Published on Feb 23, 2000
Let’s get something straight right at the outset: I don’t like
soundtracks. I think they’re a cheap way for artists to dump off
B-singles and lousy outtakes, and the phrase “music inspired by” is
enough to make me want to shoot something. (Music related to a
movie should be
IN
a movie). Also, some of the most skull-splitting painfully
overplayed songs in human history have been from soundtracks — you
know what I mean. “Let’s Hear It For The Boy”. That damn
Titanic song.
Anything from most Disney flicks. Soundtracks are Pop Music
Hell at their worst.
Guess what? I
like this soundtrack. I like this soundtrack a
lot
. It’s a lot of fun. It’s good party music if you like your
parties Texas-barbecued. Even better, the music goes with the
movie, which I like as well; it’s no
Schindler’s List, but
Tin Cup is a fun little flick. (It also proves Costner’s Law
— certain actors are only good in genre pictures. Kevin Costner in
a sports movie? Fun. Kevin Costner in anything else? Bad.)
The movie has Rene Russo, too. Rene Russo is beautiful. This
helps. The soundtrack has Amanda Marshall. Amanda Marshall rocks
out. This helps immensely. Her “This Could Take All Night” is the
best thing on the CD, but not by much, which is astonishing in and
of itself. (Oh, by the way, check out
our review of Marshall’s
Tuesday’s Child, the best rock album of 1999. This has been
a Shameless Plug).
Marshall may be the highlight, but there’s a lot of other tasty
stuff on here. The Texas Tornados’ “Little Bit Is Better Than Nada”
is a fun Latin/country romp. Jimmie Vaughan’s “Good Lookin’ Woman”
and Joe Ely’s “Character Flaw” are both
good big slices of blues/country rock. Bruce Hornsby’s “Big
Stick” is Zydeco, good enough to make you want to suck the heads.
(Relax, I mean
crawfish. Some people.)
James House’s “Every Minute, Every Hour, Every Day” is some
damn fine roadhouse blues. “Crapped Out Again” has convinced
me I must own everything Keb’ Mo’ has ever put out. (Yes, he’s
really that good). And heck, I even liked George Jones and
Patty Loveless. Any CD that makes me like a George Jones song must
be doing something right.
About the only thing on here that left me cold was Chris Isaak’s
“I Wonder” — however, that’s probably because I can’t stand Isaak.
Programmable CD players are, however, a major technological
innovation of the 20th century, and easily applied to this
situation.
My advice is this: head on down to San Marcos and get a look at
Ralph the Diving Pig. On the way, drop the top, crank the stereo,
and slide
Tin Cup in. It’s a soundtrack eagle, at least.