Search - Abigail Mead :: Full Metal Jacket: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Buyer be wary.

Dennis J. Buckley | Harrisburg, PA USA | 04/27/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"_Full Metal Jacket_ is, unquestionably, one of the finest, most powerful movies ever made. Consequently, the release of this partial and somewhat garbaged-up soundtrack was and remains a serious disappointment.Who thought of the electric/hip hop version of Lee Ermey calling cadence in the first track? The word, "atrocity" comes to mind. And "I Like It Like That," disingenuously asterisked as "music from the period," was NOT included in the movie. The overly long "Time Suspended" merely takes up space on the CD. But perhaps the most grevious oversight (perhaps they could not get licensing) is the ommission of, "Paint it Black," which as any devotee of this film knows is the capstone of the whole movie.The positives: the rest of the CD, which includes the haunting Abigail Mead score ("Time Suspended" notwithstanding) and the rock music featured in the film.Blip over the bad stuff and make your own tape, throwing in "Paint it Black," and you're there."

Not for everyone

thedandare | Santa Maria, RS Brasil | 02/20/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Abigail Mead, the composer of eight songs of this soundtrack, is actually Vivian Kubrick, daughter of Stanley Kubrick.
The disc has 15 tracks:The first song is a hip-hop/techno mix of the cadences sung by Sgt Hartman in the first part of the movie, it is not a beautiful or good and I don't think it was necessary to include it.The songs 2 to 7 are songs from the sixties and hear them during the movie creates a "mood" for the movie, for example, the song These Boots Are Made For Walking, by Nancy Sinatra and the scene in Vietnam which a prostitute is walking fits just perfectly and watch the movie without this song would have much less effect. Although they are not complex songs and most of the lyrics are foolish it's worth to have them in the score because they made a good part in the movie.Song number 8 is the Marine's Hymn, a nice inclusion even thought it's not likely that someone would play this song very often at home.The rest of the score are the instrumental themes composed by Abigail Mead, some of them are quiet and peaceful like Leonard, and others are more aggressive like Parris Island, with some nice stereo effects. This is not the best score for a Stanley Kubrick movie and I suggest you to listen to it before you buy or you can have some bad surprises like not listening to Paint it Black, because it was not included or odd songs like Time Suspended. Actually I would suggest this soundtrack for Collectors, Kubrick fans or people with eclectic musical taste."

A great soundtrack to an underappreciated film.

Dennis J. Buckley | 04/09/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This soundtrack combines original electronic music by Abigail Mead and representative hits of the era (in and around 1968). Additionally, a disc only title cut adds a sense of playfullness. "Full Metal Jacket" is a bouncy "Art of Noise" style sampled ditty featuring the barking commands of Lee Ermey. The tongue is confidently in the cheek.As with the "A Clockwork Orange" soundtrack, the best stuff here is the original music of Abigail Willaims. It is 'cinematic'. The music is vivid, emotionally intense and dramatic. It is also hauntingly otherwordly, and this uncanny quality is what gives the music its bite and its impact. This musi echoes in the ears long after listening.It also effectively evokes images from this little understood modern masterpiece. Goodbye StanleyYou will be sorely missed.Tony Tsendeas"