The Next Best Thing: Music From The Motion Picture [SOUNDTRACK]

Various Artists (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 2000)
• Original Release Date: February 22, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Maverick
• ASIN: B00004GOVT
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (98 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #79,024 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The obvious centerpiece to this soundtrack is Madonna's hyperkinetic version of Don McLean's 1971 postmortem rock anthem "American Pie." Capturing the bittersweet intentions of the original, Madonna and producer William Orbit create a forlorn dreamscape of dance beats and floating electronica effects that serve to update the sentimental war horse. The entire soundtrack has a futuristic sheen. Thick washes of reverb, ethereal keyboards, and swooping tones create the illusion of space travel throughout. Previously released tunes deserving of headline status include Moby's unusually soulful "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad," which cleverly updates a classic '60s soul groove to modern effect. A highlight from Beth Orton's Central Reservation, "Stars All Seem to Weep," fits like a missing piece of the puzzle. Previously unreleased tracks from Christina Aguilera, Maverick recording artists Olive (who cover 10cc's "I'm Not in Love"), and Madonna's "Time Stood Still," another fruitful collaboration with William Orbit, round things out. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great selection of tracks!, February 22, 2000

By	John Wallace (Ireland) - See all my reviews

When I bought this album, I was expecting to only enjoy the two new Madonna tracks. I was so wrong! This is a great selection of dance tracks and haunting ballads. On the dance side of things, we have Groove Armada's "If Everybody Looked The Same", Madonna's "American Pie" and Olive's truly brilliant cover version of the old 10-CC hit, "I'm Not In Love". On the ballad side, we have Beth Orton's mournful, "Stars All Seem To Weep", Mandalay's delicate "This Life" and best of the lot, Madonna's heartfelt "Time Stood Still". Madonna sounds as good as she's ever done on this brand new track, and of course, William Orbit's co-production is exqusite as usual. One of the album's highlights is the opening track, "Boom Boom Ba" by Metisse. It's like a cross between Enigma, Enya and Madonna, and it works! Also, "Swayambhu" by Solar Twins is so incredibly gorgeous. It can only be described as a "techno-hymn". It really is beautiful.

Overall, this is a sophisticated album which has been very well chosen with the possible exception of Christina Aguilera's "Don't Make Me Love You". It's cute, but does it really belong on this CD?

I'd say if you're a fan of Madonna's recent work, and is willing to listen to music that she finds interesting, then definitely give this album a listen.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Next Best Thing to a Madonna album, March 5, 2000

By	T.J. Tallie (Harbor City, CA United States) - See all my reviews

While many purist music fans will bristle at the new spin Madonna has turned on "American Pie," there are many other good songs on this album.The song (and the movie, for that matter) opens with the ambient, pleasing rhythym of "Boom Boom Ba" by Metisse. Their ambient, Enya-like quality sets the tone for the album. Seguing nicely second is "Bongo Bong" by Manu Chao, a funny little danceable ditty about playing the drums. For those who haven't heard of Chao (which is virtually everyone), the song is highly comparable to one done by Eiffel65. Next comes Christina Aguilera's previously unreleased "Don't Make Love You" which is pure teen pop at its best. "American Pie" follows, it's Ray of Light-ish bleeps and clicks smoothed over by the fifth track, This Life by Mandalay. This Life is a standout song, (along with Boom Boom ba, stars all seem, why does my heart, and time stood still); it's rhythymic and pulsating style grab your attention instantly. Famous dance group Groove Armada pops in next with "If Everybody Looked the Same," a throwaway dance track that, while enjoyable, is the ony song of the album that can be dismissed as "filler."Moby's "Why Does my heart feel so bad" is a masterpiece, a soulful song interspersed with the beats of electronica. Olive's update of 10cc's "Not in Love" is a tad mechanized, but it pays off, the tune is fresh and enjoyable.After Olive, Beth Orton's "Stars all Seem to weep" mournfully bleed as the ninth track. It's a sentimental, but sweeping song, paired perfectly with the best track on the abum, "Time Stood Still," by Madonna."Time Stood Still" is perhaps Madonna's best ballad in a decade, since 1989's Oh Father. She laments ovr lost love in a mid-tempo Orbit-inspired song that resembles the Power of Goodbye.Swayanbhtu by the Solar Twins has a dark, Enya-feel, and The musical score by Gabriel Yared is likable.The standout tracks on this album are definitely numbers:1, 5, 7, 9, and 10, with additional high marks for tracks 2, 8, and 12.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, February 23, 2000

By	J. F Malysiak "macafferty" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One of the few movie soundtracks I would call brilliant. The twelve tracks on this album, ranging from Madonna's zingy cover of "American Pie" to Moby's "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad" to Gabriel Yared's evocative instrumental "Forever and Always", work together to provide a musically compelling and cohesive whole that works as a separate piece from the film.

"American Pie" gets better with each listen, but the album's 'masterpiece' is the other song by Madonna: "Time Stood Still". The orchestration is lush, Madonna's voice is beautiful -- fragile, nakedly unadorned, and vulnerable -- and the lyrics, combined with the plaintiveness of Madonna's vocals, contribute to one of this year's most haunting pieces. I have this track on repeat listen and it brings tears to my eyes every time.

Whether or not this film is any good has yet to be seen. But the album is tops!