John Tucker Must Die

Original Soundtrack
Wind-Up Records

The soundtrack to the teen comedy John Tucker Must Die boasts a compilation of today’s hottest rock/alternative songs that bring you back to the age of classic boy-meets-girl films like She’s All That and 10 Things I Hate About You.

The All American Rejects' ‘Dirty Little Secret’ kicks off the album, followed by equally catchy hits by Cartel, Stefy, and OK GO.

The soundtrack matches the storyline perfectly. One could easily predict that John Tucker would be about a popular boy who dates every girl in school at his leisure, who then encounters someone that makes him change his flirtatious ways. And that is just an offhand guess.

The predictable plotline conjures a series of upbeat tracks that gradually slow down as the main character reaches his epiphany about this new girl in town. The Jack Johnson-esque track ‘Float On’ by Australian rock phenomenon Ben Lee could easily be played during the scene where Jesse Metcalfe’s character realizes that, yes, he is in love with Brittany Snow’s character even though she doesn't fit his criteria of a perfect girl.

Other notable tracks include an impressive cover of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time’ by Minneapolis-based newcomers, Quietdrive, and ‘Better Open the Door’ by Motion City Soundtrack.

The album ends with Rockett Queen’s ‘The Next Big Thing’, which was probably played either during the final scene when Metcalfe wins over Snow’s heart, the last punchline is said and the credits start rolling.

In this respect, the album ends off just as well as it begins, which compels you to hit the replay button over and over again.

Source: SceneandHeard.ca, Volume 6 Issue 5