CD Review

A virtual “who’s who” of indie musicians, the soundtrack to Wicker Park far outshines it’s leading man, Josh Hartnett. In fact, it’s hard to believe that the teen heart throb could be the face of such a cool collection of indie hits and exclusives.

The release claims to capture the feelings of an obsessive love story - and they’re actually telling the truth. Stereophonics, Death Cab for Cutie and Broken Social Scene all spin a dark, sensual atmosphere, while an ethereal and soft vibe is lent by Mazzy and +/-. But as a whole, the album goes much deeper than just cool, chill tunes - there is a pull of wanting and needing that lays underneath most of the soundtrack. Two of the best tracks are covers, Phil Collins’ "Against all Odds" done by Postal Service (are they trying to get even with Iron and Wine’s excellent cover of their "Such Great Heights" on the Garden State soundtrack?) and even more impressive, Coldplay’s "The Scientist" done by Johnette Napolitano &Danny Lohner. That track alone is worth the price of the album.

E.C. Thomas is an independent filmmaker, photographer and writer in Boston: dragonflyROAR.com