At the Movies
The Soundtrack of Your Life – Vol. 1
The Soundtrack of Your Life – Vol. 2
(Atomic Fire Records)
3.5/5
This month, Swedish all-star band At the Movies (featuring members of Soilwork, HammerFall, King Diamond, Pretty Maids, and others) released two new records featuring their hard-rockin’ takes on some of the best songs from movies released in the ’80s and ’90s. The songs were mega-hits at the time, and when put on a record together make for a great listening experience that will remind listeners why they fell in love with movies in the first place.
Vol. 1 focuses on some of the best music from the ’80s. The ’80s was a great decade for movie music in general and this album does a fine job at assembling the best songs of that decade. Songs like the Oscar-winning “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing and Back to the Future’s memorable “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and the News are great choices that pay tribute to both the film they’re from and the music itself.
The only critique I have is that I would have switched out “The Power of Love” with Lewis’ other hit song from the same movie, “Back in Time,” because thematically “Back in Time” is more about the movie.
Vol. 2 covers the ’90s era of movie music and is just as remarkable as Vol. 1. Again, there’s a lot of content to choose from in that decade, but I’m quite confident that listeners will be happy with the choices the band made. Featuring hit songs like Go West’s amazing “King of Wishful Thinking” song from Pretty Woman and Ronan Keating’s “When You Say Nothing at All” from Notting Hill, the first half of this epic album does not disappoint.
I really would have liked to have seen the inclusion of Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King or Aerosmith’s song from Armageddon, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” These are great picks for this type of music and would help make this album a memorable listening experience.
But besides making those additions, I wouldn’t change a single thing.
These records are a touching musical love letter; they will have even people who have never seen the movies dancing around their living room.