As previously noted, the “American Teen” soundtrack comes out next week on July 15.
As noted by many, the soundtrack is kind of curated by Columbia/Almost Gold including their bands MGMT, Black Kids, Does It Offend You, Yeah? and The Ting Tings. Some say this is sort of corporately monopolistic and or odd that one whole label can takeover a soundtrack cause they have the muscle – and this is probably why the soundtrack changed (it was different when is screened at Sundance) – but let’s face it people, this is the way our co-branding/synergistic dwindling economy world is going for better or worse. Pretty soon we’ll have soundtracks sponsored by Brawndo.
The celebrated teen documentary’s accompanying CD features the New Pornographers, Cat Stevens (the classic “Trouble” from “Harold & Maude”), now-defunct electronic duo Frou Frou (which featured Imogen Heap on vox) Montreal singer/songerwriter Patrick Watson and three exclusive tracks have been made for the soundtrack/film and they also include ones by Oklahoma songwriter Ryan Lindsey and San Franciscan folk rocker Nyles Lannon (and we have a first listen to those tracks below).
We’re really digging the Patrick Watson song, “The Great Escape.” It’s a little meaningful-core and care-a-lot rock, but whattayagonna do, it’s a pretty song. If you haven’t already seen it, the full tracklist is here. We didn’t love “American Teen,” like the rash of early bloggers that adored it (because they saw it first). It’s a little superficial and a bit MTV Real World, doc-of-the-week, but like is the case for many an indie film, you’d be better off spending your money on that crowd pleaser than you would with garbage like “Hancock,” “The Happening” or the “Indiana Jones 4.”
