Reviews by Deseret News staff writers of recent movie soundtrack and rock recordings:
VARIOUS ARTISTS, "Peter's Friends" (Epic Soundtrax). * *
"Peter's Friends" - the movie - was frequently described by critics as a British homage to the '70s and '80s, comparing it to "The Big Chill's" built-in musical commentary on the '60s.
For me, the songs here don't even come close to the smart collection for "The Big Chill," but there are some enjoyable and disparate tunes collected - including Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," Queen's "You're My Best Friend," Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," Michael Nesmith's "Rio," etc. Even Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It" shows up!
There are also "bonus tracks" by Springsteen ("Hungry Heart") and others that are not in the movie!
This is like one of those discount bin collections of hits from a particular era. A few good ones, a few bad ones . . . on the whole, just OK.
- Chris Hicks
BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS; "Sister Sweetly" (Giant). * * *
Some things you grow to love. "Sister Sweetly" is one of those. At first listen, the album might easily be mixed with the mill of generic radio. But by the second or third run-through, the songs will have you tapping your foot to their laid back, home-style beat.
In their first major album, Big Head Todd and the Monsters don't hesitate to take liberties in the type of music they play. Although they are generally classified as modern rock, they employ sounds ranging from classic acoustic rock to music bordering heavy metal. Likewise, Big Head Todd - otherwise known as lead singer and songwriter Todd Park Mohr - takes an experimental run through methods of vocal performance ranging from singing a bell-tone bass to outright screeching.
The hit single "Broken Hearted Savior" is somewhere in between. It plays a digging acoustic sound to match love lyrics full of regret. A similar sound is laid over a punctuated rhythm in the title song, "Sister Sweetly," which sounds like modern music with a touch of Eric Clapton.
Echoing questions in "Brother John" add to the song's lonely melody, while the harsh sound of "Circle" parallels the frustration of going nowhere.
Mohr's vocals and the talent of singer Jevetta Steele make "It's Alright" easy on the ear and hard to forget.
Many of Mohr's songs deal with the emotional complexities of relationships, with hopes and goals created in the discovery of love and the need to be loved and understood. His lyrics go beyond physical attraction and dwell on meanings of significant small events.
Mohr's musical range and depth will be a boon to his group's performance life. Like a good book, Big Head Todd and the Monsters' "Sister Sweetly" is more enjoyable the more it is played.
- Irene Chen
TEARS FOR FEARS; "Elemental" (Mercury). * * *
Featuring the sweeping voice of Roland Orzabal, "Elemental" retains the characteristic sound of Tears for Fears, with room for interpretation.
Orzabal - now the key force in Tears for Fears, with the departure of Curt Smith - spices up the creations of an evolving band. Sounds of elephants are heard in the title song. A jazzy funk foundation is applied to the orchestral base of many others. He paints an instrumental portrait of war in the solemn "Gas Giants."
As the first single to be released from Tears for Fears under Orzabal, the success of "Break It Down Again" was evidence that the plural group name with solo existence can hold its own.
Lyrics in the album are also a personal statement for Orzabal.
The irony of "Mr. Pessimist" could be penitence or humor. The song scorns easy cynicism, which Tears for Fears touted in its early and more depressing days of gloom and self-pity.
A sadder reflection of earlier days is sung in "Fish Out of Water," a song about Orzabal's relationship with Smith.
Smith and Orzabal had been close friends and musical partners since age 14. They created the group and name Tears for Fears in 1982 after discussing California psychologist Arthur Janov's book, "Primal Scream." Smith abandoned the group concept to pursue a solo career in 1991.
Vocally, Smith's departure is not particularly noticeable. One almost wonders what, if any, role Smith played.
However, the composition and lyrics of "Elemental" reveal Orzabal as the lone soul of Tears for Fears. With Tim Palmer (Pearl Jam, Tin Machine) as co-producer and Alan Griffiths as co-songwriter, Orzabal calls the shots. The musical quality is there, but it is not entirely the Tears for Fears we've known over the past decade.
With upbeat, jazzy tunes, "Elemental" has a brighter musical side and a more personal side than previous Tears for Fears releases. The influence of Griffiths adds a new angle. One feels a sense of moving forward through a narrative while looking back in capturing the rhythm of Orzabal and Griffiths' work.
Brace yourselves for a whole new interpretation of Primal Scream.
- Irene Chen
RATINGS: four stars (* * * * ), excellent; three stars (* * * ), good; two stars (* * ), fair; one star (* ), poor, with 1/2 representing a higher, intermediate grade.