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[2006] Hans Zimmer - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (Mp3 Download)

Review by James Christopher Monger

The always dependable Hans Zimmer took the wheel from Klaus Badelt on 2006's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, the sequel to Disney's surprise blockbuster smash Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The Curse of the Black Pearl score was a mishmash of several composers, and its weaknesses were derived from the resulting lack of focus. While there is little that positions the Dead Man's Chest score anywhere near the esteemed Spielberg-esque mantle that it strives for, Zimmer adds much-needed zest and characterization to the franchise. "Jack Sparrow," a cello-led waltz that perfectly encapsulates Johnny Depp's cartoonish antihero, finally gives the character the musicality it needs, and the occasional burst of Celtic folk brings a warmth and whimsicality to the series that was sorely needed the first time around. Zimmer, who brings his usual blend of percussion-heavy keyboard orchestration to the action sequences, could do this in his sleep, but it's the kind of mediocrity that dispels negativity. Lastly, the embarrassing "He's a Pirate [Tiësto Remix]" sounds like an outtake from a Project Runway/Zoolander "pirate week."

Track Lists
01. Jack Sparrow
02. The Kraken
03. Davy Jones
04. I've Got My Eye On You
05. Dinner Is Served
06. Tia Dalma
07. Two Hornpipes (tortuga)
08. A Family Affair
09. Wheel Of Fortune
10. You Look Good Jack
11. Hello Beastie
12. He's Pirate (tiesto remix)

[2004] Britney Spears - Greatest Hits: My Prerogative (Mp3 Download)

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Greatest Hits: My Prerogative appeared at the tail end of a year where Britney Spears was married twice, canceled a tour, injured her knee, lost the movie role of Daisy Duke to rival teen pop diva Jessica Simpson, was a punch line in Fahrenheit 9/11, and had countless paparazzi shots of her drinking and making out in public. It was enough high-profile shenanigans for a career, and it was par for the course for Britney, who hadn't been out of the pop culture headlines since she released her debut album, ...Baby One More Time, in January 1999. In the nearly six years separating that debut album and the release of Greatest Hits in November 2004, Britney was omnipresent, representing both the entire teen pop phenomenon of the turn of the millennium, plus the teasing, Maxim-fueled sexuality of the time; it's not for nothing that Tom Wolfe name drops Britney Spears, not archrival Christina Aguilera, in his 2004 novel I Am Charlotte Simmons -- Britney alone captured the era, which in turn is captured on this 17-track hits collection. If Bob Dylan had a hard time being a voice of a generation (which he does acknowledge in his autobiography, Chronicles), imagine the weight put upon this simple Louisiana girl who just wanted to be famous and became a cultural icon instead! During those six years, she kept turning out product, selling herself with increasingly racy photographs, all the while being used as an example of everything that's wrong with pop culture, or even worse, as the subject of cultural theses explaining pop culture. No wonder that after six years of mind-boggling fame she wanted to abandon her career for motherhood -- it's exhausting being in the limelight, even for a shameless pop star! So, Greatest Hits arrived at a perfect time -- just as her star was fading, just as the teen pop era grew to a close, and just as she readied herself for retirement.

As a time capsule, Greatest Hits does its job well. It has all of her hits outside of "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart," a largely forgotten ballad from her debut released just before her second album, Oops!...I Did It Again, and it contains two very good previously unreleased tunes, including the In the Zone outtake "I've Just Begun (Having My Fun)," an infectious spin on No Doubt's "Hella Good" that betters most of the songs that were featured on the album (it also has a useless remake of Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative," which seems to exist solely for its video). Clearly, this is the album not just for the casual fan, but for any fan of Spears, because like most teen pop singers, her albums are notoriously spotty affairs, memorable largely for the singles themselves. What is surprising is that those singles -- all presented here in their hit forms, which means this has the "Stop Remix" of "(You Drive Me) Crazy," not the album version -- are somewhat less than the sum of their parts when collected together. The similarities in Max Martin's clanking, insistent writing and production become blindingly evident, and Britney's thin, squeaky voice wears thin over the course of 17 songs. Also, the song selection and sequencing emphasize keeping the perfect beat over chronology, which not only makes it a little harder to listen to as an album, it puts the focus on the individual songs, which seem neither as hooky or catchy as they did when they were initially on the radio. There are exceptions to the rule, of course -- "...Baby One More Time" still retains its punch, "Oops!...I Did It Again" is so silly it's hard to resist, "(You Drive Me) Crazy" is fluffy dance-pop at its best, and "Toxic" is a delirious, intoxicating rush -- but they're all better as individual moments, even if when taken together, they do illustrate the cacophonous monotony of her music and, yes, her time quite well. So, even if it isn't a great listen as a cohesive album, Greatest Hits does perform the valuable function of offering all of Britney's hits in one place, and it does work as a portrait of the time when Britney Spears was the defining figure of American pop culture. But if you compare it to The Immaculate Collection, which captured the time when Madonna was the defining figure of American pop culture and does work as an album, it's clear that a cultural artifact isn't necessarily the same thing as great music.

Track Lists [Download]
01. My Prerogative
02. Toxic
03. I'm Slave 4 U
04. Oops!...I Did It Again
05. Me Againts The Music feat. Madonna
06. Stronger
07. Everytime
08. ....Baby One More Time
09. (You Drive Me) Crazy [The Stop Mix]
10. Boys [Co-Ed Remix] feat. Pharrell
11. Sometimes (Radio Edit)
12. Overprotected (The Darkchild Remix)
13. Lucky
14. Outrageous
15. Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know
16. Born To Make You Happy (Radio Edit)
17. I Love Rock N Roll
18. I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman
19. I've Just Begun (Having My Fun)

[2003] Kelly Clarkson - Thankful (Mp3 Download)

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Anybody older than 18 who's watched American Idol for any length of time will undoubtedly find the similarities between this talent contest and such square '60s/'70s variety programs like The Andy Williams Show startling and unavoidable. Whenever the kids are hauled out to sing an oldie or stumble through a production number, AmIdol goes into a time warp, particularly because they're nearly always singing the same songs that would have shown up on The Andy Williams Show those many years ago. That's because this is a show-biz creation, not an organic pop phenomenon. It goes for the choreographed razzle-dazzle, it has the sense of "let's put on a show!" and it's about the televised show; the music is there to serve the program, not vice versa.

This makes for splendid entertainment, but the format of the show and its inherent squareness do make it difficult for contest winners to appeal to listeners their own age, since the show has positioned them to be as unhip as possible. Take Kelly Clarkson, the winner of the first American Idol, aired in 2002. Her first single, "A Moment Like This," may have been a number one hit, but it was such a staid adult contemporary tune that it suggested that her career was over before it really began, since it was not a work that played to her age or audience, and it gave her no room to grow. Somebody -- whether it was Kelly herself or her monolithic management -- realized that she was not on a path to either a long career or a successful one-shot album and rethought the game plan for her much-delayed debut album, Thankful. Originally, this album was going to come out mere months after the end of the original American Idol, but it was delayed for a variety of reasons, including Clarkson's taxing schedule and difficulty in cobbling together workable material. Ultimately, the decision to delay the record paid off, because Thankful is a sharp, versatile modern pop record, showcasing her voice, to be sure, but being much better than expectations, much better than the scores of flop diva records that cluttered the pop landscape in late 2002. Why? There are many reasons, but the biggest is that everybody involved managed to make Kelly Clarkson seem younger and hipper without slutting her up like Christina Aguilera (who, ironically, co-wrote "Miss Independent," the first single from Thankful) while retaining a strong sense of melodic songcraft. She still can appeal to a wide, mature audience, but no longer does the music sound quite so static. Witness the new mix of "A Moment Like This" -- it's still the same treacly song, but it now breathes; it doesn't sound stiff and reserved, it gives Kelly's voice room to roam. It's a major step forward toward a fresh sound, and Thankful follows through on its promise, delivering dance-pop that's catchy and flirty without being trampy and ballads that are tasteful without being boring. Amazingly, the album has a light, effortless touch, an impressive feat considering that it was certainly as overworked as any of the big, leaden diva discs of 2002. Much credit is due to executive producer Clive Davis, who masterminded the effort, deftly balancing the dance and ballad sides, making it sound easy. But the record simply wouldn't work without Clarkson, who can navigate the shifts in sound with vigor and personality. Although it hardly breaks any new ground, Thankful is much more demanding than an episode of American Idol, since it's all new material covering the spectrum of mainstream pop music. Throughout this record, she makes it seem effortless and charming. She can croon, she can belt out a song, she can be sexy and sassy while still being graceful and as wholesome as the girl next door. After listening to Thankful, it's hard to imagine any of 2003's American Idol contestants -- including the two favorites, loverman Ruben Studdard and clenched, show tune-loving Clay Aiken, since both have taken one sound and driven it into the ground -- being able to produce a record so versatile while sounding like it's all so easy. True, Thankful isn't a record that's earth-shaking, but in 2003 it is something special all the same: an unapologetically mainstream record that works and is very enjoyable. Maybe American Idol really does turn out pop stars.

Track Lists [Download]
01. The Trouble With Love Is
02. Miss Independent
03. Low
04. Some Kind Of Miracle
05. What's Up Lonely
06. Just Missed The Train
07. Beautiful Disaster
08. You Thought Wrong
09. Thankful
10. Anytime
11. A Moment Like This
12. Before Your Love

All in mp3 160-320 kbps
The Singles 1973-1985
Tracklist:
01. I Can Hear Music (1973 Single Version)
02. Goin' Back (1973 B-Side)
03. Love Kills (1984 Single Version)
04. Love Kills (1984 Extended Vesion)
05. I Was Born To Love You (1985 Extended Version)
06. Stop All the Fighting (1985 Non Album B-Side)
07. Stop All the Fighting (1985 Non Album B-Side Extended)
08. Made In Heaven (1985 Extended Vesion)
09. She Blows Hot & Cold (1985 Non Album B-Side)
10. She Blows Hot & Cold (1985 Non Album B-Side Extended)
11. Loving On My Own (1985 Extended Version)
12. My Love Is Dangerous (1985 Extended Version)
13. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (1985 Extended)
14. Let's Turn It On (1985 Extended Version)
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The Singles 1986-1993
Tracklist:
01. Time (1986 Album Version)
02. Time (1986 Extended Version)
03. Time (1986 Instrumental Version)
04. In My Defence (1986 Album Version)
05. The Great Pretender (1987 Single Version)
06. The Great Pretender (1987 Extended Version)
07. Exercises In Free Love (1987 Non Album B-Side)
08. Barcelona - 1987 (Single Version)
09. Barcelona - 1987 (Extended Version)
10. How Can I Go On (1989 Single Version)
11. Living On My Own (1993 No More Brothers Extended Mix)
12. Living On My Own (1993 Radio Mix)
13. Living On My Own (1993 Club Mix)
14. Living On My Own (1993 Underground Solutions Mix)
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The Instrumentals
Tracklist:
01. Barcelona
02. La Japonaise
03. The Fallen Priest
04. Ensueno
05. The Golden Boy
06. Guide Me Home
07. How Can I Go On
08. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow
09. Made In Heaven
10. Mr Bad Guy
11. There Must Be More To Life Than This
12. In My Defence
13. The Great Pretender
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The Rarities Vol.1 (The Mr Bad Guy Sessions)
01. Let's Turn It On (A Capella)
02. Made In Heaven (Alternative Version)
03. I Was Born To Love You (Vocal & Piano Version)
04. Foolin' Around (Early Version)
05. Foolin' Around ([1985] Unreleased 12'' Mix)
06. Foolin' Around (Instrumental)
07. Your Kind Of Lover (Early Version)
08. Your Kind Of Lover (Vocal & Piano Version)
09. Mr Bad Guy (Orchestra Out-Takes)
10. Mr Bad Guy (Early Version)
11. There Must Be More To Life... (Piano Out-Takes)
12. Living On My Own (Hybrid Edit [Early & Later])
13. Love Is Dangerous (Early Version)
14. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Early Version)
15. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (2nd Early Version)
16. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (3rd Early Version)
17. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Live Take)
18. She Blows Hot & Cold (Alternative Version [feat. Brian May])
19. Gazelle (Demo)
20. Money Can't Buy Hapiness (Demo)
21. Love Makin' Love (Demo)
22. God Is Heavy (Demo)
23. New York (Demo)
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The Rarities Vol. 2 (The Barcelona Sessions)
Tracklist:
01. The Duet [The Fallen Priest] (Garden Lodge Tape)
02. Idea [Barcelona] (Extract From Garden Lodge Tape)
03. Idea [Barcelona] (2nd Extract Garden Lodge Tape)
04. Barcelona (Early Version [Freddie's Demo Vocal])
05. Barcelona (Freddie's Vocal Slave)
06. Barcelona (Later Version [Freddie's Vocal Only])
07. La Japonaise (Early Version [Freddie's Demo Vocal])
08. La Japonaise (A Capella)
09. Rachmaninov's Revenge [The Fallen Priest] (Early)
10. Rachmaninov's Revenge [The Fallen Priest] (Later)
11. Ensueno (Montserrat's Live Takes)
12. The Golden Boy (Early Version [Freddie's Demo Vocal])
13. The Golden Boy (2nd Early Version [Extract])
14. The Golden Boy (A Capella [Feat. Gospel Choir])
15. Guide Me Home [How Can I Go On] (Alternative Version)
16. How Can I Go On (Out. take [Extract])
17. How Can I Go On (Alternative Piano Version)
18. When This Old Tired Body Wants To Sing
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The Rarities Vol. 3 (Other Sessions)
Tracklist:
01. Rain ([1969] Live)
02. Green ([1969] Rehearsal)
03. The Man From Manhattan ([1976] E. Howell [prd.Mercury])
04. Love Is the Hero ([1986] B. Squier [arr. Mercury])
05. Lady With A Tenor Sax ([1986] B. Squier & F. Mercury)
06. Hold On ([1986] F. Mercury & J. Dare)
07. Heaven For Everyone ([1988] Cross Version [Freddie Vocal])
08. Love Kills (Rock Mix)
09. Love Kills (Instrumental)
10. The Great Pretender (Original Demo)
11. Holding On (Demo)
12. It's So You (Demo)
13. I Can't Dance [Keep Smilin'] (Demo)
14. Horns Of Doom (Demo)
15. Yellow Breezes (Demo)
16. Have A Nice Day (Fan Club Message)
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Mr. Bad Guy
Tracklist:
01. Let's Turn It On
02. Made In Heaven
03. I Was Born To Love You
04. Foolin' Around
05. Your Kind Of Lover
06. Mr. Bad Guy
07. Man Made Paradise
08. There Must Be More To Life Than This
09. Living On My Own
10. My Love Is Dangerous
11. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow
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Barcelona
Tracklist:
01. Barcelona
02. La Japonaise
03. The Fallen Priest
04. Ensueno
05. The Golden Boy
06. Guide Me Home
07. How Can I Go On
08. Overture Piccante
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Great Pretender
Tracklist:
01. The Great Pretender
02. Foolin' Around
03. Time
04. Your Kind Of Lover
05. Exercises In Free Love
06. In My Defence
07. Mr Bad Guy
08. Let's Turn It On
09. Living On My Own
10. My Love Is Dangerous
11. Love Kills
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