VA - 2004 - The Polar Express OST

The soundtrack to Robert Zemeckis' groundbreaking film adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg's popular children's book The Polar Express celebrates the season with both classic and contemporary holiday flair. Composers Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri provide the latter, relying on swelling choral arrangements, tender ballads, and polarizing yuletide offerings from Stephen Tyler and Josh Groban. Tyler struts his stuff on the amiable but derivative "Rockin' on Top of the World," a three-chord rave-up that finds the Aerosmith mouthpiece channeling a pack of howler monkeys, but it's Groban's syrupy, future American Idol favorite "Believe" that serves as the soundtrack's commercial centerpiece. Tom Hanks does his best Gene Wilder on the whimsical and strangely unnerving title track, a wonderfully unhinged performance that will have Willy Wonka fans clamoring for more, and the winsome vocals of preteens Matthew Hall and Meagan Moore give the ballad "When Christmas Comes to Town" a real sense of wonder. Silvestri's orchestral pieces are effective in tone, yet ape Danny Elfman's Edward Scissorhands theme so shamelessly that lawyers on both sides must have had words early on in the production. The Polar Express is ambitious for sure, but the fact that its most sincere pieces are the six classics that make up its caboose is telling. [The Polar Express is also available in a Special Edition that includes a decorative box and artwork from the book.]

1 The Polar Express Hanks 3:25
2 When Christmas Comes to Town Hall, Moore 4:07
3 Rockin' on Top of the World Tyler 2:35
4 Believe Groban 4:18
5 Hot Chocolate Hanks 2:33
6 Spirit of the Season Silvestri 2:33
7 Seeing Is Believing Silvestri 3:47
8 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town Sinatra 2:35
9 White Christmas Crosby 3:05
10 Winter Wonderland Andrews Sisters 2:43
11 It's Beginning to Look a LotLike Christmas Como, Fontane Sisters 2:40
12 Silver Bells Smith 2:39
13 Here Comes Santa Claus Andrews Sisters, Crosby, Crosby 3:04
14 Suite from The Polar Express Silvestri 6:02

¡Aquí!

VA - 2001 - Moulin Rouge OST

At the very least, director Baz Luhrmann has created something different here. His modern-day musical weaves new cover versions of songs from the past three decades into one story about a brothel in turn of the century Paris. Its an odd combination to begin with, and the soundtrack itself bounces back and forth between very hip, modern tracks from artists at the top of their game and big Broadway-style ballads from the cast of the film. Some of the most well-respected names in music signed on for the project, including Beck, Bono, Timbaland, and David Bowie. Fatboy Slim created a "Can Can" for the next generation with "Because We Can," and Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Pink, and Mya teamed up for a surefire hit with their naughtier version of Patti Labelle's "Lady Marmalade." In stark contrast to these edgy tracks, the album spends the rest of its time on love songs from Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman. They perform big-voiced, orchestra-backed versions of sentimental favorites like Elton John's "Your Song." The "Elephant Love Medley" strings together some of pop's sappiest hits, including "Up Where We Belong," "One More Night," and "I Will Always Love You." Perhaps to many people's surprise, Kidman and McGregor can really sing, and maybe in a different environment it would be easier to take these songs seriously, but standing here outside the context of the film and next to Beck covering David Bowie, they seem more comic than creative.

		1		Nature Boy	David Bowie	3:25
		2		Lady Marmalade	Christina Aguilera ...	4:24
Performed by: Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya
		3		Because We Can	Fatboy Slim	3:27
		4		Sparkling Diamonds	Nicole Kidman ...	2:52
Performed by: Nicole Kidman, Jim Broadbent, Lara Mulcahy,
		5		Rhythm of the Night	Valeria	3:49
		6		Your Song	Ewan McGregor ...	3:38
Performed by: Ewan McGregor, Alessandro Safina
		7		Children of the Revolution	Bono, Gavin Friday ...	2:59
Performed by: Bono, Gavin Friday, Maurice Seezer
		8		One Day I'll Fly Away	Nicole Kidman	3:18
		9		Diamond Dogs	Beck	4:34
		10		Elephant Love Medley	Nicole Kidman ...	4:13
Performed by: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor
		11		Come What May	Nicole Kidman ...	4:48
Performed by: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor
		12		El Tango de Roxanne	Ewan McGregor ...	4:43
Performed by: Ewan McGregor, Jose Feliciano, Jacek Koman,
		13		Complainte de la Butte	Rufus Wainwright	3:05
		14		Hindi Sad Diamonds	Nicole Kidman, Joe Leguabe	3:28
		15		Nature Boy	David Bowie ...	4:08

¡Aquí!

Uematsu, Nobuo - 2000 - Final Fantasy IX OST (4CD)

The popular video game series returned to its roots with Final Fantasy IX. Uematsu's music also took a few steps back. Previous releases had been turning toward large operatic-style tracks, which was particularly noticeable on Final Fantasy, Vol. 8. Here, however, the music is very medieval-based. While this may suit the game to a tee, it takes something away from secular enjoyment. The one commercial track on the four-disc album, "Melodies of Life," sung by Emiko Shiratori, is perhaps the highlight of this release. A variety of musicians are present to provide the accompaniment, including the Masatugu Shinozaki Group on strings. Unfortunately, most of the four hours that Final Fantasy, Vol. 9 lasts is rather dull and slow-paced. The occasional spark of genius comes along at various points, but there's little to write home about here.

		1		The Place I'll Return To Someday	Koji Haijima	2:08
		2		Memories Washed Away In The Storm	Koji Haijima	1:15
		3		Strategy Conference	Koji Haijima	1:38
		4		The Skies of Alexandria	Koji Haijima	0:54
		5		Vivi's Theme	Koji Haijima	3:11
		6		Living By The Sword	Koji Haijima	2:42
		7		Vamo' Alla Flamenco		1:52
		8		Decisive Action	Koji Haijima	3:14
		9		Clowns of The Moonless Night	Koji Haijima	3:20
		10		Steiner's Theme	Koji Haijima	2:27
		11		Prima Vista Band	Koji Haijima	1:45
		12		Captivating Eyes	Koji Haijima	2:50
		13		Tonight	Koji Haijima	0:16
		14		Your Warmth	Koji Haijima	0:34
		15		Mistaken Love	Koji Haijima	3:35
		16		Queen of The Abyss	Koji Haijima	1:31
		17		Rustling Forest	Koji Haijima	2:28
		18		Battle	Koji Haijima	2:40
		19		Fanfare	Koji Haijima	0:57
		20		Memories of That Day	Koji Haijima	2:27
		21		Battle	Koji Haijima	4:05
		22		Game Over	Koji Haijima	1:55
		23		Run!	Koji Haijima	2:47
		24		Goodnight	Koji Haijima	0:45
		25		Over That Hill	Koji Haijima	2:59
		26		Ice Cavern	Koji Haijima	2:28
		27		Frontier Village Dali	Koji Haijima	3:07
		28		In the Distant Twilight	Koji Haijima	2:45
		29		Reckless Steiner	Koji Haijima	3:03
		30		Limited Time	Koji Haijima	2:46
		31		Black Waltz	Koji Haijima	1:39
		32		Cid's Theme	Koji Haijima	4:00
		33		One Danger Behind Us...	Koji Haijima	3:10
		34		Lindblum	Koji Haijima	2:11
		35		Song of Memories	Koji Haijima	1:53
		36		Hunter Chance	Koji Haijima	3:47
		37		Marsh of the Qu Tribe	Koji Haijima	3:17
		38		Quina's Theme	Koji Haijima	3:52
		39		Aloha de Chocobo	Koji Haijima	2:56
		40		Ukele de Chocobo	Koji Haijima	2:22
		41		Freya's Theme	Koji Haijima	3:02
		42		South Gate at the Border	Koji Haijima	2:56
		43		Fairy Battle	Koji Haijima	2:28
		44		Burmecian Kingdom	Koji Haijima	3:55
		45		An Unforgettable Face	Koji Haijima	3:24
		46		Kuja's Theme	Koji Haijima	2:25
		47		Sword of Confusion	Koji Haijima	3:17
		48		Treno, The Sleepless City	Koji Haijima	2:53
		49		Tantalus' Theme	Koji Haijima	2:21
		50		Wicked Melody	Koji Haijima	2:25
		51		Garnet's Theme	Koji Haijima	2:40
		52		Ancient Road	Koji Haijima	1:47
		53		Cleyra's Trunk	Koji Haijima	2:43
		54		Cleyra Settlement	Koji Haijima	2:21
		55		Eternally Good Harvest	Koji Haijima	1:15
		56		Heaven's Distress	Koji Haijima	2:35
		57		Extraction	Koji Haijima	1:15
		58		Attack	Koji Haijima	2:23
		59		Rose of May	Koji Haijima	2:34
		60		Fossil Roo	Koji Haijima	2:31
		61		Village On A Windy Mountain	Koji Haijima	3:43
		62		Black Mage Village	Koji Haijima	3:22
		63		Unreachable Desire	Koji Haijima	3:47
		64		Ceremony For Gods	Koji Haijima	2:09
		65		Eiko's Theme	Koji Haijima	3:36
		66		Ruins of Madain Sari	Koji Haijima	3:49
		67		Wall of The Illusionary Beasts	Koji Haijima	2:31
		68		Iifa Tree	Koji Haijima	2:29
		69		Salamander's Theme	Koji Haijima	2:28
		70		Footsteps of Desire	Koji Haijima	2:19
		71		We Are Thieves!	Koji Haijima	2:11
		72		Love Letter Epic War	Koji Haijima	2:53
		73		Testra Master	Koji Haijima	3:39
		74		Moogle Theme	Koji Haijima	1:56
		75		Those Whom We Must Protect	Koji Haijima	2:21
		76		The Summoned	Koji Haijima	2:55
		77		Warden of Time	Koji Haijima	2:43
		78		Deilvert	Koji Haijima	2:17
		79		An Irrevocable Past	Koji Haijima	2:52
		80		Turn Around, He's a Frog!	Koji Haijima	2:03
		81		Sacred Grounds	Koji Haijima	3:49
		82		Gurgu Volcano	Koji Haijima	2:07
		83		The Mind and the Fused Magic	Koji Haijima	2:03
		84		The Airship	Koji Haijima	4:07
		85		Hermit's Library	Koji Haijima	2:04
		86		Ipsen's Ancient Castle	Koji Haijima	1:58
		87		Four Mirrors	Koji Haijima	2:45
		88		Concurrent Battles	Koji Haijima	2:02
		89		Terra	Koji Haijima	2:10
		90		Soulless Village	Koji Haijima	3:11
		91		Pandemonium, The Castle Frozen In Time	Koji Haijima	3:03
		92		You're Not Alone!	Koji Haijima	2:36
		93		Dissipating Sorrow	Koji Haijima	3:29
		94		The Evil Mist Returns	Koji Haijima	2:26
		95		Assault of the Silver Dragons	Koji Haijima	3:48
		96		Place of Memory	Koji Haijima	2:14
		97		Crystal World	Koji Haijima	3:43
		98		Messenger of Ruin	Koji Haijima	4:43
		99		Final Battle	Koji Haijima	6:15
		100		Bittersweet Romance	Koji Haijima	1:32
		101		Kiss of Betrayal	Koji Haijima	0:28
		102		I Want To Be Your Canary	Koji Haijima	1:18
		103		Two Unstealable Hearts	Koji Haijima	1:21
		104		Behind The Door	Koji Haijima	2:06
		105		Melodies of Life - Final Fantasy		7:35
		106		Prelude	Koji Haijima	2:45
		107		CCJC TVCM 15 [Untranslated]		0:20
		108		CCJC TVCM 30 [Untranslated]		0:34
		109		Melodies of Life (The Layers of Harmony)		3:21

¡Aquí!