Customer Reviews

Backbeat: Music From The Motion Picture

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm not the biggest Beatles fan, but this soundtrack, just like the impression I got from the movie, cooks with raw passionate rock and roll. Simple and raw. As a rock musician, I seldom hear such gritty power, but I hear it from this guy imitating John Lennon. The instruments really sound full despite having only two guitars a bass and a drum set. I don't write these reviews often, but I dig this sound! You can't go wrong with this one.

The tunes your parents grew up with were favorites cover songs of the Beatles in their early, pre-fab days. Never mind if you haven't seen the movie (a great story loosely based on the 5th Beatle), it's all about the soundtrack anyway. The on screen band makes an attempt to look like the Beatles. While the real musicians behind the scenes make a better attempt to sound like 'em. Guitar legend Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) goes way retro with a successful effort to recreate the original Beatles sound (i.e. - vintage instruments) and is almost outdone by Greg Dulli (Afghan Wigs) on vocals. Tight sound all around.

This is the soundtrack to a movie about the Beatles early years working in Hamburg, Germany. Actually, it's more about the friendship between John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe, and Stu's romance with Astrid Kirchherr (not Ashton Kutcher). Anyway, the album features cover versions of cover versions that the Beatles used to play back in the day. The songs are performed by contemporary rock musicians in a hopped-up style. Greg Dulli sings the "John Lennon" parts and Dave Pirner sings the "Paul McCartney" parts. There are far more songs sung by Dulli, since the movie is more John's story than Paul's. The songs are good cover versions of Little Richard, Larry Williams, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran and etcetera songs. They don't sound anything like the Beatles, but it's still enjoyable. But I should probably point out that the CD is only 27 minutes long.

the movie, based on the story of the 5th beatle, was ok. this album however is amazing. The band is comprised of Dave Grohl (formerly of Nirvana (the beatles of the nineties) and now in the Foo Fighters), on drums. Mike Mills of REM on bass, Thurston Moore of Sonic youth on guitar, Gregg Dulli formerly of the Afghan Whigs and now in Twilight on vocals, Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum on guitar and some vocals. quite the stellar lineup.
The music is short and so is the cd. probably less than 30 or 40 minutes from start to finish. the songs are are all rockabilly style, which is what the beatles played before they became famous. the music is short, intense, fun, simple, raw rock and roll played with a tight sound. you can actually hear the bass and Mike Mills is one grerat bass player (that we knew but he really flexes his muscle here)
The center of it all and the key to any great band is a great drummer and you caNNOT go wrong with MR. David Grohl. he is thee drummer of my time. fast, tight (in the pocket for all you musicians) playing that grounds the music and drives it as well allowing the guitars and bass to soar and deliver one exquisite album.

Hamburg, Germany and the Cavern Club revisited from 1960 through 1962 and presented as a contemporary punk soundtrack. Every song here was part of the Beatles' stage show and before Lennon and McCartney had fully mastered the art of song construction for themselves. These modern day rockers manage to respect the Beatles and their 1950's mentors by maintaining the same tempo and basic instrumentation with the same verve and still making it their own.

Gregg Dulli, from the Afghan Whigs, sings the John Lennon parts but doesn't quite manage (or attempt) his passionate high notes. This is especially noticeable in "Please Mr. Postman" and "Twist and Shout", where Lennon went for broke. But they do a "Bad Boy" that rivals the Beatles. And they do positively fervid versions of "Roadrunner" and "Carol" which I'm convinced even the Beatles couldn't have improved upon. The same goes for "Twenty Flight Rock". Give special thanks to Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth for guitar chores and to David Grohl from Nirvana, no slouch on drums. If you love the Beatles' Second Album (like me) take a chance with this. It could be gunning for the next best thing.

This soundtrack is unbelievable. It shows, that great music never gets old. All these Rock'n'Roll classics are performed in a fast and furious way without ever disrespecting the original composition or arrangement. Dave Grohl, Mike Mills, Thurston Moore, Gregg Dulli and Dave Pirner must have had a ball recording this session and it shows. The production is simply timeless and no matter if you were around when the Beatles first played these tracks in a dirty basement in Hamburg or you just came across this soundtrack because you like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, REM, Afghan Wings or Soul Asylum, you will be blown away by this short and sweet collection of gems.

many many people would listen to this and say god never intended greg dulli to sing. well i don't beleive in god... but greg dulli is someone who deserves worship. sure he can't sing, but neither can neil young, mick jagger, roger waters, etc... but wow!!! they sound great. if you don't have any whigs albums, then trust me (and every music critic in the world) and pick some up.

Listening to this, I couldn't help but wonder what the Beatles would have been like had Dave Grohl been behind the drum kit. He (former Nirvana drummer, now writing/singing/guitaring Foo Fighters) drives this album, and renders it better than anything of that day.

I'm a huge fan of the Beatles. I'm also a huge fan of the modern artists that did this album. ..and the Backbeat movie was ok too. So I figure, how can I go wrong. I'll buy the record.

Well simply put, the album sounds like a bunch of generic poo.

Why in the world did they have Thurston Moore on here? Hmm, we need somebody to stand there and strum basic chords .. let's bring in someone who normally plays sound-effects guitar with magnets and drumsticks.

Obviously the point was to put together a modern supergroup (underground supergroup anyway) to cover a supergroup.

Problem = it doesn't sound like The Beatles OR like these familiar modern artists. It just falls somewhere boringly inbetween, though that might be exactly what some people would want.

DAVE GROHL CANNOT SING. Yeah that's right I said it. Gumby was a better rockstar then this guy. ..well i mean that sarcastically but thinking about it, Gumby was actually a really cool rockstar. But back on topic, Dave Grohl needs to stick to things he's good at like chewing gum, beating the snot out of drum-sets, and growing big sweaty moustaches.

I've heard cardboard boxes blowing in the wind that sounded more exciting then this record.

If Amazon.com had the feature, I'd give it a negative star just for having the guy from Soul Asylum on it.