Music News & Reviews

• Title: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (Official Soundtrack)

The one-disc Official Soundtrack to Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist containss 15 tracks.  Included here are the light “Nick and Norah’s Theme” and “Baby You’re My Light” by Richard Hawley, “Our Swords” by Band of Horses, “Very Loud” by the Shout Out Louds, “Middle Management” by Bishop Allen, “Silvery Sleds” by Army Navy, and “Speed of Sound” by Chris Bell.

Like most soundtracks the package is a mixed bag.  Although there aren’t really any stinkers here there’s also no big hits.  The entire album is a mello groove that won’t get you too excited but won’t make you get up to skip tracks or change discs either.  My favorite track would probably be either Nick and Norah’s Theme or “After Hours” by We Are Scientists.

For a soundtrack this is a passable entry and for those who enjoy the movie it will leave you with memorable songs from the film.  As a standalone however it doesn’t offer much for the casual observer to pick it up and let it play.

• Title: The Pussycat Dolls – Doll Domination

The Pussycat Dolls’ second studio album contains 16 tracks on one disc.  The first single released from the album “When I Grow Up” hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play.  Also included here ae “Bottle Pop,” “Takin’ Over the World,” “Happily Never After,” “I’m Done,” and “Whatcha Think About That” featuring Missy Elliott.

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• Title: Patricia Barber – The Cole Porter Mix

In The Cole Porter Mix singer/songwriter Patricia Barber re-records and reinterprets some of the biggest songs of Cole Porter.  The thirteen tracks include Easy to Love, I Get a Kick Out of You, You’re The Top, Just One of Those Things, and In the Still of the Night.

The album also includes three original songs inspired by Cole Porter including The New Year’s Eve Song and Snow.  The new songs fit easily with the reinterpreted Porter originals.

Although Barber has a nice voice and her obvious joy for these songs comes out, there’s nothing here that makes the collection all that interesting.  Yes, it’s competently done, but why?  For all her energy and style the songs don’t feel fresh and for those who own the original recordings, or even those of other musicians (including Frank Sinatra) covering the hits there’s little here to justify the purchase of another album of the same songs.

This collection is more a novelty than anything else.  Longtime Cole Porter fans may enjoy this, but surely they own most of these songs sung by Porter himself and/or one of the many compilations done by other musicians over the years.  And teens who don’t know who Porter is aren’t going to pick this up either.  Still, it’s not an album to groove to, but as some easy listening background music you could do worse.