Criss Angel
Mindfreak – Official Soundtrack
Koch Records
I’ve liked Criss Angel since I stumbled upon his first TV special back in 2002. I really like his take on both street-level magic and stage magic, especially when compared to contemporaries like David Blaine. He has a style and showmanship that translates well to the screen. However, I had to wonder how it would transfer to music, as he is credited with most of the writing and lead vocals on this album. The result is nothing special, I’m afraid.
The soundtrack album to his A&E television series of the same name, Mindfreak, starts with the title track, which is not bad in a nu-metal/industrial sort of way. However, it wears out its welcome rather quickly with five other versions of practically the same song, from the theme to both seasons to the show, to the “Desert Remix,” to the “Celldweller Remix,” to the Sully Erna and Nuno Bettencourt-guested “MF2.” Tedious. The rest of the album is filled with more Marilyn-Manson-meets-Nine-Inch-Nails-cover-band attempts at edginess. It all sounds very 1999 to me.
I’m guessing that anyone who is a devoted Criss Angel fan has already bought this. If you are a fan of his show, and have found your self enjoying the incidental music in the background during his performances, then maybe you have considered picking this up. I caution against a blind buy. Sample it first to see if the repetition wears on you like it did on me. Stick to the visual art, Criss.
Criss Angel: http://www.crissangel.com
