Title: Sahara soundtrack CD
(R) - April 15, 2005 07:49 PM (GMT)
Listen to the full CD here!
1. "Stay With Me" - The Faces 4:40
2. "We're An American Band" - Grand Funk 3:27
3. "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd 4:46
4. "Magic Carpet Ride" - Steppenwolf 4:21
5. "Right Place Wrong Time" - Dr. John 2:54
6. "Never Been Any Reason" - Head East 5:12
7. "In A Foreign Land" - The Kinks 3:04
8. "I'm On Fire" - Dwight Twilley 3:16
9. "On The Road Again" - Canned Heat 3:27
10. "Time Loves A Hero" - Little Feat 3:47
11. "Fire On The Mountain" - The Marshall Tucker Band 3:56
12. Boat Montage 2:20
Total Time: 45:10
Review
by Dan Goldwasser
on April 10th, 2005
After the box office bomb Raise the Titanic sank in 1980, author Clive Cussler said he would never let anyone make a feature film with his beloved "Dirk Pitt" character again. Obviously things changed, because now we have Sahara. And while some things have been significantly changed from the novel, the basic premise remains the same: explorer Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey) is on the hunt for a Confederate Ironsides which he believes is in Africa, having escaped during the end of the Civil War. Meanwhile a WHO doctor (Penelope Cruz) is trying to find the source of a plague in the same area of Africa. Their paths cross, and an adventure begins in the Sahara Desert.
The soundtrack is replete with pop songs - most of them even showed up in the film. From "Stay With Me" by The Faces, to standards like "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Magic Carpet Ride", the songs don't really serve the film except to provide filler music. There was even a point where a sequence that was ripe for an orchestral score cue was instead covered with Dr. John's "Right Place Wrong Time". That isn't to say that there was no score - in fact, Clint Mansell's score was quite good, in a big orchestral James Bond kind of way. Unfortunately, the album doesn't even give us a taste of that, instead providing us with the African percussion (and vocal) filled "Boat Montage".
As this is a "Music from and Inspired By" album, there are a few "bonus" track which have nothing to do with the film other than "thematic tone". "In a Foreign Land" by The Kings (because they're in Africa), "On the Road Again" by Canned Heat (because it's a traveling song), "Time Loves a Hero" by Little Feat (because Dirk Pitt is a hero). Not really sure why "Fire on the Mountain" by The Marshall Tucker Band and "I'm On Fire" by Dwight Twilley are here - but they have the word "fire" in there, so that must be something!
Let's face it - this album is a disappointment. I would have been happier if the filmmakers had used the songs sparingly and appropriately in the film, but they didn't. I would have been happier if the album had dropped songs not in the film, and replaced them with more score, which was in the film. Unfortunately, no one wins in this case.
1. "Stay With Me" - The Faces 4:40
2. "We're An American Band" - Grand Funk 3:27
3. "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd 4:46
4. "Magic Carpet Ride" - Steppenwolf 4:21
5. "Right Place Wrong Time" - Dr. John 2:54
6. "Never Been Any Reason" - Head East 5:12
7. "In A Foreign Land" - The Kinks 3:04
8. "I'm On Fire" - Dwight Twilley 3:16
9. "On The Road Again" - Canned Heat 3:27
10. "Time Loves A Hero" - Little Feat 3:47
11. "Fire On The Mountain" - The Marshall Tucker Band 3:56
12. Boat Montage 2:20
Total Time: 45:10
Review
by Dan Goldwasser
on April 10th, 2005
After the box office bomb Raise the Titanic sank in 1980, author Clive Cussler said he would never let anyone make a feature film with his beloved "Dirk Pitt" character again. Obviously things changed, because now we have Sahara. And while some things have been significantly changed from the novel, the basic premise remains the same: explorer Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey) is on the hunt for a Confederate Ironsides which he believes is in Africa, having escaped during the end of the Civil War. Meanwhile a WHO doctor (Penelope Cruz) is trying to find the source of a plague in the same area of Africa. Their paths cross, and an adventure begins in the Sahara Desert.
The soundtrack is replete with pop songs - most of them even showed up in the film. From "Stay With Me" by The Faces, to standards like "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Magic Carpet Ride", the songs don't really serve the film except to provide filler music. There was even a point where a sequence that was ripe for an orchestral score cue was instead covered with Dr. John's "Right Place Wrong Time". That isn't to say that there was no score - in fact, Clint Mansell's score was quite good, in a big orchestral James Bond kind of way. Unfortunately, the album doesn't even give us a taste of that, instead providing us with the African percussion (and vocal) filled "Boat Montage".
As this is a "Music from and Inspired By" album, there are a few "bonus" track which have nothing to do with the film other than "thematic tone". "In a Foreign Land" by The Kings (because they're in Africa), "On the Road Again" by Canned Heat (because it's a traveling song), "Time Loves a Hero" by Little Feat (because Dirk Pitt is a hero). Not really sure why "Fire on the Mountain" by The Marshall Tucker Band and "I'm On Fire" by Dwight Twilley are here - but they have the word "fire" in there, so that must be something!
Let's face it - this album is a disappointment. I would have been happier if the filmmakers had used the songs sparingly and appropriately in the film, but they didn't. I would have been happier if the album had dropped songs not in the film, and replaced them with more score, which was in the film. Unfortunately, no one wins in this case.
Giordino13 - April 15, 2005 09:58 PM (GMT)
I can't wait to buy it!! I loved the soundtrack in the movie!! p:
oswalder - April 16, 2005 05:02 AM (GMT)
I agree that the score really was pretty good and was unfortunately overshadowed by the rock songs. Some of them seemed to play a lot longer in their respective movie scene than I expected them to, but some of them did add to the movie as well. I also agree that it would have been nice to keep the released soundtrack closer to what was actually included in the movie, but maybe they'll have this "music from and inspired by" CD first and then release a "score" CD later.
I think in regards to the song "Right Place, Wrong Time", doesn't it take place during the credits or am I being forgetful? If it is the credits, then I think it is trying to set the tone for the movie. Where a nice score might set up the movie to be more serious than it can honestly be taken for, a classic rock song let's you know that what's to follow is going to be a "fun romp" rather than something real or serious. Just a thought.
I think in regards to the song "Right Place, Wrong Time", doesn't it take place during the credits or am I being forgetful? If it is the credits, then I think it is trying to set the tone for the movie. Where a nice score might set up the movie to be more serious than it can honestly be taken for, a classic rock song let's you know that what's to follow is going to be a "fun romp" rather than something real or serious. Just a thought.
Ta16uva - April 16, 2005 09:42 PM (GMT)
Sold out at my local Barnes & Nobles, Best Buy, and Target!
Foss Gly - April 16, 2005 10:45 PM (GMT)
Also not available on iTunes yet...
Giordino13 - May 8, 2005 05:39 PM (GMT)
I just bought the soundtrack, and I love it. I think the songs chosen for the movie were incredibly appropriate for the scenes, such as "Magic Carpet Ride" and "Right Place Wrong Time." I'm thoroughly impressed!! th: th:
Kellym - May 9, 2005 02:33 PM (GMT)
Still not available locally here :blink:
tonym5 - May 10, 2005 05:46 AM (GMT)
I don't mean to be too critical but most soundtracks suck and some movies have way too much music involved. In the movie, 'Sleepless in Seattle' the music was very distracting despite a well done movie. The only movies that I actually enjoy the soundtracks are Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Flashdance, Terminator.
CCfansince1976 - May 11, 2005 09:17 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (tonym5 @ May 10 2005, 05:46 AM) |
| I don't mean to be too critical but most soundtracks suck and some movies have way too much music involved. In the movie, 'Sleepless in Seattle' the music was very distracting despite a well done movie. The only movies that I actually enjoy the soundtracks are Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Flashdance, Terminator. |
Might I suggest "Raise the Titanic" if you're looking for a good score (that couldn't save a bad movie). There IS a difference between "soundtracks" and "scoretracks"... most music from soundtracks have very little to do with the movie they're "Inspired by". :)