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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sweeter The Second Time Around..., October 1, 2002
Supposedly this soundtrack was almost forgotten and not as popular as the original Miami Vice soundtrack;Even I almost forgot about it's existence. That was until I played the vinyl version and later purchased the cd ! I was amazed at the varied styles and artists featured. This time around the music is more in tune with the pop sounds of the late 80's.The opening track performed by Steve Jones (Mercy) is brooding and moody ! This time around a love duet ballad is introduced into the mix performed by Patti LaBelle and Bill Champlin. There is a very rare track by the now defunct group Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry called Lover . The Damned peforms a pre-alternative mod rock instrumental number called In Dulce Decorum. Jackson Browne performs a somber tracked called Lives in the Balance. Jan Hammer returns with more of his hi-tech synth instrumentals as evident in Crockett's Theme. the only dance R&B pop track is performed by Gladys Knight and the Pips called Send It To Me...The end result is that this soundtrack deserved more attention (and still does) than it received when initially released ! In fact, since the first soundtrack was overplayed on radio stations across the country when it was popular, Miami Vice 2 was overshadowed and ignored. However, it may be an 80's tv soundtrack project worth discovering again for it's catchy collection of tracks by some rare artists !...
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Style is also great to listen to, August 1, 2006
NOTE: Though this may appear to be a long review, keep in mind it is designed for those who want to know nearly everything about this product. Thank you.
Miami Vice II: New Music From The Television series "Miami Vice" was the second of its kind. Rather confusingly, Miami Vice II covers songs from both the show's second and third season, not just the second, as the title seems to suggest. Rather, the "II" designates it as the second soundtrack. Complicating matters more is the fact that the VHS for the second season opener is also called "Miami Vice II", and this album would seem to be the accompanying soundtrack. It actually does include some songs from the two-hour second season premiere episode, but it goes beyond that as well.
Miami Vice II opens perfectly with the whispery, shadowy "Mercy" by former Sex Pistols(!) guitarist Steve Jones. Serious and moody, the song is the musical equivalent of the visual shift to darker colors in the show at the time of this album's release. It's a great opener for the album and a great song as well. It appeared in the third season episode "Stone's War".
The next track is "Send It To Me" by Gladys Knight and the Pips. Unlike "Mercy", which appeared on another additional album apart from Vice II (Jones's 1987 solo debut), "Send It To Me" is unique to this album. Interestingly, it is never heard in the series. "Send It To Me" is a bit brighter than the first song and eases you into the album more. But it is no less slick; the smooth, synth-laced pop-R&B trappings are also one of the song's strengths. A 12" single included an extended version, an acapella, and an instrumental of the song.
"Take Me Home" follows, and, honestly, no description can do justice to this song. Abstract, rhythmic, lulling, melodic, and hypnotic, it is Phil's pinnacle achievement. At the time, Phil Collins was on top of the world. Having used his all-time classic "In the Air Tonight" for the first soundtrack, it only seemed right to have another Collins song used in the series appear on the second soundtrack. "Take Me Home" was used for the ending of the second season two-hour premiere "The Prodigal Son" in a sequence fans will remember fondly.
"The Last Unbroken Heart" may make some cringe, but this emotional roller-coaster of a love-ballad duet should speak clear to anyone who has a heart. Two powerful voices - Patti Labelle and Bill Champlin's - take turns singing the verses, then join for the all-out chorus, which has Champlin screaming at ont point. Also unique to the album. From the memorable third season premiere episode "When Irish Eyes Are Crying". The episode featured a different, partially instrumental version.
"Crockett's Theme" by the brilliant Jan Hammer makes its debut here. Hammer scored the series and, in keeping with the tradition of the first soundtrack, again supplies some songs inspired by the music he composed for the series. I say "inspired" because Hammer, ever the professional, believes in crafting his sounds to a radio-ready format, so that each of his tracks feel polished and integrate into the album well. Therefore most of contributions to the soundtracks are not what you heard on television, rather, they are redone as singles. And they work astoundingly well. "Crockett's Theme" might be the most brilliant instrumental created for a character, surprassing Harold Faltermeyer's stiff and dated Axel F. It works so well without words. It's sexy. It might be the best track on the album; it's certainly the coolest. Perfectly fitting the character Sonny Crockett.
"When The Rain Comes Down" is another track unique to Miami Vice II. This uptempo, fast-paced rocker brings some needed energy into the album midway through. Done by Andy Taylor, who released his own solo effort apart from Duran Duran shortly after. This song was featured in the third season episode "Stone's War". A rare 45 includes an extended version (by a minute).
"Lover" must have pleased Roxy Music fans and non-fans alike; fans because it had never been released on compact disc until this album, as it is an extremely rare track and non-fans because it is a great song. Dreamy, mellow, and wandering, Bryan Ferry's fluttery vocals make it all the more sweet and memorable. Though not unique to Miami Vice II anymore (it also appears on Roxy's Thrill Of It All), it did not appear anywhere in the series. It's also the oldest song here: copyright 1982.
Another 70s punk-turned-slick 80s AOR act, The Damned, turn in "In Dulce Decorum", which blends a great riff, big harmonies, sparse, soaring vocals and a complex, layered sound. It's quite different from the other selections, but it's a great song and works well nevertheless. Interestingly, the song featured in the third season episode "Walk Alone" is a vocalized version, which would make this here an instrumental version.
Jackson Browne's "Lives In The Balance" accomplishes quite a feat: it serves both a melodically haunting sound and a powerful political statement. Browne questions America's involvement in foreign wars, wars that are decided by people far removed from those who fight it. Browne's story-telling lyrics and impassioned vocals bring the material to life. It could easily apply to today's world. The only political song here, it doesn't feel awkward thanks to the Jan Hammer-like pan flutes and overall tense, mysterious feel. Appeared in the third season episode "Stone's War".
The last two tracks are additional instrumentals by show composer Jan Hammer. "Miami Vice: New York Theme" is a chaotic, energetic dance-like theme to hail the arrival of Crockett and Tubbs in New York City from the episode "The Prodigal Son". There's a lot of stuff going on, but it's Hammer and it's another great, fun track. Listen for the abrupt shift at the end. That final part is part of a longer, unreleased theme from that episode. It's a nice touch to include it. The second Hammer track and final track on the soundtrack is the original, 60 second Miami Vice Theme used for the opening credits of the tv show. This is probably the greatest TV theme ever. It is certainly the most brilliant.
Miami Vice II is filled with lush, sleek, polished, mainstream 80s pop-rock. What makes it such a terrific listen time and again are the selections and the order of the selections: all of them to flow in unison to some hidden, undercurrent of cool, yet they are all strong and unique enough to stand on their own. And that is the making of a great soundtrack album.
In comparison with the first soundtrack, this one is more interesting and enjoyable. The first soundtrack was more gritty and slightly tacky. This one is all class, first-class all the way. The soundtrack producers succeeded: it's cooler. And that's hard to top in the world of "Miami Vice".
To be honest, serious fans of the show may be disappointed; especially when looking back, it feels as if something more could have been included, considering how many other fine songs were featured in Miami Vice that were never released on the soundtracks (or never released at all) but could have been here. Especially frustrating are the Jan Hammer selections. Two of the three of them were released on other albums around the same time. Considering the myriad of gorgeous mini-themes Hammer created for exclusively for the show, it's a little bit of a let-down several additional new tracks were not included.
That said, fans of 80s pop-rock in general who are not necessarily into the show will find a lot to enjoy here, and they will find themselves coming back to Miami Vice II over and over. It may not be for everyone, but it is certainly the finest of its genre and perhaps of its era too.
Note there are three different versions of this CD. Two are North American releases with differing cover poses, and the third is a German release with a different rear insert design. All have the same song content.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sonny and Rico's Dance - Miami Vice, April 18, 2000
We're now in the second/third season of Vice. The series is now more focused on Sonny Crockett, Ricardo Tubbs and perhaps Lieutenant Martin Castillo. Some details are interesting in the albun, "In Dulce Decorum" has no lead singing (it had on the show ). "Lover" and "Send it to Me" are actually not present in any episodes ("Lover" is although a perfect Miami Vice song, and Brian Ferry's subtleties and refinement fit perfectly to it). Here you will find "Crockett's Theme", a famous hit, in a proportion not common for a TV series. It could have more Jan Hammer music, but that's ok, otherwise it would be the entire CD. Jan Hammer original music for Miami Vice should be released separately (I could not imagine how much CDs a collection like that would take, but surely, it'd be a wise move. Check Jan Hammer's "Escape from Television", essentially his Miami Vice solo albun, and "Too Much to Loose", also containing some Vice music).Altough the first is the first, and its selections were really great, perhaps this second volume, even not being such moving as the first one, describes better the Miami Vice style, its atmosphere. Miami Vice made music a character itself, not a background for story (far from that), not an ornament. Music was an intrinsic part of the drama. Through the pop beat, one could see the profound meanings of the scenes (In different but related ways, Kubrick's Clockwork Orange does that to classical music). Hearing those songs for a Miami Vicer means getting close to the heart of Miami Vice logic... and translating it into true meaning.
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Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
~ Jan Hammer
~ Various Artists
DVD ~ Don Johnson
~ Original Soundtrack
DVD ~ Don Johnson
