Sequential Tart: A Comics Industry Web Zine

Spider-Man

by Rebecca Buchanan

Reviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk.

Recording label
Columbia Records
http://www.columbiarecords.com

Credits
Artist/Band: Chad Kroeger, Sum 41, Black Lab, Bleu, Alien Ant Farm, Default, Corey Taylor, Greenwheel, The Strokes, The Hives, Theory of a Dead Man, Pete Yorn, Macy Gray, Injected, Jerry Cantrell, Danny Elfman and Aerosmith

Grade: 8

I love soundtracks. If I liked the movie, there's a better than fair chance that I own the soundtrack. And, in a few cases, I hated the movie but loved the soundtrack, and so bought it anyway.

Spider-Man wins on both counts: I enjoyed the movie and I love the soundtrack.

The CD features a wide variety of rock artists, most of whom I have never even heard of. Alien Ant Farm? Theory of a Dead Man? Those are names for bands? Oh, wait, Aerosmith! I recognize that name ... even if I don't listen to their music regularly.

My favorite track on the CD is undoubtedly Chad Kroeger's Hero (featuring Josey Scott). The song perfectly captures the danger and excitement and pure angst of being a super hero. Does this guy have an album of his own? Please say yes.

Black Lab's Learn to Crawl and Theory of a Dead Man's Invisible Man are close seconds. I sit here at my computer, crank up the volume, and play the tracks three or four times in a row. My eardrums are starting to protest.

Macy Gray (the only one of the artists to actually appear in the film) is featured on the soundtrack, too. I put her in the "She's Growing On Me" category.

Of course, what would a soundtrack be without the film's orchestral arrangement? Well, in the case of Spider-Man, I almost found out. Danny Elfman's score takes up two — count 'em, two — tracks on the CD out of nineteen. Was I just not paying attention during the film? Does Elfman's score really consist of so little music, endlessly replayed during the film, or does the CD just short-change him?

And another thing. Danny, boy, love your stuff. You were perfect for Batman. But Spider-Man isn't Batman! Put me on Name That Tune and I wouldn't be able to tell the two orchestrations apart.

That criticism aside, Spider-Man is my new favorite CD (for the time being). Which is odd, for me. I normally don't listen to this kind of music at all. But I still love the soundtrack. I want to blast it at a thousand decibels and feel my marrow vibrate. :)

*sigh* This is what I get for working with a DJ in a comic book store.

Written: May 18, 2002
Published: June 1, 2002

Tart: Rebecca Buchanan
Music: Spider-Man
June 2002: All | Music