Combining old and new tunes, the recently released soundtrack to the movie "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" is a wild ride through a collage of musical styles. Interspersed with profanity-laced sounds from the movie, the soundtrack takes its lead from the hugely successful soundtrack to "The Full Monty," another film that follows the zany exploits of young Brits. Already platinum in the U.K., the soundtrack is sure to succeed in the U.S., even if the film does not.
The CD relies on a combination of funk, soul and ska to achieve a fast-paced, energetic feel that is representative of the movie itself. New bands, such as Ocean Colour Scene and Evil Superstars, are placed alongside such classic crooners as James Brown and the late Dusty Springfield. The contrast between the timeless vocals of Springfield and the new bands is readily apparent, but the styles act in a complimentary manner.
Among the new bands featured on this soundtrack, E-Z Roller's "Walk This Land" is the most noteworthy song. E-Z Roller's tune combines soulful trumpet bellows with extensive synthesizers to create a distinctly British sound. Evil Superstars' "Oh Girl" is another distinctly British track, combining bass, synthesizer and witty lyrics.
Interestingly, the songs culled from the classic soul and rock bands on the album are not the artists' most well known. The soundtrack producers passed on Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man" in favor of the less well-known, but equally soulful "Spooky." The album also features two classic tunes by James Brown, "Payback" and "The Boss." Both songs exemplify the deep bellowing voice that made Brown a musical legend in the '70s. Rounding out the legends of rock featured on the album are Pete Wingfield, and his almost painfully high vocals on "18 With a Bullet."
The soundtrack producers also inexplicably added snippets of dialogue from the movie. The profanity adds little to the album besides garnering a parental advisory on the front of the album.
The string of recent movie hits from the birthplace of the Beatles has led to a number of great soundtracks. "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" is a celebration of British music, both old and new. While the movie may not satisfy your desire for fish and chips, it will satiate the British music lover inside all of us.
