What’s on the Juno soundtrack?
- Barry Louis Polisar - All I Want Is You
- Kimya Dawson - My Rollercoaster
- The Kinks - A Well Respected Man
- Buddy Holly - Dearest
- Mateo Messina - Up The Sprout
- Kimya Dawson - Tire Swing
- Belle & Sebastian - Piazza, New York Catcher
- Kimya Dawson - Loose Lips
- Sonic Youth - Superstar
- Kimya Dawson - Sleep
- Belle & Sebastian - Expectations
- Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes
- Kimya Dawson - So Nice So Smart
- Cat Power - Sea Of Love
- Kimya Dawson & Antsy Pants - Tree Hugger
- The Velvet Underground - I’m Sticking With You
- The Moldy Peaches - Anyone Else But You
- Antsy Pants - Vampire
- Michael Cera & Ellen Page - Anyone Else But You
Some of the names might be familiar to you if you are weird and old like me. The only “mainstream” song that’s on here is Mott The Hoople – All The Young Dudes, I’m sure most of you will remember that. Everyone should buy this soundtrack right now and play and smile. It will definitively get you in a good mood.
Review from amazon.com :
1. Juno is a gentle, sweet, smart and moving comedy. It’s a teen flick that works for adults, and an adult flick that works for teens. The soundtrack is the perfect background (and sometimes foreground) to what goes on in the film, but it also stands alone quite nicely. Most of the songs on the album are quiet, indie, folkie, and acoustic, like the Kimya Dawson songs (three of ‘em) which are idiosnycractic and wonderful. Kimya Dawson (formerly of the Moldy Peaches who are also represented here) reminds me ALOT of the Be Good Tanyas (which is intended as a compliment), especially on Tire Swing. There are, however, also some great classic oldie songs from the Kinks and Buddy Holly and Mott the Hoople which are not acoustic-y folkie, but more raucous and energetic. Go out and enjoy the movie and I’m betting you will come back for the music.
2.Sometimes it takes a few listens to get into a CD. Other times, right away you know from the first notes, that you’ll be listening to the CD a few million times and it will constantly be going in the ol’ player (or itunes, car stereo ETC). The soundtrack to the movie “Juno” is one of those cases.
For those who don’t know, the film “Juno” is a comedy/drama about a teenager named Juno MacGuff, who finds herself pregnant after sexually experimenting with her best friend, Paulie. We follow Juno, her family, friends, and acquaintances through the nine months of her pregnancy and all the ‘Sturm & Drang’, that goes with it. This film is quite a rarity, because it is a Hollywood movie comedy about teen prenancy, that actually treats its characters and their situation with both wit, intelligence and respect. And one last word about the film itself…yes the film’s characters and humor are quite “quirky”. I know this word is waaaayy over used by many reviewers, but darn it, the film is just “quirky”.
That feeling of ‘quirkiness’ seems to extend to the soundtrack. The music seems to portray the same style of humor, wit and intelligence of the characters in the film. One could just imagine that the acerbic teen, Juno, in a mellow moment, might actually listen to this CD (and like it!). Most of the music on this soundtrack could best be described as “anti-folk”. This is sort of funny term, that seems to meet with a variety of definitions. To me it just seems to be folk music, that dosn’t take itself too seriously, yet still has an attitude. Sort of like a bratty teenager. This is best encompassed on the soundtrack in the music of Kimya Dawson, who performs both solo and with the groups ‘The Moldy Peaches’ & ‘Antsy Pants’. There is just something so hummable, chuckle inducing and addictive about her music. I love songs like “Anyone Else But You”, “My Roller Coaster” and “Tire Swing”. If you put these songs on in the morning, I can guarantee you’ll still be hearing them in your head, while your getting to sleep at night.
The other songs are also great. I really love the precociousness of the songs of ‘Belle & Sebastion’ (”Piazza, New York Catcher”, “Expectations”) as well as the cuts from Cat Power (”Sea of Love”) and Barry Louis Polisar (”All I Want is You”). Great stuff!! I even like that creepy version of the Carpenter’s “Superstar” as performed by Sonic Youth. All these songs go so well together.
If I have but one bone to pick with this soundtrack, is in it’s use of ‘Classic Rock’. Don’t get me wrong, I’m an old fart, who loves ‘Classic Rock’ (the lack of space in my condo due to my CD collection proves this)! But some of it works (The Velvet Underground, Buddy Holly) while some of it dosn’t (The Kinks, Mott the Hoople). These are all great groups performing wonderful classic songs. I love them to bits. But the ones that don’t work, just seem to interrupt the mood and flow of the CD. But this is really a small complaint. In the end if you havn’t seen this movie, then go see it! After one viewing you’ll be buying or downloading this recording. It’s that good.
Tags: juno, juno reviews, juno soundtrack
