The Million Dollar Hotel is a film co-written by Bono of U2, starring Mel Gibson and Milla Jovovich, and directed by acclaimed German director Wim Wenders. Unfortunately, I have no idea when the film will finally be released here in the U.S. At least the soundtrack is already available. The Million Dollar Hotel soundtrack is a moody, coherent work that definitely sets a feel for what the movie is probably like. Bono is naturally all over the soundtrack, with three U2 songs (two of which are brand new), as well as his singing on three tracks with the “MDH Band.” The MDH Band is made up of Bono, longtime U2 producers Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, as well as musicians Jon Hassell, Greg Cohen, Brian Blade, Adam Dorn, and Bill Frisell.
Bono's singing is truly the highlight of this album. Around the time of Achtung Baby, when he learned to croon, Bono improved his “bono vox” (good voice) to become one of the finest rock singers ever. On both new U2 songs, “The Ground Beneath Her Feet” (with lyrics by controversial author Salman Rushdie) and “Stateless,” we could be hearing a hint of what is to come on this year’s new U2 album. Bono has said it is a stripped-down album, and both of these songs have fairly simple instrumentation. Larry Mullen’s basic drumming and restrained guitar from the Edge make these songs float around Bono’s singing. “The Ground Beneath Her Feet” got some radio airplay, but it’s a shame it wasn’t a bigger hit.
The three MDH Band songs with Bono aren’t that different from the U2 songs. “Never Let Me Go” and “Falling At Your Feet” are both moody, atmospheric pieces accented by Jon Hassell's trumpet. “Dancin’ Shoes” features Bono signing in an odd, strangled voice, like he’s trying to impersonate an old time jazz singer.
The rest of the album is an odd mix that still holds together. “The First Time” from U2`s Zooropa album shows up, and is reprised as an instrumental by the MDH Band. There is a seven-minute jazz song, as well as a few more instrumentals by the MDH band, and some dialogue snippets. And then there’s the recurring theme of Lou Reed’s “Satellite of Love.” Milla Jovovich performs a whispery cover of the song, until out of nowhere she starts singing a few lines in a croaking, Macy Gray style. And the song reappears as an instrumental courtesy of the MDH Band, and again with a remix of Jovovich's version. The album closes with a ridiculous cover of the Sex Pistols’ “Anarchy in the UK” done in Spanish by Tito Larriva and the MDH Band, and retitled “Anarchy in the USA.”
The Million Dollar Hotel soundtrack certainly gives an idea of the tone of the film: moody, quiet, and romantic. However, the album truly gives the feel of the background music that it is. It’s not a compelling album that draws you in, but it is very good background music. And for U2 fans like myself, it gives us a hint of things to come later this year.