Fun times all around

Here’s what you want on your iPod, recommends Luke Kenny.

Here’s what you want on your iPod.

Kick-Ass OST
Various Artistes
Universal
***
One of this year’s funkiest, anti-superhero films, also has the funkiest soundtrack in recent times. The film is about a bunch of ordinary losers wanting to become superheroes and end up saving the world, kind of. The soundtrack, as expected, is one of high energy and kitschy moments that one comes to expect from comic-book movies.

HT Image

So, in come The Prodigy with Stand up and Omen; Primal Scream make their presence felt with Can’t go back; early ’80s glam band, the New York Dolls surface with, ‘We’re all in love’ and popstar Mika cracks it with the title track, along with a bunch of Indie-unkowns, the Little Ones, the Pretty Reckless, the Dickies and Sparks among others. Ennio Morricone’s theme from For A Few Dollars More, no doubt lends itself to a poignant moment in the film, as does Elvis Presley’s ‘An American trilogy’. Fun times all around.

The Last Song OST
Various Artistes
Hollywood Records
**
The soundtrack to Miley Cyrus’ first starring vehicle, outside of her Hannah Montana alter-ego, holds no surprises. Having said that, it has a host of up-and-coming indie acts that will, no doubt, become phenomenons in their own rights. So cue acts like VHS or Beta, Eskimo Joe, Ra Ra Riot, The Raveonettes and Alpha Rev, among popular selections from Maroon 5 (‘She will be loved’), One Republic (‘Tyrant’) and Jose Gonzalez (‘Down the line’) that make up a large part of the songtrack. As is with all singer-turned-actress vehicles, this one too features two songs by Miley herself, one of which, ‘When I look at you’ was released as the film’s lead promo single. This is no Hannah Montana album, although it’s better than that, in my opinion, but still, only the relative fans will want to go down this road.

Women And Country
Jakob Dylan
Sony Music
***
Jakob’s second album after 2008’s debut solo, Seeing Things, sees superstar producer T-Bone Burnett step into the shoes of Rick Rubin (he produced the solo debut). His debut was hailed as him carrying on the legacy of his father’s illustrious body of work (a burden he will have to unfairly carry on his whole life). This sophomore effort sees him in more of a comfort space, laid back, hanging out in his backyard and strumming his guitar, as he watches the sun go down on an apocalyptic landscape. The female vocal you hear in the background is Neko Case, a mighty fine singer-songwriter on her own. I like the stripped down-minimalist-melancholia approach to the music on this album. You might not be able to listen to it for too long, but it is a nice blurry mood to be in for a bit.

Feels Good To Be Live
Something Relevant
Universal
**1/2
One sometimes forgets that this is an Indian band. There’s some superb musicianship on display here and the arrangements would make Dave Matthews proud, and that is what comes through a lot on this album. But that’s not all, at times, one detects the shadows of ’70s disco-pop-funk bands like Dr Hook and KC and the Sunshine Band lurking behind them somewhere. The groovy opener, ‘Mr Invisible’ sets a good pace, which is quickly supported by ‘Horn OK please’, a love-hate poem (if there is such a thing) to the Mumbai traffic. ‘The comfort song’ is an interesting reggae-rock-ballad hybrid. Overall, the music has a tendency to veer off the groovy bits and go into a jazz space (or a samba vibe), which leads to a bit of disconnect for an average listener. In the end, one is left with a play-it-and-forget-it kind of album, from a listening point of view, leading to the anticipation of enjoying the songs played live, which one can tell, will be more fun.