For a review of American Pie 2, the movie, click here.
For a review of American Wedding, the movie, click here.

A compilation of aggressive pop songs, the soundtrack to the movie American Pie is much like a forty-two minute block set on your favorite alternative-rock radio station. There are enough power-pop hooks to have you nodding your head, tapping your toes and drumming your fingers to every beat.

Third Eye Blind begins the proceedings with "New Girl," a speedy track with jangling guitars and driving drums that rush along until the song's somewhat premature demise. Then Tonic rips into "You Wanted More" with a crunchy guitar riff that gives way to shimmering guitars and plaintive vocals. Just as you catch your breath, Blink 182 launches "Mutt," a fiery ditty that'll remind you just how good Marshall amps sound when they're turned up. Loud.

The production is smooth, and even when vocal or guitar tracks are layered, each can be heard distinctly. The pace is well set too. Dishwalla hits the breaks about midway through the CD with "Find Your Way Home," a pulsing ballad. The tune is followed by more mellow numbers by Dan Wilson with Bic Runga, and Shades Apart. Goldfinger then races out with "Vintage Queen," a rip-roaring rocker that will wake you in the event you started getting sleepy over the slower stuff.

The only track that seems a bit out of place is the final cut, "Man with a Hex," by the Atomic Fireballs. Heavy, swing-based, and relying more on piano and a horn section than guitar, its retro flavor stands out. It's not a bad song, not at all, but after twelve hard rockin' tunes, it does seem the odd man out. Don't let that stop you from picking up the CD, however, there are enough reasons to listen, and listen repeatedly.

Chrissie Hynde

The new CD, Viva El Amor!, finds Hynde's voice – one of the most recognizable in rock – in fine form. The wicked, wavering vibrato, the soulful shaking of notes, the sneering humor and fuck-off toughness are all back and still deliciously infectious. Behind her, Martin Chambers is still drumming as solidly as ever, Tom Kelly and Andy Hobson alternate on the bass, and guitarist Adam Seymour reclaims the legacy that harkens back to original guitarist James Honeyman-Scott. This is not to say that other guitarists in previous incarnations of the Pretenders were slackers (Billy Bremner can play with the best of them – check out the Rockpile CD for starters), but the magic that the original line-up mastered – the hard-edged solos and chaotic style of Honeyman-Scott balanced against the chime of Hynde's Telecaster – appears to be back. Seymour is solid when he needs to be, and raucous when duty calls to turn on the grunge. Simply put, the formula is a winner.

The songs run the gamut from rockers to ballads. "Legalise Me" sounds like the Pretenders of old, with Chambers rolling out triplets on the toms and Seymour slashing out guitar chords and single-note runs behind Hynde's tough vocals. Guest guitarist Jeff Beck throws in a killer guitar solo for good measure. The CD also contains some brooding, introspective love songs, like "Samurai" and "From the Heart Down," which starts off with acoustic guitars before building into a full-fledged multi-layered tear jerker. "Human," the first single released off the CD, is ironically a cover song with a crescendo built upon a flourish of strings that bolsters Hynde's magnificent voice.

All I can say is welcome back Chrissie Hynde. She's pushing fifty. She's a mom. She's tougher than nails, had the same haircut for twenty years and it still looks great, can play guitar, fronts a legendary band, and has that voice. What can I say, the gal and her band are back, and life just got better.