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 Good Stuff Sep 22, 2008
If you are a fan of the television show, then this is required listening. While it won't have every piece of music that stands out in the show it will have the ones you think of first.
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 CD The Wire May 12, 2008
Given as a gift and it was much appreciated - great service on this product as well
A powerful musical compilation, representative of the series. Maintains the quality that defines The Wire May 02, 2008
Not much to add beyond what others have said, really.
This isn't a CD as much as a book with a CD. The insert has three essays, one by David Simon, George Pelecanos, and Jeff Chang (not sure who he is), that discuss the series and the use of the music. It's rather substanstial, surprisingly so, and I really liked reading it. Also full of gorgeous pictures of the show.
My only "complaint" would be that I wish we could have had more of the character voices: Snoop, Bubbles, Marlo, Omar, Prop Joe, Rawls... Just hearing Bodie, The Bunk, McNulty, Sobotka, Stringer, Poot, D'Angelo brings the whole movie back. They should could included the voices that said the little quotes that preceded each episode, for example.
I almost wish they'd release an 80 minute CD of just some great lines of dialogue (Good night, Moon from Season 5 makes me cry its so good) as well as the episode pre-quotes, etc. I'd love to just listen to the 5 seasons unfold like that.
Crafted with care Apr 05, 2008
The makers of The Wire care.
This is evident in the show itself, with its passionate attack on all that is wrong with America today. The same search for truth and justice is also present in the writing of David Simon and other writers who were involved in the show, such as George Pelecanos (the reason I originally became interested in the show).
Another kind of care goes into details. In one of the great essays involved in this compilation's booklet, Simon explains how they would go to great lengths in order to get the voices and worlds of ghetto boys and longshoremen alike just right. This extended to the musical choices: apart from the season finale songs, all the music had to be something you could actually hear coming from radios, blaring from jeeps or playing in clubs in Baltimore.
Often this care and attention to detail made things more difficult for the creators of the show, but the result is something that I believe will endure for many years to come. It is a show to be proud of, and this compilation reflects the love that went into making The Wire.
The stylish black-and-silver packaging is impressive. In the thick booklet you'll find three interesting essays talking about the show itself and the music on the CD. The booklet is printed on quality paper and features numerous color photographs as well as choice quotes from along the way. In short, it's above and beyond most soundtrack albums I've seen. I sort of hope that the DVD sets had contained more extra material like this, because The Wire is one of those rare beasts I want to know more and more about.
The music and dialogue snippets bring back great memories from the show. It's a varied mix, with styles ranging from rough-sounding hip hop to melancholy Greek singing. Simon and Pelecanos are definitely music lovers, which comes through clearly in Pelecanos' essay, and they've managed to make strong picks while steering clear of the obvious choices. They've had great help from De'Rodd Hearns (whose early life was documented in The Corner) and Blake Leyh, resulting in an impressive collection of music. Like the show itself, it might just expand your horizons.
All in the game, yo Apr 03, 2008
Short review - eclectic mix that captures the life of 'The Wire'.
Best way I can put it.
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