Bandslam Movie Soundtrack (by Various Artists, Rock)

BANDSLAM is the soundtrack to the movie of the same name that features a bevy of film and TV stars, including High School Musical's Vanessa Hudgens, Phil of the Future's Alyson Michalka, and Friends' Lisa Kudrow. In addition to original songs by the film's stars, the album offers a treasure chest full of classics from music legends like David Bowie, Nick Drake, and The Velvet Underground. In terms of mature content, the soundtrack follows suit with the movie's bent toward younger crowds: it's largely devoid of explicit references to sex, drugs, and other adult themes, even in the songs by the legends mentioned above. 

Any compilation that includes Bowie, Nick Drake, and The Velvet Underground is nothing less than good. That said, the record offers other gems beyond those from its mega-famous stars, such as the impressive songs by two new bands -- The Burning Hotels and The Daze -- from the local Austin, Texas scene where the movie was filmed. A single from Wilco, one of the most respected alt-country bands around, also graces the list. Some of the tracks sung by Michalka and especially Hudgens are a bit shaky, but the cool single from Exist, the band fronted by lead actor Gaelan Connell, is a refreshing change of pace from the tired synth-pop formula used by so many of his musical peers.