The Matrix: Music From The Motion Picture [EXPLICIT LYRICS] [SOUNDTRACK]

Various Artists - Soundtracks - 1999

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 30, 1999)
• Original Release Date: March 30, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics, Soundtrack
• Label: Maverick
• ASIN: B00000IFW8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (306 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,939 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
If you're going to pitch a movie about cyber-revolutionaries to plugged-in audiences, you'd best mind your MP3s and BPMs when choosing soundtrack selections. The cynical wireheads who flock to such high-tech conspiracy flicks as Brazil and Hackers are thrillseekers of the highest caliber, and The Matrix soundtrack meets this challenge faster than a speeding cyborg. The opener, Marilyn Manson's anti-consumerism rant "Rock Is Dead," paints an aural portrait of urban decay. Ominous sirens permeate the Propellerheads' drum 'n' bass track "Spybreak!"; mournful piano alternates with hard shiny beats on Rob D's "Clubbed to Death"; and Meat Beat Manifesto fills "Prime Audio Soup" with enough bleeps to make one imagine being trapped inside a motherboard in Hell. It may sound dismal, but the friction permeating this compilation of techno, grindcore, and heavy metal is energizing enough to make fans of these genres feel the same unity as a clandestine community of hackers. --Kristy Ojala

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Unbelievable...isn't it?", December 1, 1999

By	Julius Caesar - See all my reviews

This soundtrack has quite a bit of significance for me. It's the album that converted me several months ago into becoming a big fan of heavy rock and techno music. I used to detest the stuff, but that might have been because I never gave it enough of a chance. But 'The Matrix' was (and still is) my favorite movie, so I decided to give this album a chance. "Rock is Dead" (which I first heard in one of 'The Matrix' commercials and liked without knowing it was Manson) is a very memorable song (especially the guitar parts in the beginning and after the refrain). My only problem is that I wish he hadn't cursed so much since that makes the song "socially unacceptable" to some people with whom I'd wish to share it. For a tolerant audience, however, it's a great song. "Spybreak" is just awesome; very groovy, with cool use of sounds and electronic instruments. "Bad Blood" isn't a bad song, but it's not one of my faves, either. I love "Clubbed to Death", though. It provides a striking contrast to the rest of the songs on the album, and indeed it contrasts with itself, bouncing between piano solo and a more rhythmic section with various electronic instruments and strings (this part is played in the movie during the Agent training program; y'know, the one with the Woman in the Red Dress). "Prime Audio Soup" has some cool parts (also using nifty sound effects), although I think they drag it out a little too long. I like "Leave You Far Behind", although all I can really say about it is that it's very techno. As for "Mindfields"...I like this song, too, although the lyrics are a little repetitive. (I'd classify most of Prodigy's songs as instrumentals that use words more as sound effects than lyrics, actually.) The Hot Rod Herman Mix of "Dragula" is, in my opinion, actually better than the original (a rarity with me and remixes). It was this song that first got me interested in Zombie. He's not a spectacular singer, but his voice has a dark, cool-sounding, evil tone to it. This remix is also very techno and good for dancing (and they play it in the dance club scene of 'The Matrix', as a matter of fact). "My Own Summer" is very good instrumentally, and I do find it an enjoyable song, but the lead singer screams a lot...and I mean he really screams! Cool song anyway, though. "Ultrasonic Sound" is basically instrumental, but isn't as good as "Spybreak" or "Clubbed to Death", although it does have a really nifty guitar theme played throughout. "Look to Your Orb for the Warning" isn't particularly memorable, but it's not a bad song. "Du Hast" has a very powerful, driving beat, and I do like it a lot, although hearing, "Du...du hast...du hast mich..." over and over in the beginning is a bit annoying. And finally, last but not least, "Wake Up" is by far my favorite song on this whole soundtrack. It fits the movie best (with its theme of waking up to the truth and fighting the system), is very intellectual lyrically, features a wonderful use of the guitar, and it just rocks! I don't consider myself much of a rap fan, but I really like the way Rage combines heavy rock with rapping in their songs. This song, in fact, inspired me to get their new album, also. (But while 'The Battle of Los Angeles' really rocks and is very insightful in its criticism of the system, my favorite Rage song is still "Wake Up".) So there you have it: the songs 'The Matrix' soundtrack. If you're into heavy rock and/or techno, this album is a must-have...and if you're not, well, I suggest you give this album a chance or at least sample it. Who knows, you might be just as pleasantly surpised as I was by what you hear.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth it solely for Track 4, February 23, 2000

By	A. Jones - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While I will admit that I wished there was more of the musical score (especially the bit when they're returning from seeing the Oracle), the "Soundtrack" is worth it just for Clubbed to Death. This is one of the few songs in the electronic/techno genre that actually manages a cohesive theme throughout the song. Sampling a classical piano song, Rob D manages to weave a spectacular piece. It recalls some of the better Orbital and Underworld songs.

After listening to the soundtrack, and then watching the movie again, I found that a good number of the tracks on the CD are not actually to be found in the movie. The ones you'll remember from the film, tracks 2,4 and 5, and a couple others, are enough to satisfy. Supplemented with the score, the two together would be a wonderful representation of the movie.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Instrumentals. Good Intro to Modern Metal., July 17, 2003

By	mirasreviews (McLean, VA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This CD contains most of the music from "The Matrix", both songs and instrumentals, that was not written by Don Davis and considered part of the film's score. I say "most" because the song that Neo was listening to when we first see him, asleep next to his computer, is unfortunately not included. I would have preferred the music and score from "The Matrix" to be boxed together in a 2-CD set, but this CD does have merit on its own as a nice introduction to contemporary metal and techno. I hadn't listened to metal in a decade, and the Marilyn Manson, Ministry, Deftones, and Monster Magnet are a lot more polished and techno-influenced than I remember metal being. So this has been an enlightening introduction to modern metal for me. But the strongest pieces on this CD are the instrumentals. Propellerheads' "Spybreak!", which was used in "The Matrix's" mind-blowing lobby scene, more strongly evokes a scene from the film than any other piece of music. It's a brilliant techno romp that would energize even the most sedentary soul. Rob D's "Clubbed to Death" is also excellent, and, even on its own, creates that distinctly aggressive but focused mood that made it such great soundtrack material for "The Matrix". Even the songs by Rob Zombie, Prodigy and Hive are heavily instrumental. Truthfully, the first half of this CD is a lot better than the second half. But it's a worthy intro to modern sounds and an evocative soundtrack for fans of "The Matrix" to remember the movie by.