Quentin Tarantino – Kill Bill Vol. 1

Soundtracks have always been an integral part of Quentin Tarantino’s films, sometimes playing as big a role as the actors, and the soundtrack to his kung-fu exploitation flick Kill Bill Vol. 1 is no exception. Who can forget the marvellous ear-splitting use of Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle with You” in Reservoir Dogs, or Dusty Springfield’s sublime “Son of a Preacher Man” in Pulp Fiction?

Tarantino is the executive producer for the Kill Bill Vol. 1 soundtrack and considering his penchant for the wilfully obscure and talent for dusting off old gems, it’s not surprising this overtly eclectic collection makes fascinating listening. Along with the jarring–if, thankfully, few–dialogue excerpts, comes delightful gems such as Santa Esmeralda‘s masterful “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”. There’s the slide guitar-fuelled rockabilly cool of Charlie Feathers‘ “That Certain Female”, Spaghetti Western atmospherics from Luis Bacalov, and Wu Tang Clan rapper RZA belting out “Ode to Oren”. Not for the faint eared then, but despite breaking every continuity rule in the book, it makes for marvellous listening. –Christopher Barrett