| The Best of Bond...James Bond |
| Composed by Various Artists |
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Produced and Compiled by Jonathan Watkins and Kevin Flaherty Release Date: 2002 |
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Looking to cash in on the media blitz of Die Another Day, Capitol Records releases this album in the already glutted market of James Bond compilations. One only has to glance through the soundtrack section to find at least three different albums. Certainly the best to this point has been the 30th Anniversary edition, with it's expanded score tracks from such classics as Goldfinger and Thunderball. Of course, such a nice set comes with a hefty price tag. While there may be plenty of cheaper CDs around that serve the need quite well, this is very nice album and should be the catch-all for all Bond enthusiasts...for a few years at least. This album has it all...every title song that is. From the original theme in Dr. No, to David Arnold's last title song, The World is Not Enough. Coming so close to the release of the film, it's a shame that Die Another Day (not an Arnold creation sadly) is not on here, as it already dates the album. I'm sure there were several sticky legal issues to wade through to actually include it here, so it's not that big of a loss (especially if you're one of those who really doesn't care for the song anyway). The music has been digitally re-mastered and sounds quite nice, though there are a few tracks which just can't be restored enough to match the quality found in the newer songs. The content is all pretty standard, and the disc is quite packed. The only big difference between this release and the ones that have come before is the inclusion of the trailer music from Goldeneye, something that fans have clamored for ever since that trailer debuted. It is a good cue, and it's inclusion here is welcome, but whether or not it warrants the purchase of a new album (if you already have an older version) depends on how much that particular piece of music appeals to you. The liner notes are nice, with details concerning each film covered by the album, and plenty of photographs detailing the "Bond girls" as well as the different actors filling those large shoes. If you've been looking for a good James Bond compilation and have yet to purchase one, this is the one you should get, bar none. On the other hand, if you already own one (or several), you should probably pass unless the re-mastering job and Goldeneye trailer music really catch your ear. **** |
| Track Listing - Total Running Time: 71:25 | |
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