Manhunter Soundtrack Rules!

Just watched Michael Mann's "Manhunter" for the first time the other day, an 80's prequel to "Silence of the Lambs" based on "Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris. While the ending is not faithful to the book (they have to skip over some pesky character development for a more action-packed climax), it works well as a film, especially due to the soundtrack. There is some great synth underscoring courtesy of Michael Rubini and the group Reds, but the real find here is a couple of great mood songs: Shriekback's "Evaporation" is absolutely gorgeous in its backdrop to hero Will Graham's search of a victim's home and Prime Movers' "Strong As I Am" is an intense rush that perfectly accompanies killer Francis Dolarhyde's rage at seeing his would-be girlfriend with another man. I'd highly recommend finding a copy of the soundtrack, which was popular at the time of its release in 1986, but has since become more rare. Check out both songs as used in the film:

Best Alphaville Video...

and it doesn't start with "Forever Young..." The winner is "Sounds Like a Melody," which features the trippy effect of roller-skaters painted to look like they're dancing with themselves. Don't understand? You will soon:





Coming in close second (if you like surrealistic nightmares), is "Big in Japan," which I had to link from an Italian website because people on Youtube fucked up the original with a link to a Green Day video. Morons.

Visage rocks The Tube

Synths, fog, drum machine, a bad-ass lead singer in black shades, and a hot chick back-up singer. This is what live music is all about! 2010 needs to catch up, for serious.