Lightnin' Hopkins - Lightnin' Hopkins

Advantages: All the song you know and love
Disadvantages: Not in the right order

...I bought this soundtrack when it came out for Grease's 20th anniversary. This version of the CD also comes with an "interactive" element, which basically means that you can watch clips from the movie for the songs "Greased Lightnin'", "Summer Nights", "You're The One That I Want" and "Hopelessly Devoted To You". It also has the credits for the movie. Although this is good, it's no substitute for the movie itself, and the sound is very flat on the clips as well as the fact that the clips are very short (about 30 seconds each) anyway. The booklet for the CD is 10 pages long. 4 pages are a (pretty darned good) introduction to the machine that is Grease, written by John Tobler. The other 6 pages consist of pictures from the movie, along with one page for the track listings. The songs on the album are: 1: Grease 2: Summer... Read review

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Advantages: Good, funky music, markable production
Disadvantages: awful lyrics, glorifying rape

...and of violating women. So if my problem is with violent and misogynistic rhymes, I suppose you're wondering what the hell I was doing listening to a Rap album guaranteed to be full of such content? Well actually I've heard plenty of Rap albums which never glorify violence or hate, such as albums of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Run-DMC, De La Soul, Mos Def, J-Live, Jurrasic 5, Queen Latifah. They may describe violence, or revel in lust and sex, but never with hatred or malice. And then there's some rappers I like even though they do glorify violence and/or sexism like Geto Boys, 2pac, Notorious B.I.G., Jeru the Damaja Ice Cube, Eminem, Slick Rick, Lightnin' Rod, because they do songs about abuse and hardship that are occasionally apologetic and uplifting. They also veer towards actually saying something about society and politics... Read review

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Advantages: Full-length versions of classics, empowering, intelligent, good natured.
Disadvantages: Old School, dumbed down lyrics occasionally, very rough around the edges

...in the mind. I love the summery feel to "Jesse" and its synthesiser funk sound, creating this beautiful sense of America being reborn pure again and brighter days being ahead. The seedy sound of "White Lines" gives it that essential feel of hypnotism and the colourful and sultry atmosphere of a drug high, and immediately lends it to crossover Rock appeal. "Hustler's Convention" is a remake of Lightnin' Rod's classic Jazz music and they do the cover brilliantly in their own way. They give it that dramatic style of psychedelia and flamboyant piano keys and alarming trumpets. It actually sounds very humorous, until the closing moments, after the Gangster narrator has been executed and the music suddenly turns very somber and moving, and the juxtaposition works very well somehow- communicating the soul and loss of a vibrant but wasted life.... Read review

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