Album Review: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (Original Soundtrack) - Various Artists

If you’ve seen the ads for the upcoming Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World movie with Michael Cera, you’re probably thinking the same thing as I am - Kill Bill for Teens. And by teens, I mean shaggy haired 17 and 18 year olds who wake up every morning and defiantly say, 'It’s me, my guitar, and my unique ideals against the world, baby.' So when I got an advance copy of the original movie soundtrack, I felt like I knew what to expect - upbeat, guitar-driven alternative rock with love ballads sprinkled in for variety. And the album doesn’t disappoint.

One thing you look for in a soundtrack is whether you know any of the artists. And in this case, a good chunk of the album is written and performed by none other than Beck, who does a pretty good job of capturing that unrefined garage band sound to match the movie. He does multiple versions of the track Sex Bob-omb (which brings to mind the character from those Mario Bros. games), and they all feature distorted, dirty guitars, frantic drum playing, and singing that sounds more like yelling.

Beck also puts together a couple versions of the song Ramona (the name of the girl Cera is fighting for) - an acoustic version, and a richer version with mood-inducing strings and slow, steady percussion. Neither track comes off as exaggerated, and they’re both poignant in their own way.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with going to the recycle bin, and the Scott Pilgrim soundtrack features a couple good retreads - a countrified, dreamy remake of Sade’s By Your Side by Beachwood Sparks, and the Rolling Stones’ Under My Thumb. Count me as someone who likes to hear what I know on a movie soundtrack, and I know I’m not the only one.

Overall, I give the Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Original Movie Soundtrack a 3.75 out of 5. Garage and indie rock isn’t what I normally listen to, and I’ll probably pass on the movie, but the music is fun to listen to. The soundtrack is coming out on August 10, and the movie hits theaters on August 13, so until then, check out the movie’s official website and get excited.

Order the Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World OST on iTunes