Wedding Crashers - OST

Genre soundtrack Publisher New Line Records External Links Official Website New Line Records

Judging books by their cover and all the other adages along those lines do you no good. One would think that a movie about two guys going to a plethora of weddings, drinking up a storm while trying to score with as many tramp-stamped bridesmaids as possible, would yield a similar debauchery-filled soundtrack filled with booty-call and champagne excess tracks. Those expecting such corruption on the Wedding Crashers soundtrack would be sadly disappointed as it turns in a solid mix of some of the best current indie and emo bands.

From the opening strains of Death Cab for Cutie's omnipresent "The Sound of Settling" to the sullenness of Rilo Kiley's "More Adventurous," the soundtrack offers a choice sampling of the sensitive rockers for the more dignified party monger, perhaps one that has ... grown out of the wedding crashing days. Not to give away too much of the plot of the movie, but one could see how this album reflects Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn's state of mind at the end of it, whilst the beginning features all the scenes you have seen in the endless promotion of the film back in June/July.

The hardened hipster who already has a lot of the bands on the bill may find disappointment with the lack of unreleased tracks sans the new Flaming Lips song, but may find enjoyment in this nonetheless. For the college newbies and those first experiencing girls, alcohol, and the fun in between, it will be good for them one day, but right now it could be endearing to the opposite sex showing that you have actual, real feelings. Your emotions will come around, don't worry.

Derailing the soundtrack midway through is Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime" and at the end, the extremely overplayed "Shout" and "Hava Nagilah," popular and excruciatingly tired wedding standards. If you saw the movie, you'd understand what it's all about, but if you're just getting the soundtrack to improve your indie cred, forget it, you'll be blackballed for life. As a compilation disc, the songs just throw the album feel out the window, vaulting your lush fantasy land of emo eroticism back into the frozen hellscape of Olympic drinkers and teen angst.

The Wedding Crashers soundtrack is a great introduction to a host of good bands with emotive songs and staying power. It could also be used as a tool to subvertly change your rabble rouser friend into a sensitive pussy cat if they, too, judge the CD by its cover.