Music Reviews

“wild_colonials”

Wild Colonials

Reel Life Vol. #1

Chromatic

From what’s suggested by Reel Life Vol. #1 , there’s a promising chance that even the most phlegmatic movie watcher has unknowingly encountered Wild Colonials. So smattered across the sundry world of Hollywood are they that this album, a collection of their songs which have appeared on various soundtracks, was able to exist – and this is only the first volume!

The Wild Colonials are as versatile as the movies they appear in, producing mostly light, female-fronted contemporary rock to the tune of Sixpence None The Richer. However, their arsenal also contains an eclectic arsenal of covers, including a less-swingy rendition of the Squirrel Nut Zippers’ “Anything but Love” (from Flirting with Disaster ) and a version of Tom Jones’s “It’s Not Unusual” (from Mr. Wrong ) that sounds more appropriate aboard a gondola in the canals of Venice. Eighties pop sensation Cyndi Lauper even makes an appearance on this Colonial cornucopia, contributing her vocals to a heart-broken, slow and lonely acoustic-sounding pop track entitled “If by Chance” (from Southie ).

However, with the exception of a few interesting and slightly jazzy/earthy instrumentals that appear courtesy of the films The Last Supper , Silent Hearts , and Dead Man’s Curve , Wild Colonials are a bit dull. Certainty, there’s enough talent floating around the band to have landed them such tinsel-town positions, but their perfunctory rock sometimes lacks the momentum even a tired song needs. Still, the versatility that the band exhibits is rather interesting, if female-fronted soft rock is your bag.

Chromatic Records, 8391 Beverly Blvd., Suite 226, Los Angeles, CA 90048


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