VARIOUS ARTISTS
"Music
From and Inspired by the Motion Picture 'XXX'" (Universal Records)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
The producers of the soundtrack to the hit film "XXX" were very smart when they went about the tracking of this packed-to-the-gills CD. Instead of falling into the trap so many of their fellow producers before them had disappeared into, the people behind "XXX" decided not to mix hip hop and metal music on a single CD. There's nothing worse than banging your head to Slipknot one minute and having Insane Clown Posse come up next.
Instead, the producers of the "XXX" soundtrack offer you a two CD set - one of the CDs is the "Rock Album" and the other the "Hip Hop Album."
The "Rock Album" starts off with a bang with Rammstein's "Feuer Frie," a raging rocker that plays an important part in the opening of the film. A new "Chris Vrenna XXX Tweaker Mix" of Drowning Pool's destined-to-be-classic "Bodies" is up next and it's an interesting re-mix indeed, almost industrial but not quite. Also included on the "Rock Album" are Hatebreed's "I Will Be Heard," "Millionaire" by Queens of the Stone Age," Mushroomhead's "Before I Die," "Get Up Again" by Flaw, Moby's "Landing," Gavin Rossdale's "Adrenaline," "004" by Fermin IV and Orbital's "Technologicque." As you may have guessed, most of the heavier material disappears after the sixth track, although the remaining tracks aren't bad, although Fermin IV probably should have been on the Hip Hop CDs instead of the Rock CDs. To the best of my memory, the Rock Album contains the songs that are most prevalent throughout the film itself.
The Hip Hop disc starts off with Nelly and follows with Lil' Wayne, N.E.R.D., Pastor Troy, Big Tymers, Mack 10, Mr. Cheeks, Postaboy, Dani Stevenson and Joi. My favorite song from the Hip Hop Album is probably N.E.R.D.'s "Truth or Dare" but, then, I'm not really much of a hip-hop fan. Most readers of this site probably aren't either.
The good news is that the "XXX" soundtrack is priced like a single CD so, if you don't like the Hip Hop or the Rock album, you can use it as a drink coaster.
The bad news is that - with the exception of the "Bodies" re-mix - there isn't a lot that's new on the "XXX" soundtrack. Still, if you're a fan of the movie or of any of the bands contained herein, it's not a bad collection to add to your collection.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2002 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 16 Sep 2024 12:51:58 -0400.
