Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist Soundtrack

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Eclectic alt-indie rock will be a hit with teens.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this soundtrack is probably going to be as popular with teens as those for indie hits like Juno, Almost Famous, and Garden State. Songs tackle typical teen angst-filled topics like unrequited love and Big Brother. There are some clearly sexual lyrics, as well as quirky references to misplaced sex pictures and mentions of drinking and going out. And the song "Electro-Socket Blues" talks about suicide, but in a sarcastic way -- if that's at all comforting. A deluxe version includes three additional tracks.

  • Song themes include young love, teen angst, and other typical young adult topics.
  • "Electro-Socket Blues" includes the lyrics: "We should bleed out my heart/cutting open my heart/I could kill myself/would that make your life better?"
  • References include clearly sexual lyrics (from "Lover") like "I wanna open your door/and love you 'til you're sore," "climb right on me/lay it on me," "I'm pullin' out my wand," and (from "Negative") "let's make some porno/no I ain't your ho," "my girlfriend's kinky," and "gettin' busy on the rug."
  • "Ass" is used once.
  • Just the obvious movie tie-in.
  • Some songs talk about going out, drinking, and drugs (only mild references to the latter). For example, "After Hours includes the lyrics "we're finally drunk enough," "one final round," and "I'll give you my sweet grass."

What's the story?

NICK AND NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST SOUNDTRACK features tracks from various indie rock artists, including Vampire Weekend, Band of Horses, We Are Scientists, Bishop Allen, and Devendra Banhart. Other featured musicians include Richard Hawley, The Real Tuesday Weld, and the late Chris Bell -- plus, there's a previously unreleased track from newbie L.A.-based band Army Navy and a piece from the film's score, performed by Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo, Royal Tenenbaums, Yo Gabba Gabba!).


Is it any good?

 

If you loved the soundtracks to Garden State and Juno, chances are you'll fall hard for this one, too. It's chock full of eclectic, indie tracks that -- with their mix of easy synthesizing, mesmerizing vocals, and addictive hooks -- will please even elitist musical aficionados.

Chris Bell's "Speed of Sound" is both depressing and beautiful, "Lover" is a fun, funky track about sex, and "Negative" will have you laughing, dancing, and scratching your head. Overall, the album provides quite a mix of different sounds to offer listeners not only a great ride of emotions, but also inspiration for new dance moves. The songs are both introspective and enchanting and will keep you listening over and over.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about why some movies prefer to use smaller, less known indie rock bands on their soundtracks. Is it all about being cool and in the know, or do you think finances come into play (licensing music from smaller bands is usually much more affordable)? Does having less mainstream music make a movie more intriguing? Would you be more or less inclined to see a movie if the soundtrack boasted big-name musicians?


This review was written by Jessica Dawson
Adult
May 16, 2009
 

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Teen, 15 years old
March 26, 2010
 
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This review was written by Jessica Dawson
Release date:September 23, 2008
Label:Atlantic
Genre:Soundtrack
Parental advisory:No

This review was written by Jessica Dawson
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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