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Juno Sountrack

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Release date: 18 January 2008 (Warner)
For a movie that thrives so much on its appropriation of 'nowspeak' and the uncomfortable realisation of the intricacy of relationships, Juno thankfully didn't run down the same ol' same ol' Indie-flick path of cooling up a new Indie act in a desperate bid for credo. Oh wait … it did.

Thank the lord, however, that it's the wonderful Moldy Peaches - in particular Kimya Dawson - that they champion. And thank Christ it's only in small doses. What this whole 'oh no, I think I'm going to maybe realise the importance of love at some stage during this film where I'll be all pithy, quotable and awesomely hyper-aware' thing that Juno rides, means that the film's soundtrack was going to comprise a buttload of too-cute wuss-rock aplenty, which is pretty alright by me.

What's really indicative of Juno's wannabe taste-making is the overshadowing of the soundtrack by excellent offerings from The Kinks, The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth (whose cover of The Carpenter's Superstar is badass to the extreme) and Mott the Hoople - one tends to forget the simple awesomeness possessed by All the Young Dudes. Granted Dawson is pretty ace, but man she can get annoying after repeated listening. Hell, if the producers had to get her to provide so much music, surely they could've gotten Jeffrey Lewis to drop by as well to loosen up proceedings. The anti-folk of Loose Lips alternates incredibly between wicked and annoying.

That said, there are numerous highlights on the Juno soundtrack: the brilliant Moldy Peaches cut of Anyone Else But You is a standout, with the Michael Cera and Ellen Page version closing the record as nicely as it does the movie. Likewise, Barry Louis Polisar's All I Want Is You opens both the soundtrack and movie with the saccharine line of “If I was a flower growing wild and free/all I want is you to be my sweet honey bee.” It's a line that sums up the majority of the soundtrack. Innocent and a little naïve - just like the goddamn movie.

Tracks:
1. All I Want Is You - Barry Louis Polisar
2. My Rollercoaster - Kimya Dawson
3. A Well Respected Man - The Kinks
4. Dearest - Buddy Holly
5. Up The Spout - Mateo Messina
6. Tire Swing - Kimya Dawson
7. Piazza, New York Catcher - Belle & Sebastian
8. Loose Lips - Kimya Dawson
9. Superstar - Sonic Youth
10. Sleep (Instrumental) - Kimya Dawson
11. Expectations - Belle & Sebastian
12. All The Young Dudes - Mott The Hoople
13. So Nice So Smart - Kimya Dawson
14. Sea Of Love - Cat Power
15. Tree Hugger - Kimya Dawson And Antsy Pants
16. I'm Sticking With You - Velvet Underground
17. Anyone Else But You - The Moldy Peaches
18. Vampire - Antsy Pants
19. Anyone Else But You - Michael Cera And Ellen Page

Jaymz Clements, February 2008