REVIEW cranium7 ====================================================== Pokémon: The First Movie Soundtrack Trust me: this isn't ANYTHING like 2BA Master (thank God!). Believe it or not, some big-name groups are in here, and (besides the theme) the songs are all fine for even anti-Pokémon rebels. The tracks all fall in two catagories: upbeat or slow, with a sometimes startling transition. No big problem, but it's something to be aware of. ------------------------------------------------------ 1: Pokémon Theme Billy Crawford (Upbeat) This is really just a remix of the good old TV show opening theme song, but it's a really good remix. Quite synthesized, but you won't really care. It's the same old lyrics for most (I do repeat _most_, though) of the song, which kicks it down a step. Rating: ***** (out of 7 stars) Useless fact: This played during Ash's battle against the pirate in the movie. I wish it was earlier though, because it would've been great to hear "Donphan, GO!!" ------------------------------------------------------- 2: Don't Say You Love Me M2M (Upbeat) If you don't know this song, well, come out of your cave someday. It's by a high-pitched whispery chick band, just to warn you. Although the vocals annoy, the song itself is okay. But just okay. But then again, I suppose it all depends on who you ask. Rating: **** Useless fact 1: On the CD, the early line was changed from "you started kissing me" to "you told me you loved me." Darn Nintendo censors. Useless fact 2: Although it was heavily flaunted to the CD cover and TV ads, this song never appears in the actual movie. -------------------------------------------------------- 3: It Was You Ashley Ballard & So Plush (Slow) Well, I don't know how to describe this. I suppose it could be coming from Misty or something. It's a good song anyhow. There are some occasional conflicting harmonies that sounded kind of chaotic at first, but it grows on you after a few times through. Rating: ****** -------------------------------------------------------- 4: We're A Miracle Christina Aguilara (Slow) I'm not quite sure what to think. It's a good song, but somehow it seems really really similar to that theme from The Prince of Egypt. Also, I think it's kind of weird-- Ms. Aguilara sounds black in this song, like in a few others. Am I the only one who notices? Rating: ***** Useless fact: This song plays during the end credits. -------------------------------------------------------- 5: Soda Pop Britney Spears (Upbeat) Ehhh. I've only listened to this song once, and for good reason. It's that Jamacian style, and it's Britney Spears (aka B.S.), neither of which I like. It's not even a very good tune. Ah well. Rating: *** -------------------------------------------------------- 6: Somewhere Someday *Nsync (Slow) Well I've gotta tell you, I'm not a huge fan of 'Nsync. But my sister is, and she wasn't disappointed. Neither was I, really. It's soothing, and just has a nice blended sound. Rating: ****** Useless fact: This song is the one and only reason my sister bought the CD (it's hers, actually). --------------------------------------------------------- 7: Get Happy B*Witched (Upbeat) The epitome of spunk. That's all I'll say, and it's all that needs said. Rating: **** Useless fact: You could find something very wrong with a few perfectly acceptable lyrics in this song if you looked too deep into them. --------------------------------------------------------- 8: (Hey You) Free Up Your Mind Baby Spice (Upbeat) This is an odd one. Not quite as spunky as Get Happy, but for some reason a former Spice Girl just doesn't seem right. The lyrics are okay, and the tune is good, but it just has a strange feel to it. Rating: ***** Useless fact: Melanie Chisholm, better known as Sporty Spice, does some of the backup vocals. --------------------------------------------------------- 9: Fly With Me 98° (Upbeat) This has a weirder sound than Free Up Your Mind. It's just flat I suppose. It's your best guess on how good this song is, but I don't like it. Rating: ** Useless fact: Whenever we listen to the CD, my sister (little miss boy band) actually skips this song (along with Don't Say You Love Me and Soda Pop). ---------------------------------------------------------- 10: Lullaby Mandah (Slow) Now this song I like. I don't know what it is, but I do. Maybe it's the music, maybe it's the nice flowing vocals, I don't know. But whatever you do, don't confuse it with the Shawn Mullins song of the same name. :^) Rating: ******* Useless fact 1: I had never heard of "Mandah" before I got this CD. Useless fact 2: They left someone out of the background vocals chart in the little songbook/miniposter: Rachael Lillis, who supplied the voice of Jigglypuff. ---------------------------------------------------------- 11: Vacation Vitamin C (Upbeat) For some reason I get thirsty when I listen to this song, due to one of the instruments. Anyway, this is another song that I like. The orange-haired diva does her semi-rapping thing in here, but it adds to it actually. I like the way that old luau song is put in too. Rating: ******* Useless fact: This played during the opening credits of Pikachu's Vacation. ---------------------------------------------------------- 12: Makin' My Way (Any Way That I Can) Billie (Slow) Well, somehow it sounds just like It Was You and We're A Miracle, with lyrics set in Ash's point of view. Basically it's similar to the old "I won't let my dream die" style from 2BA Master. It's not bad, but it sounds kind of..... unoriginal I suppose. Rating: ***** Useless fact: My sister insists this played during the storm in Mewtwo Strikes Back. --------------------------------------------------------- 13: Catch Me If You Can Angela Via (Upbeat) Another spunky one, but not overdone. It's got a nice beat, but some slightly repetitive lyrics. It's not too noticeable though. I wish the male backup singer would have harmonized more though. It made a nice round sound. Hey, that rhymes :^) Rating: ****** Useless fact: This played during Pikachu's Vacation, during the swimming race between Squirtle and Marill. --------------------------------------------------------- 14: (Have Some) Fun With The Funk Aaron Carter (Upbeat) Well, Carter-kun isn't nearly as bad as I would have thought. (In case you don't know, he's the 12-year-old brother of Backstreet Boy Nick Carter.) It's a great party song. I have a feeling they made a lot of voice effects for this. Rating: ****** Useless fact 1: In the "Human Beat Boxes" listing in the miniposter, his first name is spelled "Aaaron". Useless fact 2: One of the backups is none other than Nikki Gregoroff-- the lead vocalist in Amy's theme "My Sweet Passion" in Sonic Adventure. -------------------------------------------------------- 15. If Only Tears Could Bring You Back Midnight Sons (Slow) This should have been played just before Ash's "revival", which I won't completely spoil for you. The vocals have a nice sound, but an odd accent. Rating: ***** -------------------------------------------------------- 16. Brother My Brother Blessid Union of Souls (Slow) Another fairly sad song, but it's good. Hard to describe it. But you've gotta love the way the lead guy spits out "life" and "war". Rating: ******* Useless fact: I can never spell "Blessid" right. ========================================================= Overall: ******