Customer Reviews

The Million Dollar Hotel: Music From The Motion Picture (2000 Film)

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When you're as big as U2 is, you really can take on any side project you want to and get away with it.

This time around, U2 front man Bono actually wrote the story for Winders' latest picture, "The Million Dollar Hotel," so he took a big hand in scoring it, asking friend and collaborator Daniel Lanois to help him, and the results make for pleasant listening.

The band also has contributed tracks to three of director Wim Winders' other films - "Until the End of the World," "Faraway So Close!" and "The End of Violence."

In between albums "Zooropa" and "Pop," U2 also got together with producer Brian Eno and made "Passengers: Original Soundtracks Vol. 1," a collection of soundtrack pieces for (mostly) fictional films.

The soundtrack kicks off with one of the two new U2 songs on the album, "The Ground Beneath Her Feet," although observant U2 fans will note the lyrics are not Bono's, but instead written by noted author Salman Rushdie.

Still, it's a building and soaring song in the style of "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" that proves what U2 fans have suspected for a while - if U2 has Brian Eno on one hand, it needs Daniel Lanois on the other.

U2's last album, "Pop," was a good album, but not a great one. It seemed like the songs never really stuck, and something was missing. Most likely, it was Lanois.

Both "Achtung Baby" and "The Joshua Tree" were co-produced by Lanois and Eno, and the two need each other to strike a balance of sorts between Eno's space-pop and Lanois' field guitar.

The only completely new, completely U2 song on the album is "Stateless," a quiet, brooding song that wouldn't have seemed out of place on "Zooropa." It gives one a great deal of hope for the next U2 album that's tentatively scheduled for release before the end of the year.

Speaking of "Zooropa," a song from that album, "The First Time," makes an appearance here. Twice in fact, the first time being the band's original and the second time covered by Lanois and the revolving collection of musicians referred to as "The Million Dollar Hotel Band."

This brings us to the major problem with the soundtrack - even though it's nearly an hour long, there are two different versions of "The First Time" and three different versions of Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love," two of which star Milla Jovovich (who's in the movie) doing her best Nico impression. Sure, each of these songs is great in its own right, but it can get a bit repetitive.

Also on the album are a few fantastic collaborations between Bono and Lanois, including the soundtrack's centerpiece and most lovely song, "Falling At Your Feet."

Lanois' fingerprints are much more obvious on the soundtrack than Eno's, and the results mean the soundtrack is generally more of the atmospheric emptiness of "The Joshua Tree" than the bubbly techno-murmurs of "Zooropa," but the two U2 tracks stay dead smack in the middle.

All of this means that the soundtrack was really more of Lanois' project than Eno's, but they're both putting equal time in on the new album, which is always a good thing.

The soundtrack closes with nearly all of U2 (Bono playing guitar, Larry Mullen playing drums and Adam Clayton playing bass - only guitarist Edge is nowhere to be heard) with Tito Larriva and the MDH Band performing a Spanish cover of the Sex Pistols "Anarchy In the UK," adapted to "Anarchy In the USA." I kid you not. It's an upbeat way to end a mostly blue soundtrack.

Don't expect to see "The Million Dollar Hotel" coming to theaters near you any time soon, as the film does not yet have a U.S. distributor, despite sporting big-name stars such as Jovovich and Mel Gibson, but oh well, you can't win 'em all.

Now if U2 would just get in gear and finish its new album, as the soundtrack offers nothing but optimistic promises, leaving U2 fans wanting more.

I've been waiting quite a while for this disc. Ever since I first heard Bono would be co-writing a film with Wim Wenders, and that him and the boys in U2 would be supplying the tunes, I put it down in my "must buy" list. And it does not disappoint.

The new U2 tracks "The Ground Beneath her Feet" and "Stateless" are two beautifully melencholy pieces. "Stateless" resembles U2's "Miss Sarajevo quite a bit, and is just a gorgeous track. "Falling at your feet" is more of an upbeat tune. Bono and Danial Lanois' voices blend perfectly! The only disappointment was the recycling of old material like "The First Time", but the reprise is beautiful.

All in all, a perfect CD for U2 and soundtrack fans alike, and hopefully a taste of things to come from those Irish lads!

If you've never liked U2, don't let that (completely irrational and baseless ;-D) prejudice keep you away from this album: it's one of the most brilliant soundtracks of the last decade. Wim Wenders, say what you will about his films (I do), has the Midas touch with musical accompaniment; check out UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD, FARAWAY SO CLOSE! or BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB and you'll see what I'm talking about. This moody, jazzy album has two gaping flaws: 1. The songs are too short. 2. Milla Jovovich builds up a wonderful version of "Satellite Of Love," only to throw it all out of whack with a sudden cat-and-a-rocking-chair screaming jag at the end. You get used to it eventually. "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" is the little present U2 fans were waiting for before the next album (and don't let the trite lyrics by Salman Rushdie color your impressions of him; the novel upon which they're based is superb), and "Stateless" is the song to make non-U2 fans wonder. The MDH Band contributions are wonderful as well; other than Milla's little flirtation with disaster, this record is essentially flawless. The perfect CD to put on when you're awake at 4 AM and want to savor the night while it's there.

I've been waiting a long time for this soundtrack to come out and i'm very impressed. the 2 new U2 songs here are just excellent. "The ground beneath .." shows U2 maturing once again in their sound with an awesome pedal steel by Daniel Lanois, and in my opinion, Bono's voice has never sounded any better ! "Stateless" is a song that could of been on Achtung Baby or Pop, but it really works here. I especially love the part at the end where Bono's singing about "the weight" pushing down on him. The 3 new Bono songs here are just as good and maybe even better. "Never let me go" basically being one of the movie's theme, and really showing Bono's writing capacity. This guy surely can write, but did you see he also wrote some of these with the writer of the movie ? "falling at your feet" which has Daniel Lanois lending his beautiful voice and writing ability can really steal you away. Now, some might have different opinions about "dancin' shoes" but i think it's one great song. it's reminiscent of Bono's "howie b, hairy b mix" of Discotheque mixed with "Elvis Ate america". It's just got a dark kind of shadow feeling. The other songs aren't so bad. "satellite of love" by Milla starts off not bad but she ends of chopping it up. I have a feeling that was Bono's handy work there, trying to capture the movie in a song again . "Anarchy in the USA"...why the devil is it in spanish ? anyways, that's my opinion, i recommend this to anyone who loves U2. it's a very relaxed soundtrack, and it's great to fall asleep to :)

I heard "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" on the radio a couple of weeks before the album's release. Let me tell you, it was the longest two weeks of my life. This album is everything across the board. Dreamy, depressing, inspirational, hypnotizing, some trashiness with a touch of class. This music which will stretch whatever emotion you feel at the time of listening. After first review, you'll be thinking of that certain someone and seeing blues and purples for days. "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" is a wonderous love song. Accompanied by Daniel Lanois on lap steel, this tune has a yearning undertone. "Never Let Me Go" follows suit. Bono's vocals sound so personal that you would think the song was recorded alone in the studio with Bono singing to his wife. "Stateless" has U2 written all over it. Very loose at the end with a choppy yet powerful ending. This song would've fitted nicely on Achtung Baby. "Falling At Your Feet" is just vintage Lanois. This is a truly timeless song you wish was dedicated to you at some point in your life. "The First Time", which was previously available on "Zooropa", makes it's appearance on the soundtrack. It makes total sense snuggled in a bed of roses. "The First Time"(Reprise) is a sure fire listen. The only downfall is that it's not long enough. "Dancin' Shoes" may not set well with everyone but, it's a song to appreciate. Bono attempts to sing the blues and it works well accompanied by a slow rhythmic beat of a dying heart. I Highly reccomend this album to any "Mature" music listener. The place where this music takes you is of indescribable elation...or desperation.

I pass by the old Million Dollar Hotel everyday going through Downtown Los Angeles. What a sad sight to see for sure, this building is lucky to be standing. But listening to this album evokes something greater than what you may look at or even see on the surface. The MDH was a power spot on the map of history and this music serves that history well, as it should. I have always thought Bono would go in this direction, and it's definitely taken him enough time, but surely worth waiting.

The album is a solid attempt at a mix of soulful and truthful lamentations in a Leonard Cohen-esque fashion, layered with a Miles Davis Quintet feel to it.

Should we want, or desire that sound from The Joshua Tree or Zooropa? I think that is wrong, because as time passes so do our tastes and even our abilities. I used to like Led Zeppelin, but now I turn on the radio and hear some classic rock station playing it for the millionth time. They never changed. The fact that U2 struggled hard to cut down their own personal Joshua Tree, succeeded, and moved on - is a triumph in itself. For me, I had to let them go. U2 on the other hand have never stayed the same, much like clouds.

That alone deserves all our respect.

This record belongs to that rare set of film scores that are so evocative, so literate, and so compelling, that you hardly need the film. Thing is, this isn't a proper film score, now is it? It's a bit of a score, a bit of a soundtrack (ie, a compilation of individual songs), and a bit of a U2 album. It is a real testament to all involved--U2, Bono and his MDH Band, and assorted producers, musicians, and artists covering other peoples' material--that it all makes sense, everyone sounding like a brilliant thread in somebody else's tapestry. Because this record *does* have a "the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts" appeal--welcome to the world of Wim Wender's soundtracks!

U2 show they know how to apply themselves to an emotional moment, because yes the new songs sound like U2, but no, they don't sound like they could have come off another album. The previous material they included fits nicely, using Milla Jovovich's peculiar and unforeseeably perfect vocal acrobatics to expand one of their favourite covers, "Satellite of Love;" and Daniel Lanois and the MDH Band reveal a whole new beauty to "The First Time" in their reprise of that song. Bono's sans-U2 contributions are first-rate--he practically acts all the characters and moods with his voice, but not in a hokey way. There is a real emotional, as well as musical, complexity to this album. Cheers to all the additional musicians. This album begins with a soaring, distinctly U2 embodiment of a Salman Rushdie poem, and ends with a nearly out-of-control Spanish version of the Sex Pistol's "Anarchy in the USA," and packs inbetween things old (previous U2 work), new (MDH Band), borrowed (Velvet Underground, movie dialogue, etc.), and blue (that fabulous trumpet!), never once making a musical or emotional misstep. What a marriage!

This is yet another amazing work of art from (primarily) Bono and U2. As expected, the U2 tracks are awesome. The others are pretty good as well. Unfortunately, Milla Jovich's singing is nothing but scathing auditory pain. I have no idea how Bono let her sing in an album he produced. This would be an easy "5" rating, but Milla was just too bad. I can't wait for the film release!

Most soundtracks these days are simply a mix of existing songs with perhaps one original track that runs its course on the radio/video circuit, and then fades away. From a musical standpoint, at least, The Million Dollar Hotel is a cut above these regular faire. It's spearheaded by Bono, who is also the film's co-screenwriter and executive producer, and as such has assembled an almost entirely custom-tailored set of songs that fit in snuggly with the film's tone. They are all unique, all moody, and all sincere. You will find no Total Request Live hits here, no overplayed comeback extravaganzas (I take that back, "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" has gotten some airtime, apparently). At its best (TGBHF, Falling At Your Feet), this album evokes a number of emotions with its jazzy, ambient layered sounds and poignant lyrics. Little music I hear today can be at once so melancholy and uplifting. At its worst (2:30 into Milla Jovovich's cover of Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love"), it is misguided experimentalism. Yet that's the rub, even then it's still true to the movie's atmosphere, as horrifying as the results may be.

Some have compared M$H to "Passengers: Original Soundtracks 1," the beautiful 1995 collaboration between U2 and Brian Eno that was a soundtrack searching for a movie. M$H is certainly more consistent and fluent in the mood it sets, not to mention far more down to Earth. I guess that's what happens when you actually have a film to guide your efforts. Still, there's no denying that the two albums represent a similar subtle approach to painting sonic atmospheres, and for those of you poor souls out there who don't care for U2's "arena" discography but find yourselves attached to M$H, I would highly suggest "Passengers" as another foray into the minds of four musical masters.

Here's what it comes down to: if you're a U2 fan, this latest-in-a-twenty-year-line-of-experiments only makes their depth that much more evident. If you've never heard of U2 but like jazz and could handle it with an ambient flare, then M$H may be worth looking into. Otherwise, it may be a bit too narrowly tailored for your tastes.

I bought this CD for "The Ground Beneath Her Feet," as the single almost as expensive as the full album, and I figured any good songs besides that one would be a bonus. I made the right choice. I'll start with why it didn't get 5 stars from me. First of all, as at least one other reviewer (and not the only one, I'm sure) has pointed out, Milla Jovovich is awful, and like him I had to race for the skip track button to get rid of her caterwauling on "Satelite of Love" and on the remix, ruining an otherwise good song. "Anarchy in the USA" was terrible (my advice: skip track 4 and stop at track 14). Otherwise the album was a nice surprise, especially the MDH Band. The album is very dreamy and their songs are the dreamiest of all the tracks. U2 has been sort of hit-or-miss with their sound experiments in recent years but they hit with this one, especially "The Ground Beneath Her Feet." The album is REALLY slow, but if you're in the mood for slow it's tough to beat this one. It's very much a nighttime album and I recommend it, with the aforementioned exceptions of course. Overall, a beautiful soundtrack.