Daredevil - Man Without Fear

Last year, the overwhelming success of both the Spiderman movie and soundtrack, paved the way for more of the same. The music business learns from the past and profits in the future. The recent death of Bee Gee Maurice Gibb reminded all music fans just how important a soundtrack was to the success of a movie. The Bee Gees introduced film to vinyl. The disco era spawned the idea for the movie Saturday Night Fever, but without its blockbuster soundtrack, it would not have enjoyed the massive success that it did. It became the biggest selling soundtrack in the history of recorded music. No other soundtrack has matched its success. As the hit songs poured out of the radio, the fans flocked to the theaters in droves.

Movie producers and record executives took notice of this new phenomenon and planned all future movies accordingly. Shortly after the Saturday Night Fever success, Hollywood launched the Urban Cowboy craze. It marked the first time in history that a movie was built around specific songs, each written or chosen for a particular scene. This became a powerful tool, one that has been used exclusively ever since. Think of your favorite movie, your favorite scene in that movie. Chances are good there is a song playing in the background. This did not happen by accident, it was carefully planned by the screenwriters in Hollywood.

We saw it happen last year with the Spiderman movie and in a week or so, it will happen again with the release of the new Daredevil movie and soundtrack. Like his web footed friend, Daredevil is a comic book hero, brought to life by the magic of Hollywood. Dedicated to a life of fighting crime on the streets of America, Daredevil follows in the footsteps of other super heroes like Superman and Batman. Starring Ben Affleck in the title role, the action packed movie enjoys all the hype that Hollywood can offer. The soundtrack offers more of the same.

Packed with twenty carefully chosen songs performed by nineteen different artists, it may be the most ambitious soundtrack ever compiled for a major motion picture. A blistering opening track titled "Won't Back Down" by hard rockers Fuel effectively sets the mood for the remainder of the album. Pile driver guitar licks will surely be used to inject an intense mood for the film. The Calling offers the reflective "For You," a song that would feel right at home on a Top 40 station, yet packs the punch it needs for this movie. New rockers Saliva had a fantastic year and their contribution, "Bleed For Me," is one of their best songs to date.

Seether was the subject of a recent profile in this column and their song "Hang On" continues to prove they are a band with a bright future. They reassure fans that rock is not dead. Nickelback came out of nowhere with the huge hit "How You Remind Me," and are hard at work on the follow-up CD. They preview a new tune, "Learn the Hard Way," here and if this is any indication of the direction of the band, I approve. With the twin guitar attack and echo laden vocals by Chad Kroeger, this track is my favorite of the lot.

Rob Zombie seems to appear in the strangest of places, but he's right at home here. Joining Drowning Pool on the powerful "Man Without Fear," he demands attention as he shouts defiantly the lyrics "you can't hurt me, you can't stop me, I am the man without fear." After hearing this song, I believe him. Rap music is represented here by Nappy Roots doing "Right Now," featuring Marcos Curiel of P.O.D. on vocals. Moby is the master of soundtracks and one listen to "Evening Rain" proves why. It's techno pop at its very best.

Newcomers Evanescence gets the honor of having two songs on the soundtrack. First there's "Bring Me To Life" the up tempo rocker in the vein of No Doubt or the tender "My Immortal," this band are definitely one to watch. Their debut CD is coming soon on Wind-Up Records. "Until You're Reformed" by Chevelle reminded me of a pop version of Metallica, hard and soft at the same time. New bands like Hoobastank, Paloalto and Revis get a great jumpstart on their career with songs on this collection. Of the three, I thought "Caught In The Rain" by Revis kicked massive butt.

Every album has a dud or two and this is no exception. Still, it took me several listens before settling on "Simple Lies" by Endo. I loved the music of "High Wire Escape Artist" by Boysetsfire, but didn't care for the vocals. That opinion may change soon though because this song rocks mighty hard. "Raise Your Rifles" by Autopilot Off wasn't that impressive at first but grows on you like a friendly fungus during repeated listenings.

The ending of the movie must be spectacular because they save the two best cuts for last. "Sad Exchange" by Finger Eleven offers brilliant lyrics over an intense guitar track. 12 Stones cut their teeth opening for Creed last summer and they get the honor of closing the album with "Let Go," a power ballad in the mold of Bon Jovi or Def Leppard with a twist of Matchbox Twenty. Hopefully this song will play a major role in their new album, which will hopefully be out this fall. It's a fitting close for a powerful collection of songs that will surely catapult the upcoming Daredevil movie into the stratosphere.