on Dangerous Liasons. After seeing the film one of the high points which stuck in my memory was the music, with a number of songs which I already knew and enjoyed aswell as a number of previously unheard songs, which reached the same high standard. This is the reason which I decided to buy the soundtrack.

My main concern when buying the Cruel Intentions Soundtrack was one which I'm sure many people can understand - will the soundtrack actually have the songs from the film? Or will it have lots of new tracks designed to cash in on the movie's fame whilst remaining almost wholly unrelated to the music in the film. After briefly scanning the track listings on the CD I was impressed, for once all the songs seemed to appear in the film. I was impressed with that before I even listened to the album.

The soundtrack was released in 1999 alongside the release of the film cruel intentions, and shared the same success as the movie. It contains 14 tracks with a mixture of styles, from dance to rock and some ballads, aswell as including a distinct variety of artsists. It contains well known artists such as "Placebo" and "Fatboy Slim" who have had worldwide success, as well as some lesser known artists, however the standard of music produced does not vary in this way. A high standard is maintained throughout the soundtrack.


1)Every You Every Me - Placebo - A good way to begin a soundtrack, a well known song by a well known artist. It is also the first song to appear in the film, so the decision for it to take first place on the soundtrack seems well made. A very upbeat and catchy song by a famous alternative band, many people a
re sure to appreciate the originality of this song. Definitely one of Placebo's best songs, and sure to be a hit with everyone. It has a very fast and upbeat beat, which everyone will find themselves bouncing about to. It's a sure summer song, and makes an absolutely perfect start to the album. I am definitely very impressed with this choice for first track.

2)Praise You - Fatboy Slim - Another relatively well known song, by a well known artist. This song maintains the upbeat feel of the album, and is definitely another upbeat and happy number. The lyrics are extremely addictive, and everyone is sure to be singing along, and with the catchy beat they may find themselves dancing around aswell. It is an extremely good track, and brings a dance track to the album, which rarely feature on soundtracks. It gets a bit repetetive towards the end, and people may find it a bit annoying, but it is a really good track.

3)Coffee and TV - Blur - The stream of well known artists is continued with this contribution from Brit pop band Blur. Although blur's best days appear to have passed they still produce top songs occasionally, and this is definitely one of them. It mixes their own alternative style with a poppy feel which will make it appeal to a far wider audience. Hearing this song always immediately reminds me of the video (remember that milk carton), and that thought always makes me smile. It has a distinctive beat which I really like, aswell as catchy lyrics in a different style from the previous tracks. I really like this song aswell, it's definitely a good track on the album aswell as being my favourite blur song.

4)Bedroom Dancing - Day One - This track seems to begin a section of the album with a higher percentage of lesser known artists (well I knew less of them anyway). It has a kind of bizarre dancey feel to it, and the beat is almost a bit trippy but I do like it. It definitely brings a different sound to the album so far, a
swell as being a bit slower paced than the previous tracks. I can't remember where this song appears in the film but I'm sure it does because it really rings a bell every time I hear it.

5)Colorblind - Counting Crows - Another well known artists slotted in here, with possibly one of the best songs I have ever heard in my life. I completely adore this song. It is much slower paced than the previous tracks, and the combination of piano and FANTASTIC vocals creates a really haunting effect which is top stuff. It features at a particularly prominent part of the movie, and is sure to make you remember the scene if you've seen the film. A very emotional ballad which is definitely my favourite track on the album. If you're not going to buy the album then I would definitely recommend going out and buying this song anyway!

6)Ordinary Life - Kristen Barry - A female voice takes the stage in this track, which is definitely noticeable as all other tracks have had male vocals as the lead this far. It is a mid tempo track, with once again a trippy sound combined with haunting lyrics. A very bizarre sound, definitely one for the more alternative sound, but it is quite a nice track. After a few listens to the album I have found myself tending to skip this track though, it's nice but not one of the album's best!

7)Comin' Up From Behind - Marcy Playground - Not exactly world reknowned, but definitely famous in their own right, Mracy Playground provide a fantastic track. Their vocals take a very unique sound and combined with a heavy beat they create a very good track. I really like this track, it's really powerful beat gives it a very drammatic feel and make it extremely memorable, people are sure to remember it from the film.

8)Secretly - Skunk Anansie - Once again, famous artist, with a less famous track. I'm not a big fan of ballads, and I'm not a big skunk anansie fan but I do find myself really appreciat
ing this track. The more I listen to it the more I like it. It is a bit more slow paced and the verses do tend to irritate me, but the chorus' have such powerful vocals and nice music that i find this song really growing on me over time. I think anyone that appreciates powerful ballads will like this song, it's just not the style of song which appeals to me.

9)This Love - Craig Armstrong; Elizabeth Fraser - As soon as the first few notes of this song are played it triggers my memory and I remember it appearing in the film. The vocals are amazing, and definitely reach new heights of the haunting and trippy variety. If ever there was a ballad which I could stand it would be this one, with it's top vocals and generally very psychadellic sound and style it is an amazing track which will stay in your memory for years. My favourite ballad on the album, even if I can't understand much of what's being said.

10)You Could Make a Killing - Aimee Mann - This is again another slower paced track, which is particularly memorable from the film. I think the combination of alternative sounding vocals and minimal instruments makes a song which is extremely unique and very enjoyable. It definitely represents the overall alternative sound of the album, it's only downside is its positioning on the album. The number of slow pace songs played at this point makes the album less appealing, and at this point you tend to skip a few. But I would recommend skipping some previous tracks and listening to this one.

11)Addictive - Faithless - Faithless are well known and I think any fan of theirs will truly appreciate this track, however I'm not a fan so I don't think I really do the song justice. The backing of this track is it's best feature, with a wonderful overall sound and a crazy beat to enjoy, but the "faithless vocals" irritate me (as ever) and really put me off this track, which would otherwise be really good.
r>12)Trip On Love - Abra Moore - As soon as this song begins I find myself thinking of the 80's, it has a very happy go lucky feel to it and a bit of a faster pace to pick things up for the end. It's a definite smiley track, although I couldn't pick out any particular strengths of the track it's overall sound is positive and enjoyable.

13)You Blew Me Off - Bare Jr - This has a more rocky feel to it, which I really like. Big on guitars and drums and a slightly shouty chorus create a really powerful track. I particularly like the way it combines extremely powerful and drammatic moments with seemingly emotive and angry verses. It is a good track, and i really like the rocky feel to it. The main downside to the track is that the title line seems to be said about 1000 times with only 2 lines of verse breaking it up, and this gets a bit annoying towards the end of the track. The music is definitely worth a listen though.

14)Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve - Possibly one of the most memorable songs in the film, and a fantastic way to round off a fantastic album. It is the last song to appear in the film and it's position on the album mirrors this. The introduction with it's heavy basis on stringed instruments is very powerful and touching, and as soon as the lyrics start people will find themselves singing along. It's a slower tempo song, but it doesn't have a whiney ballad feel to it, it's more of an emotional and powerful track, which really ties of the album superbly. A fantastic track, another one of my favourites on the album.

The varitey of sounds featured on the album is it's main advantage. Most people would find something on the album which they truly appreciate, whether it's dance, pop, rock or ballads, there is something here for everyone. Another huge advantage is that it actually contains music which features in the film, and most of the songs will immediately remind you of particular sce
nes in the film.
As a soundtrack it is fantastic, with the best songs from the film being put together perfectly. I think the main drawback is the number of slow tempo songs which follow each other in the middle of the album.
If you have seen cruel intentions and are considering buying the album I would say definitely do it! This is one of my most highly recommended CD's ever, it's mixture of a variety of sounds is done superbly and I can barely fault it as an album, let alone as a sountrack.