Nightmare Revisited Review
by Andre Todd Bruni

I was searching for something new to jam into my ipod and I discovered a creepy-cool new album. It's called Nightmare Revisited. A bunch of bands have covered every single song on the much beloved "The Nightmare Before Christmas" Soundtrack by Danny Elfman, including the instrumental overtures! It's a Burton-Fanboy's dream come true. Ne newly re-animated versions are performed by such adept and obviously fitting artists as Marilyn Manson, Amy Lee, and Korn and are a blast to listen to, especially if you are a fan. Delicious, dark, and brooding cuts, literally dripping with gothic, gory love. The effect is a twisting of the familiar songs into something new and actually frightening.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm a huge TNBC fan. I know every word to every song as I often listen to the soundtrack in my car. But this, THIS is my newest all-time favorite! I enjoyed it so much that I feel the need to write a review, song by scintillating song. So without further delay, I write...

 1. Overture performed by by DeVotchka
This opens "The Show" powerfully with a chorus of accordions, cellos and other odd instruments.  Underneath are strange humming and chattering, lending the overture a warped and wonderfully tweaked feel, not unlike the swirly patterns in a dead tree as imagined by Burton himself. This has the fun and color of the original, but simplified. It reminded me very much of the new version of Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Revival that had so lately been on tour. Simply wonderful.

2. Opening performed by Danny Elfman
Danny replaces the excellent Patrick Stewart on this version and, since Danny did the voice of Jack, it kind of sounds as if Jack himself has commandeered the part of Narrator. Good fun!

3. This Is Halloween performed by Marilyn Manson
Having heard Mansons other stuff, you could expect only what he is able to give, in his own signature style. It works so perfectly here with "This is Halloween". Manson really takes this one into his realm with dark, chunky synth beats and his mostly straight-forward interpretation of this classic song. While I listen, I imagine strobes and wicked, gore-streaked horrible faces flashing in a well-done haunted house kind of grit - and it really sets the perfect tone for the rest of the album. I think this is my favorite

4. Jack's Lament performed by All American Rejects
This song is my favorite from the original album, so I admit I'm kind of biased to the way I'm used to hearing it. All American Rejects is a band I haven't heard before. With that said, I really like whats been done with this one. The singer's voice reminds me of, I dunno, Greenday maybe, but he also sounds enough like the Elfman at times (tip of the hat) that you don't lose the sense of the original, which is really important with this song. I think it helps the continuity of the album that "Jack's Lament", along with "This Is Halloween", are arranged very straight-forward and similar to their original counterparts. 

5. Doctor Finkelstein / In The Forest performed by Amilina
This instrumental on "Dr. Finkelstein / In The Forest" is chilling at times and quite fascinating at others. The entire arrangement is done, once again straightforward, but with odd instruments. Asian instruments, ukeleles, water glasses and a fishing reel are some of the sounds I can pull out of this wonderful, dream like sequence. Deep mood music.

6. What's This? performed by Flyleaf
This is where things start getting weird. Thats good and such a good point to start getting weird. As Jack answered so cheerily when told "Curiosity killed the cat you know", "I KNOW!" <huge smile>. This arrangement starts to stray away from the old lines. Its sung by a girl and it is appropriately quirky. Styrofoam pours down in an empty warehouse, and jack's skull pops out, skewered with lipstick -  "joker" style. Where did that come from? I dunno.

7. Town Meeting Song performed by Polyphonic Spree
This is the the one true complete departure from the original. Completely skewered and convoluted, its "The Town Meeting Song" on a strong acid trip. It's like David Bowie showed up and grabbed the reigns of Jack's sled for a fun ride to see Major Tom. Its a welcome change and opens a whole new world of wonder for the listener. This is the real meat here folks, this is what we've been waiting to spring up out of the darkness and really freak us out. Its like a rock-opera at times, which leads me to my next question. When are we going to see a re-imagining of this show on Broadway? I want to see it.

8. Jack & Sally Montage performed by The Vitamin String Quartet
This instrumental opens yanking us back to the original, or so it seems. Quickly we discover that this ride is as full of reeling turns and sickening drops as the last. Sticking to the more familiar sound of stringed instruments, The Vitamin String Quartet skip-dance around the original arrangement with eerie loops and swoops. A perfect transition to the second half.

9. Jack's Obsession performed by Sparklehorse
This version is also weirdly disassembled and re-assembled, rather playfully - Zombie-style. It reminds me of what would happen if Adam Sandler got a hold of this tune with his falsetto voice. Not my fave on the album, but a very creative interpretation that I can appreciate, even if I like the original better.

10. Kidnap The Sandy Claws performed by Korn
Now we're talking. Hard and grungy, Korn lends this tune a hard-edge that wasn't there before. Buzzing synth backdrops and  half-crazed vocals that get deep, squishy and downright scary at times. This is my second-favorite. 

11. Making Christmas Performed by Rise Against
Driving guitar riffs and screaming vocals drive "Making Christmas". This rendition is part 80's Garage Punk and part 90's Teen Grunge, and again the song fits the style perfectly. I don't know the band but their play on this song is a whole lotta fun. Its all there too, guitar solos taking up where most of the orchestra used to be.

12. Nabbed performed by Yoshida Brothers
The Yoshida Brothers plinks out this interlude with a conglomeration of odd instruments and sound bytes. The asian influence is unmistakable and you could totally imagine Jack with slanty eyes in the Japanese version of Nightmare.

13. Oogie Boogie's Song performed by Rodrigo y Gabriella
Wow. Stripped of it's vocals (mostly) this is what sounds like a mariachi band, skeletal perhaps, but is in fact only 2 guitars. It's a refreshing change and the song is given a hispanic twist. An odd choice, but heck every track on this album is odd. You've gotten used to the weirdness, and you're loving it.

14. Sally's Song performed by Amy Lee
An excellent and haunting rendition of this solo by the lovely Amy Lee from Evanescence. Given great weight and feeling, the song is hit-single quality stuff, no kidding. The finest crafted piece on the whole album.

Okay, so I know I said I was going to review every song but hey, this is getting wordy! The rest of the album can be summed up as absolutely amazing. I am so glad I stumbled across this, so fitting for the season. You should pick it up and play it loud at your Halloween gatherings this year and into the future!