I have to be honest here……I usually HATE soundtracks. I mean it. I hate 'em. The last time I voluntarily bought a soundtrack, it was for my wife, and I refuse to admit that I even bought it when in party settings. I can count on one hand the number of soundtracks I have heard that I've actually liked.
Two hands now.
This soundtrack is amazing, simply wonderful to listen to. I have to admit, many of the artists on this soundtrack I'd never even heard. The soundtrack's draw for me was in the one's I had heard of (Sufjan, The New Pornographers, Flogging Molly, Joey Santiago, etc). I think sometimes that makes the job a little easier, since I'd not heard many of these songs, nor the artist who perform them, I had a completely unbiased viewpoint. Ah, that they'd all go this way.
The soundtrack starts out with "Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds, a song lamenting the journey from birth to death with simple glee. As the cd progresses, the listener runs across other similarly happy and simple tracks, bound to make anyone crack a grin.
Obvious standouts on the cd are Sufjan Stevens "All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands", as well The New Pornographers "The Laws Have Changed". Both artists are all the rage this year, and both songs are wonderful on their respective original releases. They are equally good here, and fit into the soundtrack quite well.
Another definite standout track is Spearhead's "Ganja Babe", featuring Michael Franti. For any person or persons who greatly enjoy spinning some music while enjoying their favorite herb (*wink*not that we condone that*wink*), this song fits in quite nicely. It could possibly be the best track on the album, aside from Sufjan and The New Pornographers.
Musically speaking, other standout tracks would have to include two submissions by Joey Santiago (of the Pixies), "Fake Purse", and "Birthday Video". The latter is a fairly short track, but still contains some excellent guitar work.
For those who are looking for a soundtrack with all your laid-back partying needs in mind, any of the other songs, these included, are just……..perfect.
What this soundtrack also succeeds in doing is to draw the listener in and pique interest in the show itself. Listening to the cd from beginning to end made me WISH I had Showtime, for the simple reason of wanting to see the show. You have to figure, with a soundtrack this good, it's pretty much impossible that the show's gonna suck.
