Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

Performer: Original Soundtrack
Engineer: Matt Knobel
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Compilation producers: Danny Bramson, Guy Oseary. "American Woman" won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. "Beautiful Stranger" won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Song Written For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media. AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME: MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Soundtrack Album. "Beautiful Stranger" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. "Espionage" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. This is a limited edition fuschia velvet digipak, with a black felt tray card and silver holographic interior. Compilation producers: Danny Bramson, Guy Oseary. AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME: MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Soundtrack Album. "Beautiful Stranger" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and for Best Song Written For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media. "American Woman" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. "Espionage" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Personnel: Madonna (vocals); Joey Waronker (drums). Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me has an interesting mix of '60s cover songs and '90s songs that were influenced by that era, much like the Austin Powers soundtrack, and although this sequel has less charm and enthusiasm than the first Austin Powers album, its highlights make it memorable. Several heavy hitters don't quite deliver on the soundtrack: Lenny Kravitz does a funky, guitar-heavy remake of the Guess Who's "American Woman" that never really erupts like it should, while R.E.M. does a smooth but somewhat uninspired version of Tommy James' "Draggin the Line." The Who unnecessarily redo their own "My Generation," and inexplicably, Melanie B (Scary Spice) does a version of "Word Up" (what does this 1986 song have to do with the '60s?) that takes all the funk out of Cameo's groovy hit. The real highlights are Madonna's "Beautiful Stranger" (mixed by William Orbit, who produced Ray of Light), which has a wonderful Beatles-meets-techno-lite feel; Quincy Jones' spacy redux of "Soul Bossa Nova"; and Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello's classy and classic "I'll Never Fall in Love Again." Even Dr. Evil has his own track -- "Just the Two of Us," his own introspective take on the Will Smith hit (which was a remake of the Bill Withers tune) -- that pokes fun at Oprah and Jerry Maguire while praising Mini Me. These standouts make Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me a worthy purchase for fans of the Powers films and the '60s sound celebrated in them. ~ Gina Boldman The first Austin Powers soundtrack was a regular Carnaby Street lovefest of kitsch and kisses, complete with goofy and thoroughly groovy obscurities from Edwyn Collins and the Wondermints, plus the happy inclusion of Brasil '66, Quincy Jones, and several classics pulled from the shaggadelic Burt Bacharach oeuvre. But Hollywood loves a success story and the soundtrack to the highly touted sequel is chock-full of starpower. Though it's not the same stoned soul picnic as the original, there are gems. Madonna lets loose with the terrific psychedelic pop frug "Beautiful Stranger"--her most cheerful and cheesy song since 1989's "Cherish." Green Day slams gleefully into "Peter Gunn"-style twangy guitar grooves with the instrumental "Espionage." Burt Bacharach returns with Elvis Costello in tow for a remake of "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" and R.E.M.'s cover of Tommy James' "Draggin' The Line" retains the sexy drawl of the original. As for Lenny Kravitz and Scary Spice Mel G., let's just say they must dress damn well in the video versions of their cover-song contributions, "American Woman" and "Word Up." Not quite music to shag by, but THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME is a decent, albeit dentally impaired, summer frolic. REVEIWS: Rolling Stone (6/24/99, p.64) - 3 out of 5 - "Like Austin Powers himself, this soundtrack of Nineties artists gettin' jiggy with the Sixties is a colorful anachronism that's part inspiration, part unrepentant kitsch..."

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25