Martin Scorsese's hallucinatory adaptation of Joe Connelly's
Bringing Out the Dead is driven by a weird mix of rock, R&B, and reggae -- all of which are heard here, on the concise 12-song soundtrack. Not every song from the film is included, but the ones that are indicate what an intense experience it is, as it moves from
Van Morrison ("T.B. Sheets") to
the Clash ("Janie Jones," "I'm So Bored with the U.S.A.") to
Johnny Thunders ("You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory") to
UB40 ("Red Red Wine") to
Martha Reeves and
the Vandellas ("Nowhere to Run") to the Cellos ("Rang Tang Ding Dong [I Am a Japanese Sandman]") to
the Melodians ("Rivers of Babylon") to
the Who's novelty "Bell Boy" at breakneck speed. As an album, it might not be completely coherent, but it's exciting and enjoyable, without a weak song. And it brings back memories of the film quite well, too. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine