Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
has an interesting mix of '60s cover songs and '90s songs that were influenced by that era, much like the
Austin Powers
soundtrack
, and although this sequel has less charm and enthusiasm than the first
album, its highlights make it memorable. Several heavy hitters don't quite deliver on the
:
Lenny Kravitz
does a funky, guitar-heavy remake of
the Guess Who
's
"American Woman"
that never really erupts like it should, while
R.E.M.
does a smooth but somewhat uninspired version of
Tommy James
'
"Draggin the Line."
The Who
unnecessarily redo their own
"My Generation,"
and inexplicably,
Melanie B
(
Scary Spice
) does a version of
"Word Up"
(what does this 1986 song have to do with the '60s?) that takes all the
funk
out of
Cameo
's groovy hit. The real highlights are
Madonna
"Beautiful Stranger"
(mixed by
William Orbit
, who produced
Ray of Light
), which has a wonderful
Beatles
-meets-
techno
-lite feel;
Quincy Jones
' spacy redux of
"Soul Bossa Nova"
; and
Burt Bacharach
and
Elvis Costello
's classy and classic
"I'll Never Fall in Love Again."
Even
Dr. Evil
has his own track --
"Just the Two of Us,"
his own introspective take on the
Will Smith
hit (which was a remake of the
Bill Withers
tune) -- that pokes fun at
Oprah
Jerry Maguire
while praising
Mini Me
. These standouts make
a worthy purchase for fans of the
Powers
films and the '60s sound celebrated in them. ~ Gina Boldman