Customer Reviews

Shaken & Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project

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

 

 

I think this is a great album, but have to admit that, for the most part, Arnold doesn't do anything too radical with these classic James Bond themes. Instead, most of the album (7 of the 11 songs) is pretty traditional, molding original compositions to contemporary electronic styles without any particularly ingenious interpretation in the vocals.

Songs like David McAlmont's "Diamonds Are Forever," Shara Nelson's "Moonraker," Martin Fry's "Thunderball," and Iggy Pop's "We Have All the Time in the World" seemed pretty much as they did back in the seventies and eighties with Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, and Louis Armstrong singing them. Others, like Aimee Mann's "Nobody Does It Better" (one of my favorite Bond themes), and Natacha Atlas' "From Russia With Love" actually seem a little weak and seem to *lose* something in their new skins.

On the other hand, Chrissie Hynde seems to breathe a little (but not too much) new energy into the now oft-played "Live and Let Die" and Pulp does a nice-sounding rendition of "All Time High" that's a lot less fluffy sounding than the original.

What I *can* credit Arnold with is collecting some great instrumental interpretations of traditional Bond themes. Leftfield does a great play on "Space March," LTJ Bukem does a smooth (if a little monotonous) version of "The James Bond Theme," and the Propellorheads spin an awesome take on "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (which includes a short bit of "Space March" in it). If you're a Bond music enthusiast at all, you'd buy it just for these three awesome tracks, which are a perfect blend of 60s pop bases with millenium-era electronic and hip hop sensibilities.

Regardless of the few somewhat lame songs, this is definitely worth your time for the three instrumentals, if nothing else. Arnold has done a great job composing for the last two Bond flicks and this shows his talent and enthusiasm for the project before it began.

Bond goes Techno-pop. I enjoy a little more than half of the tracks on this CD. Great for my Bond party, but I doubt I'll keep this CD in regular rotation otherwise. It is a good companion to the 30th Anniversary Bond CD, and it's worthwhile for diehard Bond fans to add to their collection.

I'm a big James Bond fan, and i have a very big collection of James Bond music. This cd is definetly good for any James Bond collection, or just to listen to. David Arnold does a great job with the songs. OHMSS is definatley the best song on it. Nobody does it better is ok. I did excpect more from it. All time high was one of my favorites, and on this cd it is one of the best. Live and Let Die, Diamonds are forever, and We have all the time in the world are also very good. The James Bond Theme was ok. It really didn't have much of the theme as OHMSS did. I hope you enjoy this cd as much as i have!

Outstanding versions of On Her Majesty's Secret Service by the Propellerheads and the funky Space March by Leftfield

When I first heard this CD a long time ago in a galaxy far far away... I knew I was destined to purchase it. The Composistion from David Arnold is fantastic! Whenever I play the CD in my quality Personal Computer I realize how much I enjoy this music. If you need to relax, if your in the mood for adventure, if you have a vehicle with a CD player and a long stretch of road to cruise down, then listening to this music is a must. Go Bond GO! Thumbs up to David Arnold and his crew. Great product!

This was the first Bond album that Arnold did before becoming the Bond composer, and I'm sure that MGM and EON chose him because of it! It features several differnet remixes of certian Bond themes (of which you can see above), which is good Bond music, as well as good dance music!

I was a little disappointed with this compilation. I am a fan of David Arnold and had read earlier reviews on this CD, in fact it was recognition of this compilation by Bond composer, John Barry that helped Arnold get the gig. His work in all the Bond films he's composed for has been excellent, but I found some of these renditions a little too experimental and abstract to completely enjoy. I dont think I would have purchased it had I heard it entire beforehand.

Don't believe the bad reviews. This a great album, with lush arrangements that respect the original version but add another view. All Time High by Pulp is really sublime as well as the orchestrations of Moonraker and the Space Themes. If you know by heart the original James Bond's themes you will really appreciate this album. I wish there was a second album!

I think David Arnold did a good job on this cd. He did it diferently and that is fine. I think it is hard to beat the originals (because in my mind they will always be the best), but diferent is good. I like to hear everyone's idea on how certain songs should sound. The only things I didn't like were: Nobody Does It Better and the fact he didn't choose to put in A View To A Kill. Arguably the BEST James Bond song out there (Duran Duran's vrsion of course). After all, it reached #1 on the U.S. charts and #2 on the U.K. charts.

David Arnold possesses a remarkable penchant for being able to integrate 60's cool and orchestral majesty with contemporary technology . In between composing the Oscar-winning soundtrack for "Independence Day" and scoring the Bond opus, "Tomorrow Never Dies", Arnold found time to retool a few of the classic Bond themes. With the aid of legends from the realms of punk, new wave, rock, pop and dance, Arnold has created a interestingly varied modern perspective on some of 007's finest musical moments. Fairly traditional takes on "Diamonds Are Forever", "Thunderball" and "Moonraker", augmented by modern studio gimmickry, pay respectful homage to John Barry and sound incredible. Propelled by block rockin' beats courtesy of the Propellerheads, "O.H.M.S.S.", becomes an epic monster - easily the highlight of the whole disc. Other variations are less sucessful, however. Enlisting Natacha Atlas to add an authentic Eastern flavor to "From Russia With Love" probably seemed like a good idea, but the results are less than intoxicating. Aimee Mann's dour approach to "Nobody Does It Better" suggests that someone could have done it much better. And Pulp's read on "All Time High" is bizarre, to say the least. Elsewhere in the instrumental department, Leftfield turn out a spacey breakbeat version on "Space March" from "You Only Live Twice", while drum 'n' bass maestro L.T.J. Bukem corrupts the "James Bond Theme" beyond recognition. The tribute album concept in general is a dodgy affair and typically yields inconsistant results. By overseeing the entire project, Arnold is able to maintain a consistant production quality throughout the entire compilation while still allowing for the artists individual expressions. "Shaken And Stirred" is an entertaining and worthwhile investment for all Bond fans.