Post by skellington on Apr 13, 2009 20:22:37 GMT -5
This is perhaps too bold for me, but I'm willing to argue that Danny Elfman was more important to "The Nightmare Before Christmas" than even Tim Burton. Sure, it was Tim's idea, but Danny Elfman was attached to so much of the project. He not only composed the score music and wrote the songs, which are both among Disney's most popular and critically acclaimed, but also provided the singing voice of Jack Skellington. Chris Sarandon is Jack's speaking voice and always will be, absolutely, but Danny is the melodious singer that completes the other half of the character. If I were cynical, I'd insist the film change the title to "Danny Elfman's The Nightmare Before Christmas."
Yes, "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" is one of my favorite Disney films (let alone animated), and it has my favorite movie ending: an ending that's very familiar and cliched, but also pulled off beautifully and visually heartwarming. I still get chills when I watch Jack and Sally embrace and kiss. Of course, one of the biggest reasons why I love the movie is the soundtrack. The soundtrack is Danny Elfman's baby, and one of my all-time essentials (I always need to have it, whether I'm in the car, at home or in college).
So, naturally, I was interested when I learned of "Nightmare Revisited," a compilation album consisting of covers for songs and score music from the film. Basically, it is a start-to-finish cover of the original soundtrack.
In my opinion, before I listened to "Nightmare Revisited," I believed that the single best compilation Disney album of all time is "Stay Awake" (I'll review that later, probably!). Honestly, I still think this, but "Nightmare Revisited still has its charms. It has a few misses, but that can be expected from a wide selection of artists, with an even wider selection of differences in music.
It is important to note that as a whole, this is the polar opposite of the original soundtrack, in terms of feeling and music (in fact, some melodies are abandoned altogether and replaced). So it is ludicrous to compare them with the originals. This review will attempt to be fair and judge the songs and score music for what they are.
These songs can be found on YouTube. You may go there to listen for excerpts while reading this review, if you wish!
1. Overture, by DeVotchKa. This is a very fun instrumental piece, and a great way to start the compilation. It is rather goofy at first and reminds me a lot of xoc, an online-based band that focuses on video game covers. However, it gets rather pretty towards the end, and the shift in tone works well. Overall, a short yet sweet opening. A
2. Opening, by Danny Elfman. There's really not much to say about this; it's basically the same as what was heard in the original soundtrack's, only Danny Elfman voices the role of Santa, instead of Patrick Stewart. Although one would prefer Stewart's narration, Danny Elfman certainly knows what he's doing. Plus, the background music is top-notch as always. I really debated on whether I should rate this or not, but because it's so short, I chose not to.
3. This is Halloween, by Marylin Manson. Some will recognize this cover, because it was actually on disc two in the Special Edition soundtrack released a few years ago. I'm actually not a fan of Marylin Manson (I think he relies too much on shock and controversy rather than actual substance), but he clearly is a fan of the film, and he sings This is Halloween with a lot of oomph. A good, strong cover. A
4. Jack's Lament, by All American Rejects. The vocals can be a bit too whiny for my taste (the song is called Jack's Lament, but come on!), but the "Oh, somewhere deep inside of these bones" and "Oh, there's an empty place in my bones" are both the best parts in this song, and the instruments used are amazing yet melancholic. So, I'll give this a B.
5. Doctor Finkelstein / In the Forest, by Amiina. Very eerie and otherworldly, with a strong emphasis on synthesizers. I think the score music covers are overall very good in this album, and this is no exception. It really does give a disquieting feeling when listening, as if you are about to stumble on something that will sweep you off your feet, and literally propel you to another dimension. Kudos, Amiina! A
6. What's This? by Flyleaf. Many find this cover underwhelming. Either I have a poor taste or I'm an oddball, but whatever the case, I actually enjoy this one. I enjoy because I take it for what it is; compared to the epiphany-laden, upbeat and jovial original, this What's This? is noticeably downcast and a bit melancholic, at least mostly because of the strained vocals. I especially like when the lead singer (whatever her name is) sings "The monsters are all missing and the nightmares can't be found..." So, I will defend this track, and claim that I feel this doesn't deserve the heavy criticism I find it receiving. B
7. Town Meeting Song, by The Polyphonic Spree. Of all the covers in this compilation album, Town Meeting Song is by far the most perplexing. At first, I thought there was a typo in the song length. As you may recall, the Town Meeting Song from the original soundtrack was one of the shortest, just under three minutes; The Polyphonic Spree's cover, however, is nine-minutes and forty-nine seconds long. I am not kidding; they seriously took a 2:57 song and stretched it to just under 10:00. So, naturally, the melody is extremely different, and the lyrics are sang at a very slow pace. If you're not a fan of prolonged singing, you will absolutely hate this cover. I admit that when I first listened to it, I was overwhelmed. Yet, the more I listen to it, the more I like it. After all, it is intentionally very different from the orginal, and it has a unique sound to it. It recalls Pink Floyd (my favorite band!), and it sounds like "Roger Waters's The Nightmare Before Christmas." The townspeople's lyrics are especially unique, and at times mesmerizing; I absolutely love the girls singing "Small toys, do they bite?" As unique as this song is, it's meant to be heard when in the right mood. Otherwise, this may wear out its welcome. B
8. Jack and Sally Montage, by Vitamin String Quartet. This is hands down my favorite score music from the film, and so I was very curious to listen to the cover. It is performed by a string quartet, and it sounds amazing. It is perhaps more sinister in sound, but that is expected with the instruments used. The precise attention paid to the original melodies, while having a distinctively different sound, work beautifully together. A
9. Jack's Obsession, by Sparklehorse. Alas, we take a nosedive. We go from an awesome cover to one of this album's worst. I like the guitar, and I like the melody at certain parts ("I've read the Christmas books many times/I know the stories and I know the rhymes"). So, what do I not like? Well, Sparklehorse's vocals are gratingly annoying. Why is he singing like a hospitalized, falsetto-voiced man whose death is near? I suppose one could argue that is symbolizes Jack's increasing discouragement and helplessness when he tries repeatedly, and fails repeatedly, to understand what makes Christmas Christmas, but Jiminy Cricket, does it grate. And it lasts over five minutes, too, so this is one cover I wouldn't feel guilty skipping. D-
10. Kidnap the Sandy Claws, by Korn. Ah, yes. This song is a personal favorite; it is literally the only Disney song that focuses on the idea of kidnapping and torturing Old Saint Nick. Korn is a name I haven't heard of in years (can you tell I'm not an avid listener?), but whatever I think of the band, I will be the first to admit that they had an obvious blast performing this cover. The energy is terrific, and the hard guitar-heavy instrumentation is commendable. However, the song shifts gears towards the final minute and a half of the song, and not entirely seamlessly. Still, it's a solid cover. B-
11. Making Christmas, by Rise Against. This is a cover that does not have any real gimmicks. It is a very straightforward cover; you take Making Christmas, you throw alternative rock to it, and there you go. That's not to say this is bad, though; it works effectively on its own, and the instrumental break between the lyrics sounds awesome on guitar and percussion. B
12. Nabbed, by the Yoshida Brothers. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of The Nightmare Before Christmas's soundtrack? Jack Skellington? Danny Elfman? Sally's Song? The shamisen and other Japanese instrumentation? Wait, no. Certainly not the last, but you know what? It's welcome! This cover score piece is awesome, and is perhaps my favorite such in "Nightmare Revisited." The Yoshida Brothers, who were responsible for Koda (Under the Sun Remix), the music that played in the background of some of those 2006 "Wii Would Like to Play" commercials, did an amazing job here. It is a lengthy piece, but it is effectively eerie yet beautiful in many spots. The shamisen takes front and center, but the accompanying instruments and synthesizers are just as delightful. Overall, this is definitely one of the highlights of the album. A+
13. Oogie Boogie's Song, by Rodrigo y Gabriella. This is an interesting cover, in that it's a cover of a song that has vocals, yet this particular arrangement has no vocals in it. Besides "What are you going to do?"/"I'm going to do the best I can," there are no voices in this at all. That's not a bad thing, though, because the guitars are very fast and furious, and I love it when they bounce off each other. This Mexican duo really have a great ear for acoustic, and it all adds up to this being a fun, albeit brief, cover. B+
14. Sally's Song, by Amy Lee. If Nabbed is the best score cover, then this is, in my opinion, the best vocal cover. Amy Lee has a strained yet powerful voice that really does reflect the character Sally, and the instruments add greatly. Plus, the instrumental bridge is absolutely rocking. A very good cover, and one I listen to frequently. It's also worth noting that this particular arrangement was performed on Jay Leno's show. A
15. Christmas Eve Montage, by RJD2. This reminds me a lot of the seventies fused with the eighties, a hybrid of funk and synth pop. I particularly like the slow, moody guitar playing the familiar theme. A strong piece. B
16. Poor Jack, by Plain White T's. Remember when I briefly criticized Jack Lament's cover as being a bit too whiny in parts? This one has even more of that! Sure, this is Jack's fall, so I guess it's hard to argue against that. As expected, the turn of personality for Jack results in a shifted attitude in the vocals, which makes the song more listenable. C+
17. To the Rescue, by Datarock. This is perhaps the weakest score piece, but it's still very good. The constant, unfaltering percussion encourages one to get up and move, or to work out, which fits the piece considering it mirrors Jack's battle with Oogie Boogie. It doesn't leave an impression on me as much as some of the other score piece covers, but this is still strong. B-
18. Finale / Reprise, by Shiny Toy Guns. So much for my favorite movie ending of all time! This is a very weak cover, because the melodies are virtually nonexistent. It's very monotonous, in a fashion that is not my cup of tea. The vocals are fine, I guess, but this is just not hummable at all. D
19. Closing, by Danny Elfman. Pretty the same as Danny Elfman's opening. One misses Patrick Stewart, but this is still a nice... well, closure. No rating, on the grounds that this doesn't need one.
20. End Title, by The Album Leaf. This is the final track (or is it?), so one would hope this would be a good one. Fortunately, it is. It's not a medley like in the soundtrack's end title, as it mostly repeats the familiar theme, but the instruments are pretty, and the whole piece is soothing, which makes it perfect for unwinding purposes. A great track to cool off to, and a relaxing end to "Nightmare Revisited." A
Bonus Track - Oogie Boogie's Song, by Tiger Army. Ah, ah, ah! You didn't say the magic word! If you bought this album on iTunes, you would receive a bonus track: Oogie Boogie's Song, this time with vocals. The instruments in this cover are awesome, but sadly the vocals do not have enough oomph to complement said instruments. It kinda sounds like Snagglepuss is singing Oogie at parts. Not a bad cover, but End Title makes a better closure. Or maybe I'm just bitter because this just begs for a stronger voice. B-.
I give this album an overall B-. Not every track is great, and it will never, ever make the original soundtrack lose sleep, but as far as Disney compilations go, it's either this or Disney Mania.
I'd go with this, definitely.
