2008 Woodie Awards
New Juno soundtrack is 'wizard'
Mellow, acoustic record offers quirky twist for listeners
By: Mike Fuksman
Issue date: 1/16/08 Section: Lifeline
The soundtrack for the hit movie "Juno" is not unlike actor Michael Cera's performance in the movie: Incredibly awkward, yet strangely poignant.
The soundtrack draws heavily on the work of anti-folkster Kimya Dawson, one of the founding members of The Moldy Peaches.
The songs are nearly all cutesy acoustic ballads, with Dawson's quirky lyrics taking center stage.
Dawson's solo work makes up the majority of the disc, with contributions from her bands Antsy Pants and the afore-mentioned Peaches.
In a departure from the typical soundtrack format, nearly all of the artists featured make an appearance at some point in the movie.
Opening track "All I Want Is You" by Barry Louis Polisar is featured in the opening credits.
Most of the songs featured are ones that are traded between Paul and Juno, the main characters in the movie.
Some standout tracks include Sonic Youth's "Superstar," which is somewhat of a departure for a band normally known for loud, noisy freak outs.
"All The Young Dudes" by Mott The Hoople is slightly more rockin' than most of the songs on the record, and is part of a pivotal scene in the movie besides.
Perhaps the most interesting tune on the soundtrack is featured not once, but twice.
The duet "Anyone Else But You" by The Moldy Peaches pops up, performed not only by the band, but also by the film's stars, Michael Cera and Ellen Page.
It's the kind of weird-but-cute ballad that really sums up the feeling of the movie.
Since the album is basically a Kimya Dawson tribute disc, if you're not a fan of her work, it's safe to say that you might not enjoy it. Her singing and guitar playing are a bit of an acquired taste; she isn't necessarily the most talented musician around, but her witty lyrical observations make up for this.
One nice thing about the soundtrack is that it isn't entirely dependent on the listener being familiar with the movie it came from (although it does help). If you're looking for a mellow, acoustic record with a quirky twist, the "Juno" soundtrack is probably your best bet.
Four out of five stars.
lifeline@cm-life.com
The soundtrack draws heavily on the work of anti-folkster Kimya Dawson, one of the founding members of The Moldy Peaches.
The songs are nearly all cutesy acoustic ballads, with Dawson's quirky lyrics taking center stage.
Dawson's solo work makes up the majority of the disc, with contributions from her bands Antsy Pants and the afore-mentioned Peaches.
In a departure from the typical soundtrack format, nearly all of the artists featured make an appearance at some point in the movie.
Opening track "All I Want Is You" by Barry Louis Polisar is featured in the opening credits.
Most of the songs featured are ones that are traded between Paul and Juno, the main characters in the movie.
Some standout tracks include Sonic Youth's "Superstar," which is somewhat of a departure for a band normally known for loud, noisy freak outs.
"All The Young Dudes" by Mott The Hoople is slightly more rockin' than most of the songs on the record, and is part of a pivotal scene in the movie besides.
Perhaps the most interesting tune on the soundtrack is featured not once, but twice.
The duet "Anyone Else But You" by The Moldy Peaches pops up, performed not only by the band, but also by the film's stars, Michael Cera and Ellen Page.
It's the kind of weird-but-cute ballad that really sums up the feeling of the movie.
Since the album is basically a Kimya Dawson tribute disc, if you're not a fan of her work, it's safe to say that you might not enjoy it. Her singing and guitar playing are a bit of an acquired taste; she isn't necessarily the most talented musician around, but her witty lyrical observations make up for this.
One nice thing about the soundtrack is that it isn't entirely dependent on the listener being familiar with the movie it came from (although it does help). If you're looking for a mellow, acoustic record with a quirky twist, the "Juno" soundtrack is probably your best bet.
Four out of five stars.
lifeline@cm-life.com
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