VARIOUS ARTISTS
Hamlet (Ryko)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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You can rave on and on about the contemporary hep cats splashed all over this soundtrack. You can drop names like Morcheeba and Supreme Beings of Leisure. You can nod to the inclusion of singer-songwriter of the moment Josh Rouse. You can bow to the mighty resurrected Primal Scream, dissecting Roky Erickson's classic "Slip Inside This House." But it all becomes moot when track number eight blasts the gathering outta the water. Birthday Party's "Hamlet (Pow, Pow, Pow)" seems to have gained energy while lying dormant since '82, exploding with a vitality unmatched by any so-called contenders.

© 2000 - John Sekerka