Customer Reviews

Ghost World

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Holy obscurity Batman! Why didn't we know about this stuff before?
If you've seen the film, then you know the 1st track on the disc. Just having "Jaan Pehechan Ho" from the 1966 Bollywood thriller wanna-be "Gumnaam" is worth the price of the whole cd. (I did just buy the DVD, worth it if you like old Bollywood) But wait, there's more!
Most of the rest of the disc digs into director Terry Zwigoff's real-life collection of obscure roots rag-time and blues oriented 78's.
Although I could live without the obnoxious second track, the "Hi-Skool Grad Rap", the whole disc is pretty much such a refreshing relief when compared to most contemporary music. No sophisticated compressed sound, no artificially flavored angst, just people playing music made well before marketing directors devolved.
Painfully absent from the disc is Enid's childhood song "Smile and a Ribbon" by 50's short-timers Patience and Prudence. Just have to wait for the DVD release, but don't let that stop you from getting this disc.From the sick-o but incredibly catchy honky song "C-H-I-C-K-E-N Spells Chicken" to the deeply moody and haunting cuts by Lionel Belasco to jumpin' rag-time, you'll amaze your friends (especially the naive ones) that you're cool enough to know about music like this.
I play this disc at least once a day, sandwiched in between Orbital and They Might Be Giants.

Watching Ghost World, I was impressed with the obscure, cool songs used as the movie's score. It added another dimension to an already rich, offbeat movie. I have one question, though... WHERE IS "WHAT DO I GET" by THE BUZZCOCKS??? In case you don't know the song, it's the one Enid was listening to when dying her hair green, going for a vintage 1977 punk look. The Buzzcocks are classic british punk and should have been featured on the soundtrack. Other than that slight deficiency, this is a good all around album, the highlights being the vintage blues and Indian Rockabilly tracks.

Right after I finished watching the film, I knew I had to rush out and get the soundtrack. This is one of those cd's you get that you will never get bored with. Trust me. I haven't stopped playing it on a regular basis. My only complaint is the addition of the "Graduation Song" but its only a slight annoyance when you compare the greatness of this cd as a whole. This is one that has introduced me to a whole new world of music especially the old blues, ragtime and jazz found on here. Once I brought this home, turned on "Devil in My Woman" by Skip James, I got goosebumps listening to it, this soulful eerie music I had never heard before yet moved me like nothing else. Its a truly incredible song. And of course, I'm now seeking out more music like this. And basically the whole thing is just perfect from beginning to end. The theme song from Ghost World is incredible.

This cd is brilliance. As one from the MTV generation longing to find music that transcends the mediocre stuff out there today, this soundtrack is a breath of fresh air. One of my all-time favorite soundtracks. Wonderful!

I was looking forward to hearing this CD, but was majorly disappointed with the ommission of the film's best track: the childrens record Enid plays when sorting through a box in her room. Not only that, but Shanachie had to include "Graduation Rap", which really kills the enjoyment of the rest of the music on this CD, because I have to skip it every time. This track was funny in the film, but I doubt anyone who would appreciate the great blues tracks on this compilation is going to want to sit through it otherwise (as well as "Pickin' Cotton Blues", which is also included here). Every other track on this CD is EXCELLENT. Mostly vintage blues tracks, but also includes the great Indian music played over the opening credits and the beautiful, sad instrumental "Theme from Ghost World." I would have given this CD a 5-star rating, but the ommission of Enid's childrens record and the inclusion of "Graduation Rap" and "Pickin' Cotton Blues" was a MAJOR MISTAKE. The back insert and inner insert includes more great artwork by Dan Clowes.

This was the first film in a long time that drove me to walk out of the theater and immediately into a music store to pick up the soundtrack. The achingly beautiful Theme From Ghost World alone makes this a soundtrack to consider, but it's Zwigoff's wonderful collection of old blues, jazz, and ragtime that make it a necessity. Yes, much of it is something of an acquired taste for today's audiences, but well worth acquiring. Don't be stunted by the kind of dreck parodied in Graduation and Pickin' Cotton Blues; Zwigoff's selections encompass the golden age of American music.

If you like this CD, try the soundtracks to Woody Allen's Sweet and Lowdown and to Zwigoff's own previous film, Crumb--Last Kind Words Blues, on the latter, is one of the most incredibly dark and moving songs you'll ever hear.

The soundtrack to Ghost World opens with the bouncy Indian dance tune "Jaan Pehechaan Ho," with surf guitars and brass. It's the tune Enid's jamming to at the movie's beginning.

Other than that, the rocking blues "Pickin' Cotton Blues," and the useless and lame "Graduation Rap," the collection of old jazz and blues is just stunning. Some of the more easy listening stuff I can picture as music from 1930's and 1940's movies, such as "Georgia On My Mind," "Clarice," and "You're Just My Type."

Like Enid, I see Skip James' "Devil Got My Woman" as one of the standout tracks. Others include the skiffle/rockabilly of Mr. Freddie's "Let's Go Riding," the similar "So Tired" by the Dallas String Band, and Little Hat Jones' "Bye Bye Baby Blues," the song Enid and Becky are listening to in the cartoon in the inside sleeve.

As for the others, "C-h-i-c-k-e-n Spells Chicken" is an amusing hee-haw style number.

One complaint: why include the "Graduation Rap"? It doesn't serve any purpose except annoy the listener. Well, this one anyway. Thankfully for the listener, it's rather short. Why not do a reprise of the first song, which closes the movie?

This is a truly unique soundtrack to a movie of matching quality. Put simply, G-H-O-S-T-W-O-R-L-D-S-O-U-N-D-T-R-A-C-K spells winner!

This is an excellent soundtrack if you like blues. I got it just for the Mohammed Rafi track used in that Indian dance routine. What's nice about this soundtrack is that the music for the film was chosen specifically based on it's merits. This is a rarity these days, with many movies incorporating music because of some record deal or the company trying to promote some up and coming band/singer.

Too bad this movie didn't get as much exposure as it should have.

Hello fans of Ghost World. I sense a strong feeling of angst toward two particular tracks on this album: the elusive Graduation Rap and Cotton Pickin' Blues. Personally, I think these songs are hilarious.

Since the movie is based off of the comics by Dan Clowes, the soundtrack is bound to reflect his great sense of humor. These songs are just all a part of his schtick. Let's put this into perspective. ... my mom hated Clowes' comics at first glance. I showed her that his comics were not promoting the shameful parts of our culture, but rather demoting them by the way it was presented. Clowes really makes you see the lameness and failures in ourselves and society, as Zwigoff here made us see them through this music. These two songs are humorous and accurate interpretations that really let you see how badly songs can [smell.] In return, they really allow the other tunes to shine. If you too laughed out loud upon hearing them, and you haven't read any of these comics, give them a try!

If you CAN'T handle these ditties, either lighten up or go back to reading "Hi & Lois."

I've read a lot of complaints about why these obnoxious songs where included in the "Ghost World" s/t. Well, it is a soundtrack after all(which means it incorporates the music in the movie's soundtrack), and it is very fitting in the context that it gives a great contrast to the other music on the album. Plus those songs were written by Terry Zwigoff himself, I believe, for the movie so there's an element of camp and toungue-in-cheek added to those songs. They were supposed to be obnoxiously bad! I believe that the "We off the hook" song in Wowsville ("Who could forget this great 50's hit") and the noise-industrial-rock song in "Zine-O-Phobe" (that comic book shop with the annoying "redneck hick" that gave Thora Birch's character a hard time) were also written by Zwigoff, so be thankful that they weren't included in the soundtrack also!

Great music, just great music. "Jaan Pehechaan Ho", the opening credits track, taken from a 1965 obscure Indian musical, is worth the price of the CD alone. You'll get up and do the frug and the watusi and whateversorts of crazy headwaving stuff when the horn section goes crazy. I dare you to stand still.

There's an absolute classic from Skip James to make this worth your while, "Devil Got My Woman", all wailing and moaning. This is powerful blues, the kind that hooked young Mick Jagger for life. Actually, the CD got plenty of the old stuff, like Robert Wilkins' "That's No Way To Get Along" or the sly "Bye Bye Baby Blues" by Little Hat Jones. (Does anybody still have those Arhoolie and Yazoo label records and those 78s displayed so casually in the movie? Bless Zwigoff's twisted soul. I put 'em on back again, after seeing the movie, after quite a long time.)

There's plenty of great 1920's big brass music by the likes of Lionel Belasco or Vince Giordano. Just writing their names greases up my keyboard.

..You can't get any more cool music than this. Timeless. (Now play that opening track again!)