Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai - The Album [Soundtrack, Live]

RZA | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 2000)
• Original Release Date: April 11, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack, Live
• Label: Artisan Entertainment
• ASIN: B00004SCH5
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,398 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Strange Eyes

2. 4 Sho Sho

3. Zip Code

4. Cakes

5. Don't Test/Wu Stallion

6. Walking Through the Darkness

7. The Man

8. Walk the Dogs

9. Stay With Me

10. East New York Stamp

11. Samurai Code Quote

12. Fast Shadow

13. Samurai Code Final Quote

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Indie film director Jim Jarmusch always works an unexpected angle, whether it's offbeat humor, a nonlinear narrative, or specific and idiosyncratic characterization. For his latest film--the story of a ghetto hit man who lives by the codes of the Hagakure, an 18th-century Japanese warrior text--Jarmusch enlisted RZA, a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Instead of imagistic tone poems that serve to reinforce a certain mood, à la Neil Young on Dead Man, RZA offers active gunplay that propels the film's narrative. The 11 tracks serve as an RZA-producer showcase, standing as independent pieces, regardless of the movie itself. Tracks vary from the subdued "4 Sho Sho," which interpolates Forest Whitaker's interior monologue with RZA's street visions, to the stuttering rhythms of Kool G. Rap's "Cakes." Tekitha's '70s disco groove for "Walkin' Through the Darkness" offers unexpected sensuality, while "The Man" by Masta Killah sets things back on the gangsta tip. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ghost Dog soundtrack, March 7, 2001

By 

James Fordy (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai - The Album (Audio CD)

If you are after the original music from the film, look out for the Japanese version of the soundtrack. It contains all the original instrumental versions of the songs from the film.

48 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars the RZA ? disappoints..., April 15, 2000

By 

scott johns (canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai - The Album (Audio CD)

I was really impressed with "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai"...the movie, and I was really impressed with the soundtrack...in the movie. Unfortunately, "Ghost Dog" the CD bears little resemblance to the tunes I remember from the film (maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention)...but I was shocked when I purchased the disc and realized that the best pieces of music- RZA's instrumental tracks were all but missing! Don't get me wrong, there are some good tracks on the disc; Jeru sounds good, RZA delivers some dope rhymes, so does Masta etc. but where is the dub-flavoured track from the film? the sword-practice track? The haunting chimes and beats from the opening of the film? This disc seems to collect all the filler from the movie...music which was played as background (and I mean BACKGROUND...read inaudible?)music and pasted them together in order to have a group of Hip Hop notables for sales purposes...Is this the record company's fault? I hope so. Anyway, I returned the disc, and am anxiously awaiting a second Ghost Dog CD release....how 'bout "Ghost Dog: The music we want to hear".

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Does Not Have half the power of the tracks in the movie, July 13, 2000

By 

Scott Woods (Columbus, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai - The Album (Audio CD)

When I saw the movie, I thought: "Okay, the music in here is pretty phat. I guess I'll be checking out the CD." Mind you, I had high expectations for the music anyway, since I've always been of the mind that a lot RZA's tracks have MAD character and ambience, and that if he got rid of some of the rapping here and there they'd be great tracks to chill out or break the speed limit to.

However, the problem with this CD is that the stalking, spooky tracks from the film AREN'T ON IT! We're left with some record company-suggested/use-a-rapper tracks that just don't fly in the face of what you knew SHOULD have been on this disc. What we're left with are throw-away B-side second-tier Wu-tang tracks that Wu-tang probably wouldn't use.

This record hurt my feelings and my wallet. I wanted hip-hop artists to be able to show Hollywood that they could handle the "big stuff" like soundtracks. DJ SPooky got burnt the same way on "Slam". I guess we'll just have to wait for another one to come down the pike.