The Next Best Thing: Music From The Motion Picture

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The Next Best Thing: Motion Picture
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  1. Audio CD: Release Date 2000-02-22
  2. Publisher: Maverick; 2000
  3. Artist: Various Artists
  4. Format: Soundtrack
  5. Sales Rank in Music: #81613

Product Review

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
Title Tracks for The Next Best Thing: Music From The Motion Picture

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (100 customer reviews)

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Great selection of tracks!, February 22, 2000
"riverwide" - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Next Best Thing: Music From The Motion Picture (Audio CD)
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...Read more


16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Next Best Thing to a Madonna album, March 5, 2000
T.J. Tallie - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Next Best Thing: Music From The Motion Picture (Audio CD)
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...Read more


8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, February 23, 2000
J. F Malysiak "macafferty" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Next Best Thing: Music From The Motion Picture (Audio CD)
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!

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