Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that these lyrics are strong on depressing if innocuous teen angst ("I'll face myself to cross out what I've become/Erase myself and let go of what I've done," by Linkin Park) and some darkly evocative poetry ("They're bound to kill us all/in white-washed halls/the jackals lick their paws" in "Doomsday Clock" by Smashing Pumpkins).
Families can talk about whether it's false advertising to promote a CD as a "soundtrack album" when it includes songs that aren't in the movie and leaves out soundtrack songs by lesser-known artists. If you were making a movie, what songs would you put on your soundtrack?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kathi Kamen Goldmark
TRANSFORMERS: THE ALBUM (or so it's called) is actually a collection of a dozen songs by popular groups, one third of which ("Second to None" by Styles of Beyond featuring Mike Shinoda; "End of the World" by Armor for Sleep; "Retina and the Sky" by Idiot Pilot; and -- get this -- "Transformers Theme" by Mutemath) don't actually get played in the movie. It's not a bad mix of hard-rock songs by current bands, but it's not exactly a soundtrack CD, either.
Many of the lyrics are darkly poetic in a self-conscious, teen-angst sort of way, and some ("Apocalyptic thieves are lost among our dead…they're bound to kill us all/in white-washed halls/the jackals lick their paws" in "Doomsday Clock" by Smashing Pumpkins; "Your dream vacation, smile Hostage Refuge/A work in progress you bleed/just like you puke while running a mile" in "Pretty Handsome Awkward" by The Used) might be disturbing to very young kids.
There's also a glimmer of hope and redemption offered by the Goo Goo Dolls on "Before It's Too Late" with "Hold on before it's too late/until we leave this behind/Don't fall, just be who you are/It's all that we need in our lives."
Performances are strong, delivering a satisfying compilation for fans of music that's heavy on self-important nihilist posturing and incendiary electric guitar riffs, if light on humor. Fans will want to check out other recordings by all of the bands on this album.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentSome fairly dense innuendo. |
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ViolenceSome darkly poetic imagery that might be frightening to very young children: "They're bound to kill us all/in white-washed halls/the jackals lick their paws." |
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Social BehaviorAlternately nihilistic and hopeful, depending on the song. |
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CommercialismNo product placement in lyrics, but the insert is all about the movie. |
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