CD Review: Soundtrack

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (ABKCO)

Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 4:00 am

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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is one of the most exciting, next-level movies of the year. So why are the soundtrack's best songs the old ones? Beachwood Sparks' "By Your Side," T-Rex's "Teenage Dream," and the Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb" stand out among Beck's tossed-off new compositions — he performs the music, the film's stars sing — which play a part in the movie (Scott Pilgrim plays in an indie rock band with his friends). "We Are Sex Bob-Omb" and "Garbage Truck" are way more fun onscreen, as are Broken Social Scene's contributions as Crash and the Boys (though "I'm So Sad, So Very, Very, Sad" and "We Hate You Please Die" are still kinda funny, even out of context). Even the original inspiration for the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels — Plumtree's 1997 rarity "Scott Pilgrim" — sounds fresher than the new songs here. See the movie, skip the soundtrack. Game over. — Gallucci