Forgetting Sarah Marshall : Official Soundtrack (2008)

By Steph Maker
Movie Review: Forgetting Sarah Marshall

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I’m not sure whether it’s a good thing that I’m reviewing a soundtrack for a film I haven’t seen. Perhaps it’s irrelevant. So, I’m just going to ignore the fact that this compilation has a context and think of it as a mix tape I’ve been given by an anonymous lover.

I want some one to love me madly like Cake sing about on the first track. It’s pretty damn cute.

Anyways, some of the songs are wonderful. Just wonderful. My personal favourites are You Can’t Break A Heart And Have It by Black Francis (which I guess isn’t surprising seeing as it’s the guy from The Pixies) and Fucking Boyfriend by The Bird and The Bee.

Other songs sound like Zach Braff has thrown up a song to put in one of his sickly little 'films'. That is, to say, a couple of the songs are just a little too sappy and indie poppy for my liking.

You can probably tell that I’m not of the opinion that The Shins will "change your life". In most cases, its seems, bad saccharine indie-pop is just Zach Braff excrement.

One track is sticking out as particularly awful (apart of course from Dracula’s Lament, sung by the guy that stars in the film - but, I guess thats the point of that song) and that is Baby by OsMutantes. It sounds like something from off a dodgy cruise ship.

What is interesting though are the two songs featuring the fictional band within the film, Infant Sorrow, probably aren’t as horrendous as the theoretically should be. They’re ridiculous, but not bad... musically at least.

However what you should buy this soundtrack for is without question the classic covers. They’re sung in … what, Hawaiian? I don’t know really, but I figure the movie’s set in Hawaii so…therefore, the songs are in Hawaiian.

Regardless, they’re pretty sweet.

And a small sidenote - I’ve been watching John Safran’s Music Jamboree lately and there is an episode where he talks about how Beck is a scientologist…well, Justin Meldal-Johnsen (son to one of Scientology’s chief authors, Beck’s bass player) plays in Infant Sorrow.

I couldn't leave you without that little gem of knowledge! I’d have felt like I cheated you out of something.

RATING: 3 out of 5

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