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The Million Dollar Hotel: Music From The Motion Picture

Those who have seen this film directed by Wim Wenders will already know how the music was intertwined with both the scenery and the scripts written by Bono from U2, who also curated part of this soundtrack. The tracks on the album have a slow jazz and blues pace in the lyrics and music, and the collaboration with veterans in this field who formed the MDH band for the occasion is essential: Daniel Lanois (guitar); Brian Eno (keyboard); Jon Hassel (trumpet); Greg Cohen (bass); Brian Blade (percussion); Jamie Muhoberac and Adam Dorn (keyboard); Brad Mehladu (piano); Bill Frisell (guitar), and others. Despite such a display of talents, the album turns out to be bare and laconic due to the constraint with the film.

Opening the album is "The Ground Beneath Her Feet", with beautiful lyrics in the form of a lament towards the partner; The Edge is brilliant on the keyboard; Lanois is unattainable and preternatural on the steel guitar. It is followed by "Never Let Me Go" with an intro taken from the film, in which Jeremy Davies speaks, the sound is slowed down with Jon Hassel on the trumpet; excellent Cohen on the bass, and Brian Eno with very delicate keyboards; just like Bono's lyrics. "Stateless" is by U2, and is more interesting in lyrics, which deal with detachment and non-belonging, beautiful effects. It is followed by "Satellite Of Love" by Lou Reed, and performed on the microphone by the stunning Milla Jovovich, actress from the film. "Falling At Your Feet" is my favorite for its wonderful and yearning lyrics, imbued with the same bewilderment that transpires from the film, swept away in the final part by the poetic verses. The next track is instrumental, brilliantly performed by Jon Hassel; followed by "The First Time" with beautiful lyrics written by Bono, about love, but probably also autobiographical in relation with his father on the floating guitar background. "Bathtub" is another instrumental piece by Hassel and Cohen; as is the subsequent one driven by Lanois. A track with other dialogues from the film follows. Specifically, a very touching scene with Milla and Davies. Another track with Bono is "Dancing Shoes" in rhyme. With dark effects. More similar tracks follow, until the reprise of "Satellite Of Love" and "Anarchy In The USA" a cover of the Sex Pistols.

To conclude, I think the presence of these musicians and their alternation speaks for itself, although one might have expected even better if it weren't a soundtrack. Lanois and Cohen were especially very good, and the sound effects were beautiful. By the way, the film was also very beautiful.