Distort Yourself (Institute)

Previous thoughts ...

Where's Neil When You Need Him?

Where's Neil When You Need Him? is a compilation album featuring songs about and inspired by characters and events created by Neil Gaiman, creator of The Sandman franchise, author behind American Gods, Anansi Boys, and the guy who put the poetry into the english version of the Princess Mononoke film.

The album is like looking at the totality of Gaiman's work -- it's quirky and diverse and really out there. For many folks, Tori Amos may be the only recognized artist, and, honestly, for me her song is the least compelling on the album.

I like the poppy "When Everyone Forgets" (ThouShaltNot), the weird "Mr. Punch" (Future Bible Heroes), the Jane Siberry-like "Raven Star" (Lunascape), the compelling "A Fish Called Prince" (Deine Lakaien), and the haunting/poetic "Even Gods Do" (Thea Gilmore)/"Coraline" (Rose Berlin)

And, for fans, the album includes deep liner notes from Neil Gaiman and new artwork from Sandman staple Dave McKean.

Full track listing:

1. Rasputina - Coraline
2. ThouShaltNot - When Everyone Forgets
3. Tapping The Vein - Trader Boy
4. Lunascape - Raven Star
5. Deine Lakaien - A Fish Called Prince
6. Thea Gilmore - Even Gods Do
7. Rose Berlin (feat. Curve) - Coraline
8. Schandmaul - Magda Treadgolds Märchen
9. Hungry Lucy - We Won't Go
10. Voltaire w/The Oddz - Come Sweet Death
11. Future Bible Heroes - Mr. Punch
12. Razed in Black - The Endless
13. The Cruxshadows - Wake the White Queen
14. Ego Likeness - You Better Leave the Stars Alone
15. Azam Ali - The Cold Black Key
16. Joachim Witt - Vandemar
17. Tori Amos - Sister Named Desire (Remastered Version)