Jacksonville.com (The Florida Times-Union) January 14, 1998

The following review of the Great Expectations soundtrack appeared at the Jacksonville.com web site (published by the The Florida Times-Union) on January 14, 1998.

'Great Expectations' met in the album

By Todd Fletcher
Wolfson High School

Every once in a blue moon, a soundtrack will be released that utterly blows a music lover's mind. Great Expectations: The Album does just that.

Atlantic Records has put together a fine collection of songs from top names that listeners haven't heard from in a while. This retelling of the Charles Dickens classic hits movie theaters Jan. 30. All of the songs on The Album have themes related to the 1990's version of the story.

The Album opens with Finn (Intro) done by Tori Amos. Next is Siren, Amos' first new song released in more than a year. Amos-addicts will not be disappointed. This tune is Amos at her best. Mono's impressive Life In Mono features the beautiful chant heard in the movie's trailer.

Chris Cornell, ex-Soundgarden member, can be heard for the first time solo on the track Sunshower. The song drags and is disappointing. If Sunshower is any indication of his solo material to come, then he should not have let Soundgarden fall to pieces.

Stone Temple Pilot's front-man Scott Weiland debuts the first song from his new solo project. The track, called Lady, Your Roof Brings Me Down, is fabulous and the best track The Album has to offer. It sounds very reminiscent of Sergeant Pepper-era Beatles and features Sheryl Crow on accordion.

Poe's Today is fascinating. The song features a catchy hook in the line, ''Today is the day we break free.'' Poe's quirky singing draws the listener into the tale. Lauren Christy's Walk This Earth Alone is a dark tune that really sticks in listeners' minds.

Her Ornament by The Verve Pipe shows the band's pop side. The first single released from The Album is Duncan Sheik's Wishful Thinking. With all of the great songs on The Album, it's hard to figure out why Atlantic picked such a lackluster song.

The Album's last few tracks are classic songs featured in the movie. Success by Iggy Pop and The Grateful Dead's Uncle John's Band adds a 1970s feel to the soundtrack.

Final grade: A

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