Reviews

Various Artists

Stubbs The Zombie

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Review Date: 2005-10-31

Could it be that video game soundtracks are about to become a big part of the current music landscape? With more and more video games breaking the bank to bring in famous actors to take part, and with arguably almost as many kids playing these games as they are seeing movies it would appear logical to assume a strong market exists for video game soundtracks. The problem in establishing this market is providing soundtracks worth buying. This is the same problem that effects movie fans. Most soundtracks fucking blow. Sometimes this isn't the case but usually they have a couple good songs and the rest is crap. One way around hitting this rut is to go with a gimmick for the soundtrack.

And that is exactly what Stubbs The Zombie did. The video game consists of you playing as a zombie and reaking havoc, eating brains, and other zombie like activities. But rather than filling the game with the music you would expect, the game is accompanied by cheery 50's and 60's songs being redone by current bands and artists. Apparently this sounded like fun because they landed some plum acts. The Flaming Lips, Cake, Death Cab For Cutie, The Walkmen, and The Dandy Warhols to name a few. Covering favourites that are for the most part instantly recognizable to almost anyone who hears them.

I'm going to bite right into this one so I can talk about more tracks. Ben Kweller opens the show with his rendition of "Lollipop". This is vintage Ben. And by that I mean it is unlike his previous album which was polished, and attempted to show a maturity that he had always been criticized for lacking. The result was a muddled sounding album, that didn't hold a flame to his previous effort which I love. Ben doesn't try to turn this song into something else, instead he might even strip it down more than the original. Just some sparse guitar, and the tune of the song is slowed down to suit his voice. And don't worry, they still keep that popping sound effect that would be blasphemous to leave out. There is something endearing about Kweller's voice in this type of format.

Everyone's favourite indie or perhaps no longer indie darlings Death Cab For Cutie cover a timeless cheesey love song classic in "Earth Angel". Terri loves this song, and so do a lot of girls. I always thought it was somewhat lame. However, Death Cab For Cutie has somehow managed to tweak it enough that I no longer question my sexuality while listening to it. This song is harder than the original, more bigger drums, the guitar track is turned up and a bit of production work done to the vocals that I like. But really just like the original the track is made by the smooth vocals. Just a great love song, and it is probably fun eating humans while listening to this song as well.

I've always said that Cake could be compared to Sinatra. A few people have gave me a confused look after that comparison. Well, now you can hear it for yourself. Cake covers "Strangers In The Night" in what is probably the pinnacle on the album. Most fans of Cake likely haven't heard them doing as serious sounding of a song as this very often, but don't worry it works. And they even find a way to incorporate some trademark Cakestyle horns. Cake never is going to re-invent the wheel. If you haven't been able to get into his voice before, you won't now. But any Cake fan or even casual admirer should hear this song. I would love to hear their take on a couple more Sinatra classics.

The most eccentric cover goes to The Flaming Lips, and why doesn't this shock me in the least. Rather than covering a top 40 hit, they dip into the freakin' Wizard Of Oz and choose to do "If I Only Had A Brain". And they do it up in true Lips style, turning it into an acidic circus trip version of the original. And much like "Lollipop" they still have the munchkins, and the spirit of the original is firmly intact but still it wouldn't be a Lips cover if they didn't fuck it up a bit. A purist like my brother is going to scratch his head hearing this one, but a music fan will likely appreciate this rendition. This isn't the best track on the album, but it is the most unique. As soon as I am in good enough health to smoke some weed again I'm going to do so and listen to this song, write that down.

The Dandy Warhols piss me off a bit. Their 2005 release pretty much stunk. It stunk so badly that I didn't have the patience to review it with so many other albums that I would rather take the time to tell you about. But since I am talking about this song I figured i'd take the time to say don't waste your time with "Odditorium". "All I Have To Do Is Dream" however is a different story. I love the original, and I love what they do with this. Which is a rather large departure from the original. The vocals are in a high falsetto, very quiet, and distorted a bit. The background on the other hand is cranked up, loaded with bass, and is pretty much the polar opposite to the way the vocals are done. This is another one of those instances where it might not sound like a good idea, but it works so what do I know?

I don't know who Milton Mapes are, does anybody else want to enlighten me? I thought it was a solo act, and now after a quick amazon check i'm thinking it is in fact a band. Their take on "Lonesome Town" is easily the strongest performance by an act that is new to me. Only Cake's song tops it. This song sounds very authentic. You can do a cover this way, or you can do it the way of the Lips or the Warhols. Both can be good, and both can be awful. I like the way this song is countrified, and the singer for Milton Mapes has a really nice voice. To be able keep you enthralled when the song is plodding along at such a slow pace requires vocal talent. All of the music from this timeframe had a certain innocence to it. The artists were so much less jaded then, and when you do a cover as authentic as this or "Lollipop" that element of the songs still shines through.

It is easy to write something off just because it is a video game soundtrack and that would be a mistake. Not every song is as noteworthy as the mentioned ones but other than Rose Hill Drive's "Shakin' All Over" the other 12 are totally decent. This is the perfect album to play at a gathering, or a party because everyone will know the songs and want to know what they are hearing. It also is a great album to just put on when you are chilling out and don't want to think too much. Under intense microscopic listens i'm sure that it might get a bit stale but that isn't the point of the album at all. Rarely is with soundtracks. Stubbs The Zombie is a winner with a killer concept.

Songs to download: "Lollipop" (Kweller), "Earth Angel" (Death Cab), "Strangers In The Night" (Cake), "There Goes My Baby" (The Walkmen), "All I Have To Do Is Dream" (Dandy Warhols), "If I Only Had A Brain" (The Lips), and "Lonestome Town" (Milton Mapes)

Score: 7.8

It goes about as far as a fun album full of covers can go and this score reflects that. I bought it and I think that is more reflective of what I think about it than the score.

- Dan