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Brain in a Box: The Science Fiction Collection
Various Artists - Soundtracks
Brain in a Box: The Science Fiction Collection
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Alternative Rock, Folk, Special Interest, New Age, Pop, R&B, Rock, Soundtracks, Classic Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (28) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (22) - Disc #2
  •  Track Listings (22) - Disc #3
  •  Track Listings (20) - Disc #4
  •  Track Listings (21) - Disc #5

It doesn't take much rhetorical muscle to argue that science fiction was one of the dominant genre artforms of the 20th century, from the Lumiere brothers to Spielberg, from Wells and Conan Doyle to Asimov, Bradbury, and C...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Various Artists - Soundtracks
Title: Brain in a Box: The Science Fiction Collection
Members Wishing: 7
Total Copies: 0
Label: Rhino / Wea
Original Release Date: 11/14/2000
Release Date: 11/14/2000
Album Type: Box set, Soundtrack
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Alternative Rock, Folk, Special Interest, New Age, Pop, R&B, Rock, Soundtracks, Classic Rock
Styles: Electronica, New Wave & Post-Punk, Comedy & Spoken Word, Easy Listening, Oldies, Psychedelic Rock
Number of Discs: 5
SwapaCD Credits: 5
UPC: 081227993627

Synopsis

Amazon.com
It doesn't take much rhetorical muscle to argue that science fiction was one of the dominant genre artforms of the 20th century, from the Lumiere brothers to Spielberg, from Wells and Conan Doyle to Asimov, Bradbury, and Clarke. This nearly exhaustive, lavishly packaged collection documents the genre's musical legacy across virtually every major genre on its five discs and 113 tracks. Each volume is divided by sub-genre--Movie Themes, TV Themes, Pop, Incidental/Lounge, Novelty--with each containing both the obvious contenders and some delightful surprises. The film disc alone contains a wealth of rarities, including music from Them!, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, The Andromeda Strain, Fantastic Voyage, and other notables. The packaging is brilliant kitsch: a 6.5-inch square, metal-lidded cube emblazoned on three sides with suitably tacky 3-D images of--you guessed it!--a floating brain. But the profusely illustrated, hard-bound, 200-page book (designed to emulate the Big Little Books of the 1940s and '50s) that's included gives the subject its serious due, with an introduction by Ray Bradbury and contributions from an array of other notables, including Forrest J. Ackerman, Billy Mumy, Joe Dante, Dr. Demento, and Matt Groening. Perhaps the best half-cubic-foot of sci-fi brain food every assembled. --Jerry McCulley
 

CD Reviews

Thinking Inside the Box
Jan Strnad | 01/12/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This offering from Rhino Records sets a new standard for graphic design! Really, it's absolutely terrific. Before ever getting around to opening the box, I luxuriated in the marvelously rendered details, the perfect switches and gauges, the tongue-in-cheek labels from the "brainstorm" light to the warning to "replace fluids every 3000 hours." I got more kicks from just reading the box than I've gotten from many novels!And the box is only the beginning! The 200-page booklet is a sheer delight for fans of 1950s sci-fi B-flicks. Really, you can't appreciate the genius that went into this package until you experience it for yourself! More than a box, it's Art.Very highly recommended!"
Fun and cool, but only for ... sci-fi fans
William Merrill | San Antonio, TX United States | 01/12/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)

"With an ultra-cool holographic box that instantly transports you back to the sci-fi B-movie days of the past, "Brain in a Box" also serves as a fairly comprehensive library of all kinds of music relating to science fiction, from movie and TV themes to pop and novelty songs. If I had to introduce someone to sci-fi music, this wouldn't be a bad way to do it. I could easily quibble over what's missing, but I prefer to focus instead on what you DO get: an excellent hardbound book with info and commentary, several tunes I would never have heard otherwise (like "Tiny Space Man"), and the amazing brain storage container that is it all comes in. I do have complaints: the sound quality varies widely (couldn't be helped, I'm sure)"
It doesn't get better than this...
Dave Hartl | Telford, PA United States | 01/30/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you're the kind of person that stays up weekends until 4AM just to see a rare '50's sci-fi drive-in movie on the tube, start saving up,you've got to have this. The other reviews point out the superb packaging (I can't imagine anyone bringing out a better graphic design for CDs this year,give the Grammy right now) and the esoteric music, and I fully agree. But I think I've found how to enjoy this set the most:stick all the discs in your 200-CD jukebox and use random play mode. This stuff is the greatest for spicing up your round-the-house listening! Extremely highly recommended (if you're into old sci-fi and unusual music)."