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"The Next Best Thing" Soundtrack
Various Artists/Maverick Records
By now, you're probably heard a lot about the new Madonna single from "The Next Best Thing" soundtrack, her rendition of Don McLean's "American Pie" that's winning all sorts of raves. And if you've actually heard the single, you know that Madonna singing about the day the music died is no great treat. Those touting the song's praises are apparently still caught up in her much-better "Ray of Light" CD or "Beautiful Stranger" single. She's much better on "Time Stood Still," another song on the soundtrack.
Once you bypass the "American Pie" hype, you'll find much better groove-laden tracks carrying a trancey-dance feel such as Metisse's "Boom Boom Ba" and Mandalay's "This Life," both songs featuring singers who seem to be influenced by Madonna (you'll be checking the credits for Madonna's name on "This Life"). Beth Orton comes through just as strongly with "Stars All Seem to Weep." Techno god Moby offers his soulful "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?," which is guaranteed to change whatever...
