Music Review: Various Artists- Shrek The Third

http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-various-artists-shrek-the/

An important aspect of any film is the music incorporated into it. It’s often carefully selected to suit the mood or theme of the movie. The music selected helps to make it work, or in some cases bomb. Shrek The Third mixes the old with the new, as well as throwing in some impressive covers.

The Eels kick off the soundtrack with “Royal Pain”. A cute little ditty that has bounce, it’s delivered in E’s recognizable raspy voice. It’s not the first time that the Eels have appeared on a Shrek soundtrack. In fact, apart from Eddie Murphy, they are the only band that has appeared on every soundtrack. This time they appear twice, also performing “Losing Steak”, which is another stellar performance.

From there the soundtrack takes a welcoming step back in time with The Ramones’ “Do You Remember Rock N Roll Radio?”, Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song”, and Wings’ “Live And Let Die”. It was a surprise to hear such classics on a Shrek soundtrack, since the others have been more pop albums than rock, and more about newer bands, rather than older ones. However, after listening to the rest of the soundtrack, the songs meld within the soundtrack, especially “The Immigrant Song”, which compliments Wolfmother’s classic rock-sounding “The Joker And The Thief”. Both tracks have such a similar style of sound, that it’s hard to separate the two from each other.

Fergie’s version of “Barracuda” was another surprise. I’d heard, before buying the album, that she had covered Heart and was prepared to skip through the song. Although vocally, she has always had the strength to produce great music, I didn’t think she would be able to give “Barracuda” the justice it deserved.

I was wrong. Fergie’s cover of “Barracuda” is one of the best songs on the soundtrack. She really nails each line, delivering it with the same oomph Ann Wilson delivered the first time around. In honesty, hearing the first couple of lines delivered with such strength, I thought it was Ann Wilson singing. Fergie has updated the classic rock track for a whole new generation to fall in love with all over again.