Full Metal Jacket

by

Various Artists

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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

_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.