The Future Is Unwritten

The Future Is Unwritten is the Julien Temple directed biopic of Joe Strummer's life. The soundtrack is programmed like a radio show, with Joe rambling between songs about the music he loved and his influences. It is a truly engaging listen, and the stylistic ground it covers is pretty broad. There are also a few previously unreleased gems included to draw in the Clash completists. With a soundtrack this good I look forward to seeing the movie. It was difficult to choose what to share because it is all so good. I ended up going with a very unique Elvis tune, a demo version of a Clash tune, a Mescaleros tune that is currently being used as the theme song to HBO's John From Cincinnati and a smoking Nina Simone cover of a Bee Gees song.

"Punk Rock Warlord" Joe Strummer
"White Riot (Previously Unreleased Version)" The Clash
"Rock the Casbah" Rachid Taha
"BBC World Service"
"Crawfish" Elvis Presley
"Black Sheep Boy" Tim Hardin
"Kick Out the Jams" MC5
"Keys to Your Heart" The 101'ers
"Mick And Paul Were Different" Joe Strummer
"I'm So Bored With The U.S.A. (Previously Unreleased Demo)." The Clash
"Natty Rebel (Previously Unreleased Version)" U-Roy
"Armagideon Time" the Clash
"Nervous Breakdown" Eddie Cochran
"(In The) Pouring Rain (Live & Previously Unreleased)" The Clash
"Omotepe" Joe Strummer
"Martha Cecilia" Andres Landeros
"Minuet" Ernest Ranglin
"Trash City" Latino Rockabilly War
"I Called Him Woody" Topper Headon
"Rangers Command" Woody Guthrie
"Corrina, Corrina" Bob Dylan
"Johnny Appleseed" Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
"To Love Somebody" Nina Simone
"Without People, You're Nothing" Joe Strummer
"Willesden To Cricklewood" Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros

The Soundtracks Of My Life

The wife and I don't see as many movies as we used to. The arrival of kids changed everything. Time became limited, baby sitting options aren't always available, blah blah blah. Anyway, I've been lucky to see a few good movies over the last month or two, both at the theatre and on DVD. Movie soundtracks can be hit or miss. The big blockbusters tend to be all bombast and corporate rock, as bloated as the movies they accompany. The soundtracks to Children Of Men and Stranger Than Fiction fall into a different category, where the songs fit their visual counterparts well and are even an integral part of the story. A good soundtrack makes a movie thrilling, and these three all fit that description.

King Crimson - The Court Of The Crimson King (Edit)
Jarvis Cocker - Running The WorldA fantastic film about a bleak not-so-distant future. The use of King Crimson really made an impression on me, lending it's scene the opulence it needed in that reserved, British way. The Jarvis song has had it's title amended to drop the prominently repeated "C" word and is not work/children safe. That having been said, it's a pretty dead on description of how things are, both in the movie and reality.

Wreckless Eric - Whole Wide World
The Jam - That's Entertainment (Demo Version)Will Ferrell stars in this delightfully romantic comedy. It has some pivotal moments soundtracked by Spoon's Britt Daniel and Brian Reitzell, some classic British oldies, and a few cool odds and ends. The Wreckless Eric song is a shining moment where love comes to fruition, and the sweet demo take of the Jam classic is also very effectively used. A sweet film with a great supporting cast.

David Holmes - The Nose
David Holmes - Snake Eyes
Puccio Roelens - CaravanHaven't seen this movie yet, but I always buy the soundtrack because I LOVE David Holmes' music for Soderbergh's movies. These records are always swanky and jazzy, and the selection of other artists included is always spot on. Holmes is coming on all Mancini-like here, and Roelens' swingin' take of Caravan is great. I'll see the movie someday...