CD Giveaway - 33Miles, "One Life"
Ends Aug 4, 2010
The country-pop sound established in their eponymous debut is a mainstay for this album as well, and even adds a little more southern flavor.
CD Giveaway - Phil Wickham, "Cannons"
Ends Aug 3, 2010
With an opening shot that hits the sonic pinnacle, this collection of spiritual Brit pop/rock is heavily influenced by Keane, Travis, Coldplay, and U2.
Just in time for this summer's movie of high expectations, "Superman Returns", comes this compilation from Rhino, featuring some of today's hottest new artists covering or creating tunes dedicated to the spirit of the Man of Steel.
The album opens with a high energy cover of "(I Am) Superman" from The Academy Is... which remains faithful to the REM cover while adding a bit of modern sophistication to the tune. (And yes, I know that The Clique first performed the song long ago.)
Also among the covers (which make up slightly less than half the album's track listing) are a frenetic punk cover of The Kinks song, "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" by The Sun, an electric yet sadly forgettable performance of Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" from The Films, and an emotionally moving version of "My Hero", made popular by the Foo Fighters, wholly reinterpreted by Paramore. This last song is easily one of my favorite tracks of the whole set, as lead singer Hayley Williams captures the listener's attention with her plaintive vocals set against an acoustic guitar.
I
Wish I could fly
I know I could save us somehow.
You
Thought you were safe and sound
But you need a hero now.
You've gotta believe
Even with broken wings
I'll come to your rescue,
and you can rescue me. --- "The Rescue", American Hi-Fi
Among the new songs, perhaps the one that most captures the nuances of the plot of the upcoming movie is "The Rescue", a melancholy song from American Hi-Fi. The verses open with the narrator singing about all that was lost when he 'disappeared', then moving into a chorus that pretty much defines the flavor of the new relationship between Superman and Lois that the filmmakers have created.
Another original song on this set with a strong connection to "Superman Returns" is "You're Never Gone" -- not so much because of the words of the song, but because of the singer. Sara Routh, who performs this part piano bar, part rocker grrl melody, is the older sister of Brandon Routh, who portrays the Man of Steel this summer. The lyrics put forth a perspective that could easily be that of the Lois Lane character expressing the abandonment she feels, whether Superman is there or not.
Sound of Superman Track Listing
01. (I Am) Superman - The Academy Is...
02. It's So Easy - Plain White T's
03. (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman - The Sun
04. The Worst Part... - Motion City Soundtrack
05. Sunshine Superman - The Films
06. Save Me - Maxeen
07. My Hero - Paramore
08. The Rescue - American Hi-Fi
09. Saved - The Spill Canvas
10. Meet Me at My Window - Jack's Mannequin
11. Waitin' for a Superman - Nightmare of You
12. Superman - The Receiving End of Sirens
13. Brainiac's Daughter - Royal
14. You're Never Gone - Sara Routh
Other covers on the album include Nightmare of You performing a nearly dead on impersonation of The Flaming Lips' "Waitin' for a Superman" and an amusing ditty from Royal called "Brainiac's Daughter", which sounds like it could have been an outtake from Yellow Submarine or any of the other more whimsical songs from The Beatles. (It was originally done by a band called Dukes of Stratosphear.)
The Spill Canvas gives us a new song on this set with "Saved", a rocking tune that would probably be as welcomed on the CCM charts as it would be on modern rock stations. It's another high point on this album, as is the Jack's Mannequin song, "Meet Me at my Window", which features a rapid-beat plunking piano melody. In fact, the only less-than-stellar songs on Sound of Superman are Maxeen's "Save Me" (not a cover of the song of the same name by Remy Zero that serves as the theme for Smallville) and "It's So Easy" by the Plain White T's, both of which are overshadowed by the other songs on the album.
Of course, any fans of Superman who have already compiled home-made mixes dedicated to the hero (like yours truly) can probably name a dozen or more different covers that the album doesn't contain that maybe should have been included. Five for Fighting's "It's Not Easy" and 3 Doors Down's "Kryptonite" are just two songs that would have seemed obvious selections for remakes (or "Jimmy Olsen's Blues" by the Spin Doctors if you want to go even further back in time.) However, I can't see how any fan would be disappointed with what the album does provide. You can always load those other songs into your iPod with these and create yourself an expanded listening experience.
