The soundtrack to Jason Reitman's 2007 film Juno about an offbeat, teenage pregnant young woman featured music that was mostly driven by folk-driven music plus 90s alternative and all sorts of music. With a charming, acoustic-driven score by Matt Messina whose music is reminiscent of the music of Cat Stevens' contribution to the classic Hal Ashby film Harold & Maude. There was a quirky side to the film's music while the rest of the soundtrack is largely dominated by singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson. Selected by the film's star Ellen Page as the title character, the anti-folk music of Kimya Dawson ranges from upbeat acoustic-driven songs to more snarling acoustic tracks. Also featuring music from Dawson's former band the Moldy Peaches, Belle & Sebastian, Barry Louis Polisar, Antsy Pants, the Velvet Underground, the Kinks, Buddy Holly, Sonic Youth, and Mott the Hoople. The soundtrack to Juno is one of 2007's amazing collection of music.

The album’s opening track that also plays in the film's quirky, animated opening credits is Barry Louis Polisar's All I Want Is You (not the U2 classic of the same name) with its upbeat, folk-driven vibe as Polisar's country-like vocals lead the song with an accompanying harmonica and acoustic washes as it's a great opener with quirky lyrics of love and such. Kimya Dawson's Rollercoaster is a short, fifty-three second instrumental of mid-tempo acoustic guitar work with Dawson's vocals doing "do-do" vocals to the track's melody. The Kinks arrive with their classic song A Well Respected Man that serves as the opening theme to the character of Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera) as this song filled with Ray Davies' clever lyrics of witty imagery of a man that's in an upbeat vibe that the Kinks are sometimes known for. The legendary Buddy Holly appears with the song Dearest that proves that the late rock pioneer still has relevance with this melodic yet mid-tempo ballad led by Holly's amazing guitar playing and crooning vocals in this beautiful love song.

Up The Spout by Matt Messina (credited as Mateo Messina) is an instrumental score with washy acoustic guitars and chimes in the background as it’s a great accompanying song to Juno's own quirky world. Tire Swing by Kimya Dawson is a lovely acoustic-driven track that is led by Dawson's soft vocals that is filled with amazing lyrics of angst that are also humorous as it's a great song that is filled with great backgrounds of pianos, whistles, and such as it's one of many standout cuts from Dawson. Belle & Sebastian arrive with the first of their two contributions with Piazza, New York Catcher is a lovely acoustic-driven song led by Stuart Murdoch's serene vocals and evocative lyrics that are filled with melancholia and references to many cities. Kimya Dawson returns once again with the fast, folk-driven Loose Lips that features Dawson singing swiftly with eccentric yet dirty lyrics and sing-a-long choruses with other people as it's a great song to convey the offbeat relationship of Juno and Paulie Bleeker.

Legendary noise-rockers Sonic Youth arrive with their amazing cover of the Carpenters classic Superstar that is faithful to the Carpenters version with elements of the band's soft, noisy feedback with Thurston Moore singing the song. The track is used in a great scene where Jason Bateman's character Mark Loring is introducing Juno to his love of alternative music, notably Sonic Youth. Kimya Dawson returns with once again with another fifty-three second instrumental called Sleep is a lovely acoustic track with chimes in the background as Dawson hums in a lullaby style to convey Vanessa Loring (Jennifer Garner) desire to be a mother. Belle & Sebastian arrive with their second contribution with the song Expectations in this swift yet folky song that is led by Stuart Murdoch's vocals and his lyrics filled with adolescents and youth that is later accompanied by layers of strings and a trumpet solo. Mott The Hoople arrive with their classic song All The Young Dudes written by David Bowie in this lovely glam rock anthem that Mark plays for Juno to remind him of his youth. Led by Ian Hunter's amazing vocals and the guitar solos of Mick Ralphs, it's a great song that is filled with both nostalgia and angst.

So Nice So Smart by Kimya Dawson is another folk-driven song with lovely chimes and Dawson's own serene vocals that are filled with melancholic lyrics to convey the state of Juno's own emotional issues as she realize that for all of her smarts, it's also her flaw as it's a great song to convey those emotions. Cat Power arrives with a wonderful cover of the pop classic Sea Of Love from her 2000 covers album. Power's dreamy, acoustic version led by her haunting vocals is a strange yet wonderful interpretation of the song that's been covered by many including Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin during his brief tenure with the Honeydrippers. Tree Hugger by Antsy Pants is a folk-rock track with swift, acoustic tracks and fast vocals with drums and quirky lyrics sung partially in French.

I'm Sticking With You from the alt-rock pioneers the Velvet Underground is a rare number that doesn't feature the Velvets in their typical, noisy, avant-garde music. Sung by drummer Maureen Tucker in the opening verses accompanied by piano, it's a lovely song that shows Lou Reed's brilliance as a songwriter as he joins Tucker in the vocals and then trading verses with Tucker as it later leads to a full band sound with Sterling Morrison's melodic guitar work and Doug Yule's soft bass lines. Anyone Else But You by Dawson's former band the Moldy Peaches is a great acoustic ballad that features Dawson trading verses with Adam Green as they sing this quirky love song. Antsy Pants return with another song called Vampire is a fast acoustic song that has the band singing about being a vampire in this lovely little ditty that lasts for a minute and twenty-second. The album's closer is a cover of the Moldy Peaches' Anyone Else But You sung and performed by Michael Cera and Ellen Page on set of the film in the film's final moments as they do a great cover of the song with the two actors showing impressive vocal skills.

The soundtrack to Juno is an impressive collection music and one of 2007's finest film soundtracks. Fans of the film will love the music while it also makes as a great introduction to the music of Kimya Dawson. Featuring great cuts from Sonic Youth, the Velvet Underground, Mott the Hoople, Belle & Sebastian, the Kinks (who have become popular lately with help from Wes Anderson), Buddy Holly, and many more. It's an amazing collection of music to get as it also serves as a great soundtrack to any high school kid who isn't with any kind of clique. In the end, pick up the soundtrack for Juno if anyone wants something that's out of the mainstream.

Juno (2007):

http://www.epinions.com/content_412642676356


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