Kill Bill, Vol. 1

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