popwreckoning

Canadian comedic actor Mike Myers has created another alter-ego, this time he plays Love Guru Pitka who reveals all his wisdom through song. Never lacking authenticity, or maybe he just misses rocking out as Wayne Campbell, Myers himself sings many of the songs on the soundtrack.

The soundtrack, released by Lakeshore Records, also features tunes from greats such as George Clinton and Robbie Nevil. The soundtrack offers up cover songs from Myers as well as a remix of late 90′s hit “Brimful of Asha” by Cornershop.

The disc begins with the Indian-influenced instrumental “Morning Meditation,” a relaxing and beautiful song. It seamlessly transitions into Myers’ rendition of “9 to 5,” which comes out a bit goofy given his accent for the role, but is still catchy and dynamic. I dig remixes almost as much as I love cover songs and Norman Cook‘s remix of “Brimful of Asha” is just as catchy and fun as the original as its tempo is increased and sporadically incorporates twinges of ambient Indian music.

Myers duets with Manu Narayan on “More Than Words” before his version of Steve Miller Band‘s “The Joker” makes its appearance, sounding as if it fell right out of a Bollywood film with the obvious use of a sitar and twinkling percussion. The most invigorating and dynamic song on the soundtrack comes from Telma Hopkins And Toronto Children’s Concert Choir singing “Lead Me To Your Rock.” Hopkins can belt it out and “Lead Me To Your Rock” is, oddly, the perfect song to precede rapper B.A.S.K.O.‘s “Big Boi.”

The Love Guru soundtrack seems to have a slight case of dissociative identity disorder as tracks by Robbie Nevil and Celine Dion follow, totally out of place. These are followed by the heavily Indian tune “Mere Mitwa Mere Meet Re” by Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi, again something straight out of a Bollywood flick. Though retaining that Indian flavor, George Clinton’s “Guru Vindaloo” is the most solid track on the album with “Mathar” by Danny Saber taking a close second. Both tracks are completely instrumental and nothing short of completely cool.

The soundtrack includes three short bits of dialogue, of which all fall short on a scale of 1 to funny. Hopefully those snippets aren’t the best the movie has to offer, otherwise movie goers will be pretty disappointed. Also falling short is the “Guru Pitka Chant” by Guru Pitka’s Ashram Band. Had Clinton’s and Saber’s tracks been the last, a so-so soundtrack would’ve ended in gusto letting the listener forget the mediocrity that preceded it. Instead, we’re reminded why summer blockbuster soundtracks rarely maintain steady rotation in the CD player.

The Love Guru soundtrack is available on June 17th via Lakeshore Records and the movie will hit theaters on June 20th.

Tracklisting:
01) Andrew Mendelson – Morning Meditation
02) Mike Myers – 9 To 5
03) Cornershop – Brimful Of Asha (Norman Cook Remix) *
04) Mike Myers – Stop Hitting Yourself (dialog)
05) Mike Myers and Manu Narayan – More Than Words
06) Mike Myers – The Joker
07) Telma Hopkins and Toronto Children’s Concert Choir – Lead Me To Your Rock *
08. B.A.S.K.O. – Big Boi
09) Robbie Nevil – C’est La Vie
10) Celine Dion – I Drove All Night
11) Mike Myers – My Name Is Guru Pitka (dialog)
12) Lata Mangeshkar and Mohd Rafi – Mere Mitwa Mere Meet Re
13) George S. Clinton – Guru Vindaloo *
14) Danny Saber – Mathar *
15) Mike Myers – Guru Lineage (dialog)
16) Guru Pitka’s Ashram Band – Guru Pitka Chant

* recommended listening

The Love Guru: website | myspace | stream “The Joker”
Lakeshore Records: website | myspace

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It’s only appropriate that a show as hip as Showtime‘s “Weeds” would feature some of today’s hippest artists on its soundtrack. Boasting talent such as Beirut, the Dresden Dolls, Ween, Illinois and Oh No! Oh My has Weeds: Music from the Series Vol. 3 acting as any indie kid’s dream.

It’s even got the perfect amount of kitsch factor for the hipper than thou, featuring Randy Newman‘s rendition of theme song “Little Boxes,” originally by Malvina Reynolds, and a song performed by the hysterically funny Kevin Nealon, who plays hilarious and egocentric CPA Doug Wilson.

Part of “Weeds” underground music tastes have to do with its limited budget: the show can’t necessarily afford hit songs, and are therefore forced to seek out the relatively unknown and obscure. Regardless, “Weeds” music supervisor Christoper Noxon has proven that he’s got his finger on the independent music pulse with an ear for up and coming talent. The show’s writers are constantly swapping mix CD as they plot each season’s story arc and one writer is known for building an entire plotline around a single lyric. The actors on “Weeds” also get into the music mania by playing their favorite songs on set.

Limited resources and the constant search for that perfect song that’s still unknown has lead to many of the cast and crew discovering new favorite music on a constant basis. “Weeds” favorites include Man Man (a favorite of ours, too!), Sufjan Stevens and Page France. These are the only three acts that the show has licensed more than once.

A great deal of thought goes into the placement of each song in every episode and Noxon and crew always manage to hit the nail on the head. The best example of spot on music occurs with Ween’s “You F**cked Up,” appearing in season three’s premiere episode, “Doing the Backstroke.” The song’s ripping riff intro begins as Nancy Botwin (Mary Louise Parker) walks into her backyard to find neighbor Celia Hodes (Elizabeth Perkins). Hodes tells Botwin, “I did this for your own good,” and the camera pans out to show thousands of dollars of weed floating in the pool as Ween front man Mickey Melchiondo screams, “YOU FUCKED UP!” The camera immediately closes in on Botwin’s horrified expression as Melchiondo continues, “You bitch! / You really fucked up!” Absolutely spot on.

Definitely a soundtrack to get your hands on. You can score a copy of this digital-only indie gem on June 3rd, same day as the third season DVD set lands in stores.

Tracklisting:
01. Little Boxes (Randy Newman)
02. Chariot (Page France)
03. Buttmachine (That 1 Guy)
04. Scenic World (Beirut)
05. Girl Anachronism (The Dresden Dolls)
06. You F**cked Up (Ween)
07. Walk In The Park (Oh No! Oh My!)
08. Nosebleed (Illinois)
09. Your Rocky Spine (Great Lake Swimmers)
10. The Earth Keeps Turning On (Mr. Smolin)
11. Just Like The Superdome (Kevin Nealon)
12. Keep Sake (State Radio)
13. Let’s Drive Away (Eleni Mandell)

“Weeds”: website | Music from the Series, vol. 3 | order the soundtrack, season 3 on DVD

The soundtrack for season 3 of “Weeds,” the best show on premium television (we say that only because “Gossip Girl” is the best show on basic television) , will be released in a digital only format on June 3rd. The show’s 3rd season will also be available on DVD June 3rd (for which we cannot wait as we don’t have Showtime), in just enough time to catch up/recap when the 4th season begins airing on Showtime on June 16th.

boomp3.com

Featuring luminaries such as Randy Newman, actor Kevin Nealon and Ween, as well as indie rock tastemakers such as Beirut, Oh No! Oh My!, Page France and Illinois, the “Weeds” Season Three Soundtrack is a showcase of some of the genre’s most promising talent and displays artistry only a pop culture vehicle such as “Weeds” is able to herald. After the June 3rd digital-only release, SHO.com will have the CD for sale exclusively. Shortly thereafter there will be a wide retail release.

Randy Newman’s season premiere rendition of Malvina Reynolds‘ “Little Boxes” is the only cover of the theme to make the soundtrack this time around (episode 8′s cover by Man Man is our favorite — listen above!). Kevin Nealon, who plays the show’s egocentric CPA Doug Wilson, lending his vocal chops to a quick banjo-driven ditty entitled “Just Like the Superdome,” as an amazing addition to this already fantastic soundtrack.

Track Listing:
01. Randy Newman – ‘Little Boxes’ (Marvina Reynolds)
02. Page France – ‘Chariot’
03. That 1 Guy – ‘Buttmachine’
04. Beirut – ‘Scenic World’
05. The Dresden Dolls – ‘Girl Anachronism’
06. Ween – ‘You F**ked Up’
07. Oh No! Oh My! – ‘Walk in the Park’
08. Illinois – ‘Nosebleed’
09. Great Lake Swimmers – ‘Your Rocky Spine’
10. Mr. Smolin – ‘The Earth Keeps Turning On’
11. Kevin Nealon – ‘Just Like the Superdome’
12. State Radio – ‘Keep Sake’
13. Eleni Mandell – ‘Let’s Drive Away’

Weeds: website
Man Man: website | myspace | interview with frontman Honus Honus