Search - Christopher Williams :: Lost Highway (1997 Film)

One of the greatest soundtracks ever!

Jeffrey Ellis | Richardson, Texas United States | 10/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Movie soundtracks are often a bit of a letdown. You see a movie, enjoy it, rush out to get the soundtrack, and basically end up with a lot of substandard pop tunes and instrumentals that fall flat without the movie to back them up. Lost Highway stands defiantly against that trend. This is a rare soundtrack that can actually stand separate from the film that spawned it. With its collection of dark, industrial-tinged songs and compositions, the Lost Highway Sountrack actually stands alone as a work of art while also transporting the listener back into the strange and disturbing world created by David Lynch's fascinating head trip of a film. David Bowie's "I'm Deranged" is the perfect song to kick off the soundtrack and establishes the addictively apocalyptic feel that permeates the rest of the CD. At first alternating between the explosive, end-of-the-world vibe of The Smashing Pumpkins and especially's Trent Reznor's "Perfect Drug," the CD eventually leads more and more into a Hellish dreamworld scored by Marilyn Manson (whose cover of "I Put A Spell On You" proves that there actually is talent behind all the artifice) and Rammstien (proving that the German language is one of the most threatening sounds out there -- as well as that not all Germans love David Hasselhoff). Lou Reed's cover of "That Magic Moment" is probably the highlight of the CD, showing how a visionary musical artist can both celebrate and recreate a song at the same time but I'm also partial to Barry Adamson's instrumentals -- which, much like Lynch's film, somehow manages to be humorously campy and deadly serious at the same time. Beyond all the pointless analyzing, what it all comes down to is this -- The Lost Highway Soundtrack is the perfect CD for anyone who wants their musical collection to leave them exhausted, exhilarated, struggling for breath. In short, its amazing."

This album will put a spell on you...

N. Durham | Philadelphia, PA | 09/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Say what you will about David Lynch's Lost Highway film, but the soundtrack is bar none amazing. With Lynch serving as executive producer, we get Mr. Trent Reznor producing one of the finest soundtracks ever put together. The soundtrack opens with David Bowie performing "I'm Deranged" (which the film's credits opened up to), and while it may sound a little techno (compliments to Brian Eno), it is still Bowie, and this song helps to forever cement him as the king of cool. NIN's "Perfect Drug" fits the tone of the film like a glove, just try to resist the urge to sing along with the catchy chorus. The Smashing Pumpkins' mournful-esque "Eye", which may be one of they're best songs. Lou Reed's rendition of "This Magic Moment" is a tad disturbing, while Marilyn Manson contributes "Apple of Sodom" and an excellent rendition of Screaming Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell On You", and we also get a few selections from Rammstein as well, all of which are sandwiched between orchestral compositions from Angelo Badalamenti. All in all, the Lost Highway soundtrack is one of the best soundtracks I have ever come across, and this is a must have for Nine Inch Nails fans or fans of the film itself."

Exquisite collection of sound

halo_tragedy | 08/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the world of soundtrack production, Trent Reznor has done it again. Lost Highway is the best soundtrack I've ever heard, and probably the best I'll ever hear. It manages to both fit the movie perfectly and be very pleasing to listen to.This soundtrack is best described as a mixture of Jazz and Industrial, and will most definitely appeal to fans of both worlds. I initially bought Lost Highway for The Perfect Drug alone, but when I listened to it straight through, I was awed by the amazing collection of music styles it brought forth. The various songs by Jazz musician Angelo Badalamenti really caught my ear.I'll admit, Jazz isn't my thing, but I didn't mind it here at all. Nine Inch Nails is really the heart and soul of this soundtrack however. The original version of "The Perfect Drug" is here in its entirety, and it remains one of the greatest songs ever written to this day. "Driver Down", another one of Trent's masterpieces, is also an excellent song. Marilyn Manson also makes an appearance on this album with two of his best songs, "I Put A Spell On You" from Smells Like Children, and "Apple Of Sodom", which can only be found here.Smashing Pumpkins and Rammstein also contribute to this soundtrack very well. While the only artists I really care about on Lost Highway are Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson, that didn't stop me from enjoying the rest of the music on here. This is a masterpiece in its own right, another groundbreaking work by Trent Reznor. I'm not a big fan of soundtracks...I pretty much loathe them. But Lost Highway will remain in my library for a very, very long time."