Watchmen

watchmen

A record with no less than three Bob Dylan compositions gets a lot of kudos, but much like the film, the Watchmen soundtrack tries for an epic, all-encompassing view, but extends itself too far beyond its means to be truly satisfying.

The movie takes in around a forty year period and the music tries to reflect this, so there are some classy tracks: Nat King Cole’s ‘Unforgettable’; Janis Joplin’s ‘Me and Bobby McGee’; Dylan’s ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’’ (used to magnificent effect in the film’s opening alternate historical montage). Also featured are KC and the Sunshine Band, Nina Simone, Simon and Garfunkel and Billie Holiday – respected, proven artists.

Here too is Leonard Cohen’s original ‘Hallelujah’, often overshadowed by Jeff Buckley’s hauntingly emotive cover, it’s actually refreshing to hear the precursor. And the definitive, Jimi Hendrix take on ‘All Along The Watchtower’ is a classic, forever to be associated with Vietnam war imagery….however it seems more at home on the grand, but more appropriately concentrated Forrest Gump soundtrack, rather than this single-disc yet further reaching compilation. And the symphonic ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ was already immortalised in the Apocalypse Now score. The only new song to represent the modern age is My Chemical Romance’s cover of Dylan’s ‘Desolation Row’, which is ok, but not particularly significant.

There are many worthy songs to appreciate on this collection, but revolutionary/socially conscious/ nostalgic soundtracks have been done, and better, before, so in this case Watchmen is not greater than the sum of its parts.

Watchmen The Movie
Watchmen Wikipedia