New York singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson may be familiar to many, seeing as her existing infamy is based on being one half of acerbic so-called 'anti-folk' duo The Moldy Peaches who made ripples around the turn of the century with taboo-provoking pared-down romps against this, that and the other. It might be a surprise to find her ramshackle and largely solo performances heading up a film soundtrack, but to Juno's independence and understated qualities she turns out to be a remarkably good fit. She's mellowed a little with age perhaps, but then to counter that claim take the track "Loose Lips"; she rallies through a nonchalant stream-of-consciousness rant against such adversaries as President Bush, the Iraq war and self-harm/suicide, curling out blunt matter-of-fact lines like "call me up before you're dead, we can make some plans instead," that in the simple is as simple does context she provides resonate beautifully. Hardly lightweight then, but far from coarse or unwieldy. Like the film itself, she handles issues with straightforward clarity, an ambling pace and effortless humour. And to complete the soundtrack, a couple of typically twee compositions from Belle & Sebastian, The Kinks' "A Well Respected Man", Sonic Youth's excellently woozy cover of The Carpenter's "Superstar", the Velvet Underground's daft as elastic "I'm Sticking with You" and Cat Power (the queen of ramshackle) with the fragile "Sea of Love", make this a delightfully humbling listen. --James Berry

Beautiful, 11 May 2008
Delicate sounds; perfect for sitting in the sunshine with a glass of wine. This arrived on Friday - and I have not stopped listening to it... Kinya Dawson's lyrics are amazing. Highly recommended.

Forget Soundtrack, this is my all time ALBUM of the year, 26 Mar 2008
This is sheer genius, I thought the film was supurb but I left the cinema thinking 'oh my god I need that soundtrack!' The songs are all thouroughly provoking, catchy, uplifting and simply unforgettable. I think anyone who has a sense of humour and an ounce of good music taste will adore this soundtrack.

An excellent soundtrack from a great movie!, 19 Mar 2008
This soundtrack is brilliant. It shows the individuality of Juno and you'll be surprised how good it is, even if you haven't heard of some of the artists!

"the monkey on your back is the latest trend", 10 Mar 2008
Well for the first time in my life, i went to see a movie because i had heard the soundtrack. This in my opinion is an amazing album although of course different people have different taste, saying that however i didn't know i was into this type of music until now. The Juno Sountrack is one of the finest things i've added to my music collection in a long time and since i recieved it last week it has not been off. I find myself singing the songs as i go about my business, and as the lyrics come from my mouth a smile can't help but form.

What i love about alot of the songs is the way in which they have been recorded, they sound like they are sitting on the couch in the same room as you, singing and strumming their guitars, and for you guitar players out there, the songs are so easy to learn and you WILL find yourselves playing along.

There are also songs in there from the likes of 'the kinks' and 'buddy holly' which add to the wide variety of talent shown in the album. For me though, the song played in the opening credits 'All i want is you' by barry louis polisar is my favorite, such an amazing opening to the album and indeed the film.

Anyways this i think is my first ever review, i hope i've been helpfull...

Buy this album.

It`s an ok family movie, 04 Mar 2008
I can understand why the majority think it is quirky and cute, the main protagonist has a very logical and direct way of dealing with her immediate problem.... who will be a good parent to her child. While she does not have the strength or presence of mind to deal with a termination, she determines that only the best will do for her unborn child. So, she embarks upon a quest to find the ideal parents. However no one is ideal and to this she must bend.

The acting is very good, and the script innovative, however the comedy lies in the personality of the actress. I do not get the comedy. Perhaps it is me..... the steps she takes and her responses to the situations in which she finds herself I find tragic, not funny at all.

I found this film to be full of pathos. The occasional smile as I understood her response, but as a mother myself, I understood her cause. It wasn`t funny. Men should watch tihs and understand that the feeling that a mother has for her child is relevant even in the earliest of stages.

This film would have been much improved by omitting the so called humour.
+

Joel and Ethan Coen have long established themselves as film stylists without peer: from Blood Simple to Fargo, their movies have never been less than fascinating, and there has never been any question that their films could not have been made by anyone else. In T-Bone Burnett, the producer of the soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou?, they have finally met their match: Burnett's work in assembling a collection of pieces for the Depression-set film is as skilled and entrancing as the film itself.

Despite the presence of Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss and bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley, the stars here are the songs themselves, a host of traditional songs augmented by archival recordings. The collection is also a showcase for a host of lesser known and forgotten bluegrass masters: The Cox Family, collaborators with Krauss; Norman Blake, a sideman for Bob Dylan and June Carter Cash; country gospel group The Whites, who once counted Ricky Skaggs as a member (and who, here, cover the Carter Family); and young bluesman Chris Thomas King among them. All bring life to their songs, and the results are sublime--and, at times (Krauss and a choir's take on "Down To The River to Pray", Blake's instrumental version of the oft-repeated "I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow"), downright entrancing.

Some of these songs can be found on Alan Lomax collections. If you enjoy this album, we also highly recommend the Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music and Woody Guthrie's Asch Recordings series. --Randy Silver

Beautiful, 11 May 2008
Delicate sounds; perfect for sitting in the sunshine with a glass of wine. This arrived on Friday - and I have not stopped listening to it... Kinya Dawson's lyrics are amazing. Highly recommended.

Forget Soundtrack, this is my all time ALBUM of the year, 26 Mar 2008
This is sheer genius, I thought the film was supurb but I left the cinema thinking 'oh my god I need that soundtrack!' The songs are all thouroughly provoking, catchy, uplifting and simply unforgettable. I think anyone who has a sense of humour and an ounce of good music taste will adore this soundtrack.

An excellent soundtrack from a great movie!, 19 Mar 2008
This soundtrack is brilliant. It shows the individuality of Juno and you'll be surprised how good it is, even if you haven't heard of some of the artists!

"the monkey on your back is the latest trend", 10 Mar 2008
Well for the first time in my life, i went to see a movie because i had heard the soundtrack. This in my opinion is an amazing album although of course different people have different taste, saying that however i didn't know i was into this type of music until now. The Juno Sountrack is one of the finest things i've added to my music collection in a long time and since i recieved it last week it has not been off. I find myself singing the songs as i go about my business, and as the lyrics come from my mouth a smile can't help but form.

What i love about alot of the songs is the way in which they have been recorded, they sound like they are sitting on the couch in the same room as you, singing and strumming their guitars, and for you guitar players out there, the songs are so easy to learn and you WILL find yourselves playing along.

There are also songs in there from the likes of 'the kinks' and 'buddy holly' which add to the wide variety of talent shown in the album. For me though, the song played in the opening credits 'All i want is you' by barry louis polisar is my favorite, such an amazing opening to the album and indeed the film.

Anyways this i think is my first ever review, i hope i've been helpfull...

Buy this album.

It`s an ok family movie, 04 Mar 2008
I can understand why the majority think it is quirky and cute, the main protagonist has a very logical and direct way of dealing with her immediate problem.... who will be a good parent to her child. While she does not have the strength or presence of mind to deal with a termination, she determines that only the best will do for her unborn child. So, she embarks upon a quest to find the ideal parents. However no one is ideal and to this she must bend.

The acting is very good, and the script innovative, however the comedy lies in the personality of the actress. I do not get the comedy. Perhaps it is me..... the steps she takes and her responses to the situations in which she finds herself I find tragic, not funny at all.

I found this film to be full of pathos. The occasional smile as I understood her response, but as a mother myself, I understood her cause. It wasn`t funny. Men should watch tihs and understand that the feeling that a mother has for her child is relevant even in the earliest of stages.

This film would have been much improved by omitting the so called humour.
+

Stunning, evocative music., 14 Apr 2008
I'm not from the US, my family hail from Kashmir and I was born in the UK, grew up listening to punk rock but WOW! The soundtrack literally drips with the era and place it hails from; every time I hear a snippet I swear I can feel the heat and smell the wheat - so amazing!

Diverse selection of old-time music, 01 Jul 2005
The music here, like the film it provides the soundtrack for, is presumably intended to take us back to the thirties. Several songs from that era are featured along with traditional material that would have been popular then. Recorded mainly with state-of-the-art technology (except for some old recordings that are included and re-mastered), the sound quality is far superior to anything available in the thirties. Several different types of music can be found here - blues, gospel, country and folk - mainly performed by contemporary artists with a deep respect for tradition. I'll just pick out some of them although there are many excellent songs here.

Even Alison Krauss sticks firmly with tradition here - she often brings contemporary influences into her music these days but not here. Alison can be heard here on Down to the river to pray (as a solo singer), I'll fly away (providing harmony vocals for lead singer Gillian Welch) and Didn't leave nobody but the baby (joining Gillian and Emmylou in three-part harmony).

The inclusion of two Carter Stanley songs on a soundtrack such as this is predictable but welcome, with the Whites performing a superb version of the oft-recorded Keep on the sunny side, while the Peasall children (Hannah singing lead with Sarah and Leah providing harmony vocals) are in great form on In the highways. Children's recordings rarely impress me but this track does.

One song here that surprised me (though perhaps it shouldn't have) is Big rock candy mountain. It can be found on plenty of albums of children's songs, when it is invariably presented as an up-tempo song that children can (if they wish) sing along to. Here we get the original 1928 recording by Harry McLintock, who sings it at a more measured, reflective pace, showing that there is more to this song than I originally thought. I still prefer it as an up-tempo song generally but I'm glad I heard this version. I wonder what the Peasall sisters would have done with this song.

The Coen brothers clearly hoped that this soundtrack would provide a resurgence of interest in traditional music. While this soundtrack was a big commercial success, it seems that the majority of people who bought it (and continue to buy it) regard it as something of a novelty. Nashville record labels signed some traditional singers (Elizabeth Cook, though not featured here, is one that comes to mind) but they didn't get enough airplay on American country radio, so such artists were dropped and Nashville returned to its contemporary format. I'm sure that this soundtrack helped to win some new fans for traditional music, but not as many as the Coen brothers would like.

a lovely mix of traditional music, 04 Nov 2003
Performed by some of today's best singers, this multi-Grammy Award winner is a marvelous addition to any country/folk music collection. Some of these artists are at the top of their field, but some will be "discoveries" for most of us, like the beautiful rendition of "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" by Chris Thomas King, a versatile young man who is versed in many styles, and here sings in the old blues tradition and does it brilliantly.

The highlights for me are: The legendary Ralph Stanley, with his plaintive acappella chant of "O Death", which carries with it all the pain and soul of Appalachia, and the purity of "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" by the Soggy Bottom Boys, who consist of Union Station member Dan Tyminsky on lead vocals and guitar, backed by Harley Allen and Pat Enright. For anyone who likes traditional music, you can't get any better than this.
Another acappella gem is "Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby", with Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Gillian Welch harmonizing like an angels from another era. Everything on this disc recalls days gone by; there is a refreshing simplicity, and a lot of the songs are filled with faith.

There is exquisite musicianship on this CD, and it is a nice long one at 60'34 minutes. The booklet insert is something I appreciate too; it is a collage of yellowed stained paper on peeling walls, with a terrific layout, and as it says on one of its pages, "Old-Time Music Is Very Much Alive".

oh brother where art thou, 13 Jul 2002
first class traditional country and a bit of bluegrass. represents excelent value for money. so many good tracks its hard to pick one that shines above the rest.listen to YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE by norman blake if you are not tapping your toes then someone has nailed your feet to the floor.then there's I'm a man of constant sorrow-Soggy bottom boys Wow!then for a real treat try The Stanley Bros. Angel Band Traditional country at its best. many other great tracks from Alison Krauss the queen of country and the Whites with keep on the sunny side,backings are fantastic. This is one CD you won't be dissapointed with

GREAT ALBUM . . . BUT TRY BEFORE YOU BUY, 06 Jun 2002
Let me make one thing clear. "O Brother..." is one of my favourite films of all time. Not only that, but the musical soundtrack is one of its strongest features and stands as a valuable cultural document in its own right. In short, this is an album that anyone who loves country, bluegrass or folk music is likely to want in their collection.

So why, as I write, am I tossing up whether to only give it four stars? The answer is that I'm attempting to review it, not as a collector's item or a socio-historical document but as an album of music for repeated listening in the comfort of your own home. For that reason I'm not going to review the film rather than the album, as some reviewers here have done, because I don't assume that every listener is going to have the movie playing back in their heads as they listen to the music.

Rather, my comments are based on how this album will sound to someone who has picked up on the hearsay, or watched the Grammy ceremony, and is tempted to go out and buy this as a musical compilation. And in that setting, many listeners are going to be disappointed. The fact that a song has integrity, emotion, historical importance or great musicianship doesn't automatically make it great entertainment.

There are some standout contributions: The title song is long-term loveable (although why four different renditions of the tune are needed on the album is a mystery - a couple of the "period" instrumental versions which work well on the movoe soundtrack are somewhat less successful as pure listening music. Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch are as usual faultless. Ralph and the other Stanleys are devastating. But how many times will you want to listen to the 4+ minutes of prison chant that opens the album? Or the squeaky kiddy song (the Peasalls)? Or the ancient ditties like "Big Rock Candy Mountain"? After a couple of spins, you may find yourself reaching for the skip button more than is comfortable.

I'm not really knocking this record - in a sense it's a masterpiece. And it's rightly selling by the millions. But if you haven't seen the film I'd give it a whirl in the listening booth before you part with your cash.

Disney has struck platinum with High School Musical, a made-for-cable movie that was mega-popular on the Disney Channel before spawning a mega-popular soundtrack. Echoing Grease, the plot involves two students (Zac Efron and Vanessa Anne Hutchinson) who fall for eath other while on vacation, only to realize they go to the same high school — though they belong to different cliques. Fortunately they both love singing! The songs are typical Disney pop: on the bland side but also very well-crafted, they stick to your head like strawberry-flavored gum. Among the standouts are "Get'cha Head in the Game," which incorporates noises from a basketball game (squeaking sneakers, bouncing balls, whistles) to great effect; the fab tribute to 1970s piano-pop "What I've Been Looking For"; and the old-school show-tuney "Stick to the Status Quo." The music falters when it tries to go "caliente suave" (a la Gloria Estefan's substandard "Bop to the Top") but overall this CD could get kids to bounce and sing along nicely. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Beautiful, 11 May 2008
Delicate sounds; perfect for sitting in the sunshine with a glass of wine. This arrived on Friday - and I have not stopped listening to it... Kinya Dawson's lyrics are amazing. Highly recommended.

Forget Soundtrack, this is my all time ALBUM of the year, 26 Mar 2008
This is sheer genius, I thought the film was supurb but I left the cinema thinking 'oh my god I need that soundtrack!' The songs are all thouroughly provoking, catchy, uplifting and simply unforgettable. I think anyone who has a sense of humour and an ounce of good music taste will adore this soundtrack.

An excellent soundtrack from a great movie!, 19 Mar 2008
This soundtrack is brilliant. It shows the individuality of Juno and you'll be surprised how good it is, even if you haven't heard of some of the artists!

"the monkey on your back is the latest trend", 10 Mar 2008
Well for the first time in my life, i went to see a movie because i had heard the soundtrack. This in my opinion is an amazing album although of course different people have different taste, saying that however i didn't know i was into this type of music until now. The Juno Sountrack is one of the finest things i've added to my music collection in a long time and since i recieved it last week it has not been off. I find myself singing the songs as i go about my business, and as the lyrics come from my mouth a smile can't help but form.

What i love about alot of the songs is the way in which they have been recorded, they sound like they are sitting on the couch in the same room as you, singing and strumming their guitars, and for you guitar players out there, the songs are so easy to learn and you WILL find yourselves playing along.

There are also songs in there from the likes of 'the kinks' and 'buddy holly' which add to the wide variety of talent shown in the album. For me though, the song played in the opening credits 'All i want is you' by barry louis polisar is my favorite, such an amazing opening to the album and indeed the film.

Anyways this i think is my first ever review, i hope i've been helpfull...

Buy this album.

It`s an ok family movie, 04 Mar 2008
I can understand why the majority think it is quirky and cute, the main protagonist has a very logical and direct way of dealing with her immediate problem.... who will be a good parent to her child. While she does not have the strength or presence of mind to deal with a termination, she determines that only the best will do for her unborn child. So, she embarks upon a quest to find the ideal parents. However no one is ideal and to this she must bend.

The acting is very good, and the script innovative, however the comedy lies in the personality of the actress. I do not get the comedy. Perhaps it is me..... the steps she takes and her responses to the situations in which she finds herself I find tragic, not funny at all.

I found this film to be full of pathos. The occasional smile as I understood her response, but as a mother myself, I understood her cause. It wasn`t funny. Men should watch tihs and understand that the feeling that a mother has for her child is relevant even in the earliest of stages.

This film would have been much improved by omitting the so called humour.
+

Stunning, evocative music., 14 Apr 2008
I'm not from the US, my family hail from Kashmir and I was born in the UK, grew up listening to punk rock but WOW! The soundtrack literally drips with the era and place it hails from; every time I hear a snippet I swear I can feel the heat and smell the wheat - so amazing!

Diverse selection of old-time music, 01 Jul 2005
The music here, like the film it provides the soundtrack for, is presumably intended to take us back to the thirties. Several songs from that era are featured along with traditional material that would have been popular then. Recorded mainly with state-of-the-art technology (except for some old recordings that are included and re-mastered), the sound quality is far superior to anything available in the thirties. Several different types of music can be found here - blues, gospel, country and folk - mainly performed by contemporary artists with a deep respect for tradition. I'll just pick out some of them although there are many excellent songs here.

Even Alison Krauss sticks firmly with tradition here - she often brings contemporary influences into her music these days but not here. Alison can be heard here on Down to the river to pray (as a solo singer), I'll fly away (providing harmony vocals for lead singer Gillian Welch) and Didn't leave nobody but the baby (joining Gillian and Emmylou in three-part harmony).

The inclusion of two Carter Stanley songs on a soundtrack such as this is predictable but welcome, with the Whites performing a superb version of the oft-recorded Keep on the sunny side, while the Peasall children (Hannah singing lead with Sarah and Leah providing harmony vocals) are in great form on In the highways. Children's recordings rarely impress me but this track does.

One song here that surprised me (though perhaps it shouldn't have) is Big rock candy mountain. It can be found on plenty of albums of children's songs, when it is invariably presented as an up-tempo song that children can (if they wish) sing along to. Here we get the original 1928 recording by Harry McLintock, who sings it at a more measured, reflective pace, showing that there is more to this song than I originally thought. I still prefer it as an up-tempo song generally but I'm glad I heard this version. I wonder what the Peasall sisters would have done with this song.

The Coen brothers clearly hoped that this soundtrack would provide a resurgence of interest in traditional music. While this soundtrack was a big commercial success, it seems that the majority of people who bought it (and continue to buy it) regard it as something of a novelty. Nashville record labels signed some traditional singers (Elizabeth Cook, though not featured here, is one that comes to mind) but they didn't get enough airplay on American country radio, so such artists were dropped and Nashville returned to its contemporary format. I'm sure that this soundtrack helped to win some new fans for traditional music, but not as many as the Coen brothers would like.

a lovely mix of traditional music, 04 Nov 2003
Performed by some of today's best singers, this multi-Grammy Award winner is a marvelous addition to any country/folk music collection. Some of these artists are at the top of their field, but some will be "discoveries" for most of us, like the beautiful rendition of "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" by Chris Thomas King, a versatile young man who is versed in many styles, and here sings in the old blues tradition and does it brilliantly.

The highlights for me are: The legendary Ralph Stanley, with his plaintive acappella chant of "O Death", which carries with it all the pain and soul of Appalachia, and the purity of "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" by the Soggy Bottom Boys, who consist of Union Station member Dan Tyminsky on lead vocals and guitar, backed by Harley Allen and Pat Enright. For anyone who likes traditional music, you can't get any better than this.
Another acappella gem is "Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby", with Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Gillian Welch harmonizing like an angels from another era. Everything on this disc recalls days gone by; there is a refreshing simplicity, and a lot of the songs are filled with faith.

There is exquisite musicianship on this CD, and it is a nice long one at 60'34 minutes. The booklet insert is something I appreciate too; it is a collage of yellowed stained paper on peeling walls, with a terrific layout, and as it says on one of its pages, "Old-Time Music Is Very Much Alive".

oh brother where art thou, 13 Jul 2002
first class traditional country and a bit of bluegrass. represents excelent value for money. so many good tracks its hard to pick one that shines above the rest.listen to YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE by norman blake if you are not tapping your toes then someone has nailed your feet to the floor.then there's I'm a man of constant sorrow-Soggy bottom boys Wow!then for a real treat try The Stanley Bros. Angel Band Traditional country at its best. many other great tracks from Alison Krauss the queen of country and the Whites with keep on the sunny side,backings are fantastic. This is one CD you won't be dissapointed with

GREAT ALBUM . . . BUT TRY BEFORE YOU BUY, 06 Jun 2002
Let me make one thing clear. "O Brother..." is one of my favourite films of all time. Not only that, but the musical soundtrack is one of its strongest features and stands as a valuable cultural document in its own right. In short, this is an album that anyone who loves country, bluegrass or folk music is likely to want in their collection.

So why, as I write, am I tossing up whether to only give it four stars? The answer is that I'm attempting to review it, not as a collector's item or a socio-historical document but as an album of music for repeated listening in the comfort of your own home. For that reason I'm not going to review the film rather than the album, as some reviewers here have done, because I don't assume that every listener is going to have the movie playing back in their heads as they listen to the music.

Rather, my comments are based on how this album will sound to someone who has picked up on the hearsay, or watched the Grammy ceremony, and is tempted to go out and buy this as a musical compilation. And in that setting, many listeners are going to be disappointed. The fact that a song has integrity, emotion, historical importance or great musicianship doesn't automatically make it great entertainment.

There are some standout contributions: The title song is long-term loveable (although why four different renditions of the tune are needed on the album is a mystery - a couple of the "period" instrumental versions which work well on the movoe soundtrack are somewhat less successful as pure listening music. Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch are as usual faultless. Ralph and the other Stanleys are devastating. But how many times will you want to listen to the 4+ minutes of prison chant that opens the album? Or the squeaky kiddy song (the Peasalls)? Or the ancient ditties like "Big Rock Candy Mountain"? After a couple of spins, you may find yourself reaching for the skip button more than is comfortable.

I'm not really knocking this record - in a sense it's a masterpiece. And it's rightly selling by the millions. But if you haven't seen the film I'd give it a whirl in the listening booth before you part with your cash.

It's Bad , 26 Aug 2007
High School Musical is being talked about by teenager's everywhere, so I was determined to see what it was like. I asked someone I knew (who is obsessed with it) If I could borrow their copy of the soundtrack - And now I wish I hadn't. For staters the actual music is just over-used up beat dance tracks. With some weak mordern R and B thrown in. The things kicks of with a song entitled "Start of Something New". The song is merely just a badly written, horribly sang pop song. The vocals are very poor, there are signs of lack of emotion (in all the tracks). The second one, which is more of an R and B tune, is well irritating. The whole trainers squeeking in the back ground is simply annoying beyond beliefe. The "Gota getcha getcha getcha head in the game" just proves how weak and simplistic these lyrics really are. There is nothing fantastic about any of the songs - the ones sang by the blond girl are deffinatly the worst - she can sing...she's just horrible at it. I can't understand why something with such weak music, singing and lyrics has become to popular. I'm a pretty open minded person when it comes to music I listen to Metal, Rock, Rap, Punk, Pop, Dance, Classical, Reagge, World music, Folk, Eletronic ect but I can honestly say this should be left as a mat for your cup of tea.

A great start to this wonderful sequel!, 13 Aug 2007
Original premiered in American in January 2006, the first version of High School Musical made its way to UK TV screens in mid to late 2006, and boy was it hyped! People were going crazy about it, and it would soon prove to be the start of a so far brilliant sequel.

1/ Start Of Something New/ 3:16
The opening song, and one of the best known. Performed by the wonderful Gabriella and Troy, Start of Something New is an awesome ballad basically about love or friendship. But you've heard it anyway.

2/ Get'cha Head In The Game/ 2:27
Performed by Troy, despite its hype and popularity, this is actually one of my least favourites, but it's incredibly catchy and still loveable.

3/ What I've Been Looking For/ 2:03 & 4/ What I've Been Looking For (Reprise)/ 1:19
The former, performed by Ryan and Sharpay; my second favourite on the set. A wonderful, catchy sing-a-long tune and you'll find yourself tipping your toes to. The latter is the same track performed in ballad form by Troy & Gabrielle, though the full song is not used. My least favourite out of the two.

5/ Stick To The Status Quo/ 4:28
Yet again one of the more popular songs. This was not released as a single, yet still managed to enter the UK Top 75 on downloads alone due to its insane popularity. It's the only album track on the set to have achieved this.

6/ When There Was Me & You/ 3:00
This seems to be one of the most hated songs on the soundtrack with critics and even fans alike, yet I don't understand it because Gabriella's vocals are absolutely astounding.

7/ Bop To The Top/ 1:47
Ryan and Sharpay's second song on the album, and my favourite. Awesome song.

8/ Breaking Free/ 3:27
The first single from the set and the one that got everyone going crazy about the soundtrack. This started off as my favourite song on the set, but as I got to learn other songs I quickly grew tired of it. Performed by Gabriella and Troy, it's still an appaulsable track.

9/ We're All In This Together/ 3:51
The final track used in the actual film and the 'party' song of the album. Great closure to the film.

10/ I Can't Take My Eyes Off You/ 2:51
Despite not being used in the film, this is still a favourite of mine.

11/ Get'cha Head In The Game (Performed by B5)/ 2:45
The instrumentation is a little different from the original performed by Troy, noticably the introduction. I find the song on the whole a little pointless, I don't think it should be included.

12/ Start Of Something New (Karaoke)/ 3:20 & 13/ Breaking Free (Karaoke)/3:26
Title says it all.

Overall, although as not as good as the follow-up, High School Musical 2, this is still one hell of a soundtrack and I advise you buy the film along with this. Originally sparking controversy when critics found out Zac Efron (Troy) was not actually singing (the high notes on his parts are performed by Canadian singer-songwriter and actor Drew Seeley), Zac would go on to use his own - improved and excellent - vocals in the second soundtrack.

FOR KIDS not for adults, 02 Aug 2007
Get over being miserable! There's a lot of feel good tunes on this album! Toe tapping and enjoyable tracks. The film is quite witty and makes me quite pleased that there is finally something available for kids that doesn't invovle any competitiveness about being better than anyone, looking better than anyone - the songs are encouraging and have a background theme of working together. No swearing - no innuendo's nothing that could be considered a bit dubious. I did hesitate buying this for my 7 year old because of it being High School - but it's so good and teaches a very good lesson about teamwork! I'm afraid that reviewers like Mrs Doorly need to get a life! This is a fantastic album - SUNG BY KIDS FOR KIDS! It's not a talent quest nor is it aimed at impressing the grumps. It's the new 'Grease' cleaned up and done very well so! It's a feel good soundtrack and all adults I know say their kids (7-12 yrs) LOVE this album! Admittedly, I prefer other music, but - this wasn't targeted at me - it was targeted at the age range that actually admit to loving it!


High School musical is Alsome , 03 Jun 2007
This Soundtrack is Amazing the Best musical film Ever Why buy Grease This is much better Dont Waste you time buy it it is catchy

why buy this?, 26 Apr 2007
When i think of over hyped the only thing other than this that springs to mind is the PS3 and guess what traits they both share? They are both terrible . for me listening to even 10 seconds of this song was like hearing Elton John throw up on a one of his so called "classics" seriously why buy the soundtrack unless you enjoy hearing talentless hacks sing about the most inane things for what an hour hears a simple idea forget about buying crap and go for something good which this cd is completely lacking in

Fans of High School Musical can breathe easy: Based on this soundtrack, the sequel is just as good, and perhaps even better. Though its trailer asked "Are you ready for the start of something new?" HSM2 isn't turning the franchise into The Wire, and really is more of the same--which is, of course, totally fine by us. One of the most energetic tracks is Chad and Ryan's musical/baseball number "I Don't Dance," propelled by a cool big-band swing motif (fans of director Kenny Ortega's choreographic work for Xanadu will be reminded of that movie's mash-up of disco and swing in the "Dancin'" number). Once again Troy and Gabriella get the ballads, but "You Are the Music in Me" is a fine one and doesn't get bogged down in syrup. It also gets reprised by Troy and Sharpay in a rockier and arguably better version. This is typical of the fact that, overall, the bouncier tracks fare best: "All for One" (with its handclaps and surfy guitar licks), the s! ingle "What Time Is It" (the time of our lives, of course!), "Work This Out" (complete with percussive, well, workout). Of course everybody's favorite brother-sister team, Ryan and Sharpay, gets a couple of great vehicles: "Fabulous" and the zany, Hawaiian-flavored "Humuhumunukunukuapua'a," which more than anything else sounds like a tribute to the Disney princess of the 1960s: Annette Funicello. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Beautiful, 11 May 2008
Delicate sounds; perfect for sitting in the sunshine with a glass of wine. This arrived on Friday - and I have not stopped listening to it... Kinya Dawson's lyrics are amazing. Highly recommended.

Forget Soundtrack, this is my all time ALBUM of the year, 26 Mar 2008
This is sheer genius, I thought the film was supurb but I left the cinema thinking 'oh my god I need that soundtrack!' The songs are all thouroughly provoking, catchy, uplifting and simply unforgettable. I think anyone who has a sense of humour and an ounce of good music taste will adore this soundtrack.

An excellent soundtrack from a great movie!, 19 Mar 2008
This soundtrack is brilliant. It shows the individuality of Juno and you'll be surprised how good it is, even if you haven't heard of some of the artists!

"the monkey on your back is the latest trend", 10 Mar 2008
Well for the first time in my life, i went to see a movie because i had heard the soundtrack. This in my opinion is an amazing album although of course different people have different taste, saying that however i didn't know i was into this type of music until now. The Juno Sountrack is one of the finest things i've added to my music collection in a long time and since i recieved it last week it has not been off. I find myself singing the songs as i go about my business, and as the lyrics come from my mouth a smile can't help but form.

What i love about alot of the songs is the way in which they have been recorded, they sound like they are sitting on the couch in the same room as you, singing and strumming their guitars, and for you guitar players out there, the songs are so easy to learn and you WILL find yourselves playing along.

There are also songs in there from the likes of 'the kinks' and 'buddy holly' which add to the wide variety of talent shown in the album. For me though, the song played in the opening credits 'All i want is you' by barry louis polisar is my favorite, such an amazing opening to the album and indeed the film.

Anyways this i think is my first ever review, i hope i've been helpfull...

Buy this album.

It`s an ok family movie, 04 Mar 2008
I can understand why the majority think it is quirky and cute, the main protagonist has a very logical and direct way of dealing with her immediate problem.... who will be a good parent to her child. While she does not have the strength or presence of mind to deal with a termination, she determines that only the best will do for her unborn child. So, she embarks upon a quest to find the ideal parents. However no one is ideal and to this she must bend.

The acting is very good, and the script innovative, however the comedy lies in the personality of the actress. I do not get the comedy. Perhaps it is me..... the steps she takes and her responses to the situations in which she finds herself I find tragic, not funny at all.

I found this film to be full of pathos. The occasional smile as I understood her response, but as a mother myself, I understood her cause. It wasn`t funny. Men should watch tihs and understand that the feeling that a mother has for her child is relevant even in the earliest of stages.

This film would have been much improved by omitting the so called humour.
+

Stunning, evocative music., 14 Apr 2008
I'm not from the US, my family hail from Kashmir and I was born in the UK, grew up listening to punk rock but WOW! The soundtrack literally drips with the era and place it hails from; every time I hear a snippet I swear I can feel the heat and smell the wheat - so amazing!

Diverse selection of old-time music, 01 Jul 2005
The music here, like the film it provides the soundtrack for, is presumably intended to take us back to the thirties. Several songs from that era are featured along with traditional material that would have been popular then. Recorded mainly with state-of-the-art technology (except for some old recordings that are included and re-mastered), the sound quality is far superior to anything available in the thirties. Several different types of music can be found here - blues, gospel, country and folk - mainly performed by contemporary artists with a deep respect for tradition. I'll just pick out some of them although there are many excellent songs here.

Even Alison Krauss sticks firmly with tradition here - she often brings contemporary influences into her music these days but not here. Alison can be heard here on Down to the river to pray (as a solo singer), I'll fly away (providing harmony vocals for lead singer Gillian Welch) and Didn't leave nobody but the baby (joining Gillian and Emmylou in three-part harmony).

The inclusion of two Carter Stanley songs on a soundtrack such as this is predictable but welcome, with the Whites performing a superb version of the oft-recorded Keep on the sunny side, while the Peasall children (Hannah singing lead with Sarah and Leah providing harmony vocals) are in great form on In the highways. Children's recordings rarely impress me but this track does.

One song here that surprised me (though perhaps it shouldn't have) is Big rock candy mountain. It can be found on plenty of albums of children's songs, when it is invariably presented as an up-tempo song that children can (if they wish) sing along to. Here we get the original 1928 recording by Harry McLintock, who sings it at a more measured, reflective pace, showing that there is more to this song than I originally thought. I still prefer it as an up-tempo song generally but I'm glad I heard this version. I wonder what the Peasall sisters would have done with this song.

The Coen brothers clearly hoped that this soundtrack would provide a resurgence of interest in traditional music. While this soundtrack was a big commercial success, it seems that the majority of people who bought it (and continue to buy it) regard it as something of a novelty. Nashville record labels signed some traditional singers (Elizabeth Cook, though not featured here, is one that comes to mind) but they didn't get enough airplay on American country radio, so such artists were dropped and Nashville returned to its contemporary format. I'm sure that this soundtrack helped to win some new fans for traditional music, but not as many as the Coen brothers would like.

a lovely mix of traditional music, 04 Nov 2003
Performed by some of today's best singers, this multi-Grammy Award winner is a marvelous addition to any country/folk music collection. Some of these artists are at the top of their field, but some will be "discoveries" for most of us, like the beautiful rendition of "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" by Chris Thomas King, a versatile young man who is versed in many styles, and here sings in the old blues tradition and does it brilliantly.

The highlights for me are: The legendary Ralph Stanley, with his plaintive acappella chant of "O Death", which carries with it all the pain and soul of Appalachia, and the purity of "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" by the Soggy Bottom Boys, who consist of Union Station member Dan Tyminsky on lead vocals and guitar, backed by Harley Allen and Pat Enright. For anyone who likes traditional music, you can't get any better than this.
Another acappella gem is "Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby", with Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Gillian Welch harmonizing like an angels from another era. Everything on this disc recalls days gone by; there is a refreshing simplicity, and a lot of the songs are filled with faith.

There is exquisite musicianship on this CD, and it is a nice long one at 60'34 minutes. The booklet insert is something I appreciate too; it is a collage of yellowed stained paper on peeling walls, with a terrific layout, and as it says on one of its pages, "Old-Time Music Is Very Much Alive".

oh brother where art thou, 13 Jul 2002
first class traditional country and a bit of bluegrass. represents excelent value for money. so many good tracks its hard to pick one that shines above the rest.listen to YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE by norman blake if you are not tapping your toes then someone has nailed your feet to the floor.then there's I'm a man of constant sorrow-Soggy bottom boys Wow!then for a real treat try The Stanley Bros. Angel Band Traditional country at its best. many other great tracks from Alison Krauss the queen of country and the Whites with keep on the sunny side,backings are fantastic. This is one CD you won't be dissapointed with

GREAT ALBUM . . . BUT TRY BEFORE YOU BUY, 06 Jun 2002
Let me make one thing clear. "O Brother..." is one of my favourite films of all time. Not only that, but the musical soundtrack is one of its strongest features and stands as a valuable cultural document in its own right. In short, this is an album that anyone who loves country, bluegrass or folk music is likely to want in their collection.

So why, as I write, am I tossing up whether to only give it four stars? The answer is that I'm attempting to review it, not as a collector's item or a socio-historical document but as an album of music for repeated listening in the comfort of your own home. For that reason I'm not going to review the film rather than the album, as some reviewers here have done, because I don't assume that every listener is going to have the movie playing back in their heads as they listen to the music.

Rather, my comments are based on how this album will sound to someone who has picked up on the hearsay, or watched the Grammy ceremony, and is tempted to go out and buy this as a musical compilation. And in that setting, many listeners are going to be disappointed. The fact that a song has integrity, emotion, historical importance or great musicianship doesn't automatically make it great entertainment.

There are some standout contributions: The title song is long-term loveable (although why four different renditions of the tune are needed on the album is a mystery - a couple of the "period" instrumental versions which work well on the movoe soundtrack are somewhat less successful as pure listening music. Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch are as usual faultless. Ralph and the other Stanleys are devastating. But how many times will you want to listen to the 4+ minutes of prison chant that opens the album? Or the squeaky kiddy song (the Peasalls)? Or the ancient ditties like "Big Rock Candy Mountain"? After a couple of spins, you may find yourself reaching for the skip button more than is comfortable.

I'm not really knocking this record - in a sense it's a masterpiece. And it's rightly selling by the millions. But if you haven't seen the film I'd give it a whirl in the listening booth before you part with your cash.

It's Bad , 26 Aug 2007
High School Musical is being talked about by teenager's everywhere, so I was determined to see what it was like. I asked someone I knew (who is obsessed with it) If I could borrow their copy of the soundtrack - And now I wish I hadn't. For staters the actual music is just over-used up beat dance tracks. With some weak mordern R and B thrown in. The things kicks of with a song entitled "Start of Something New". The song is merely just a badly written, horribly sang pop song. The vocals are very poor, there are signs of lack of emotion (in all the tracks). The second one, which is more of an R and B tune, is well irritating. The whole trainers squeeking in the back ground is simply annoying beyond beliefe. The "Gota getcha getcha getcha head in the game" just proves how weak and simplistic these lyrics really are. There is nothing fantastic about any of the songs - the ones sang by the blond girl are deffinatly the worst - she can sing...she's just horrible at it. I can't understand why something with such weak music, singing and lyrics has become to popular. I'm a pretty open minded person when it comes to music I listen to Metal, Rock, Rap, Punk, Pop, Dance, Classical, Reagge, World music, Folk, Eletronic ect but I can honestly say this should be left as a mat for your cup of tea.

A great start to this wonderful sequel!, 13 Aug 2007
Original premiered in American in January 2006, the first version of High School Musical made its way to UK TV screens in mid to late 2006, and boy was it hyped! People were going crazy about it, and it would soon prove to be the start of a so far brilliant sequel.

1/ Start Of Something New/ 3:16
The opening song, and one of the best known. Performed by the wonderful Gabriella and Troy, Start of Something New is an awesome ballad basically about love or friendship. But you've heard it anyway.

2/ Get'cha Head In The Game/ 2:27
Performed by Troy, despite its hype and popularity, this is actually one of my least favourites, but it's incredibly catchy and still loveable.

3/ What I've Been Looking For/ 2:03 & 4/ What I've Been Looking For (Reprise)/ 1:19
The former, performed by Ryan and Sharpay; my second favourite on the set. A wonderful, catchy sing-a-long tune and you'll find yourself tipping your toes to. The latter is the same track performed in ballad form by Troy & Gabrielle, though the full song is not used. My least favourite out of the two.

5/ Stick To The Status Quo/ 4:28
Yet again one of the more popular songs. This was not released as a single, yet still managed to enter the UK Top 75 on downloads alone due to its insane popularity. It's the only album track on the set to have achieved this.

6/ When There Was Me & You/ 3:00
This seems to be one of the most hated songs on the soundtrack with critics and even fans alike, yet I don't understand it because Gabriella's vocals are absolutely astounding.

7/ Bop To The Top/ 1:47
Ryan and Sharpay's second song on the album, and my favourite. Awesome song.

8/ Breaking Free/ 3:27
The first single from the set and the one that got everyone going crazy about the soundtrack. This started off as my favourite song on the set, but as I got to learn other songs I quickly grew tired of it. Performed by Gabriella and Troy, it's still an appaulsable track.

9/ We're All In This Together/ 3:51
The final track used in the actual film and the 'party' song of the album. Great closure to the film.

10/ I Can't Take My Eyes Off You/ 2:51
Despite not being used in the film, this is still a favourite of mine.

11/ Get'cha Head In The Game (Performed by B5)/ 2:45
The instrumentation is a little different from the original performed by Troy, noticably the introduction. I find the song on the whole a little pointless, I don't think it should be included.

12/ Start Of Something New (Karaoke)/ 3:20 & 13/ Breaking Free (Karaoke)/3:26
Title says it all.

Overall, although as not as good as the follow-up, High School Musical 2, this is still one hell of a soundtrack and I advise you buy the film along with this. Originally sparking controversy when critics found out Zac Efron (Troy) was not actually singing (the high notes on his parts are performed by Canadian singer-songwriter and actor Drew Seeley), Zac would go on to use his own - improved and excellent - vocals in the second soundtrack.

FOR KIDS not for adults, 02 Aug 2007
Get over being miserable! There's a lot of feel good tunes on this album! Toe tapping and enjoyable tracks. The film is quite witty and makes me quite pleased that there is finally something available for kids that doesn't invovle any competitiveness about being better than anyone, looking better than anyone - the songs are encouraging and have a background theme of working together. No swearing - no innuendo's nothing that could be considered a bit dubious. I did hesitate buying this for my 7 year old because of it being High School - but it's so good and teaches a very good lesson about teamwork! I'm afraid that reviewers like Mrs Doorly need to get a life! This is a fantastic album - SUNG BY KIDS FOR KIDS! It's not a talent quest nor is it aimed at impressing the grumps. It's the new 'Grease' cleaned up and done very well so! It's a feel good soundtrack and all adults I know say their kids (7-12 yrs) LOVE this album! Admittedly, I prefer other music, but - this wasn't targeted at me - it was targeted at the age range that actually admit to loving it!


High School musical is Alsome , 03 Jun 2007
This Soundtrack is Amazing the Best musical film Ever Why buy Grease This is much better Dont Waste you time buy it it is catchy

why buy this?, 26 Apr 2007
When i think of over hyped the only thing other than this that springs to mind is the PS3 and guess what traits they both share? They are both terrible . for me listening to even 10 seconds of this song was like hearing Elton John throw up on a one of his so called "classics" seriously why buy the soundtrack unless you enjoy hearing talentless hacks sing about the most inane things for what an hour hears a simple idea forget about buying crap and go for something good which this cd is completely lacking in

I've never seen such an awesome movie in my life!, 03 Apr 2008
All i say is that this is quite possibly the most perfect, surreal movie ever created. Me and my friend Stephen Kane sat and watched it seven times and never got bored. We know all the songs and the words "What time is iiiitt??"

I 100% recommend this movie, it made my life.

A grease but better, 02 Apr 2008
I know people say this is just like Grease The Musical: I find this really annoying there are millions of musicals out there and they pick on this one leave it alone it it brilliant!
My fave songs are:

What time is it
Faboulous
Work this out
You are the music in me (Gabriella/Sharpay)
I don't dance
Gotta go my own way
All for one
Bet on it

I find High School Musical better than High School Musical 2 can't wait for High School Musical 3 Senior Years

Is this album worth it? You can 'Bet On It', 21 Mar 2008
Phenomenally strong album from the young cast of HSM2.
Bet On It is clearly the stand out track, brilliantly performed and sung by Troy (Zac Efron). The whole album is an incredible listen and a must buy for any HSM fan.

Really good mix of songs, great =], 01 Jan 2008
I wasn't really keen on this album at first, having seen the first film and thought it all a bit 'cheesy', but when I turned it on I was quite surprised.
There are some slow songs, like Gotta go my own way, and some more pop songs, like Bet on it, sang by Zac Efron. The songs are all extremely catchy & will be in your head all day long!
A really brill CD, I'd recommend it to anyone

Trouble, 06 Nov 2007
My daughter has taken over my car with this CD. its all we listen to at home, car, garden etc.
I cant wait to watch the HSM on ice .

Even those allergic to musicals may be won over by Once, a tender-hearted Irish romance with songs by Czech Republic-born Markéta Irglová and Frames frontman Glen Hansard (the film's director, John Carney, actually used to play bass in the group). The trick here is that Irglová and Hansard also play the leads; because their characters are shown busking, writing music, or rehearsing, the songs are smoothly integrated in the film. The overall acoustic mood won't surprise fans of the Frames--some tracks ("Say It to Me", "When Your Mind's Made Up") have even popped up on the band's albums, though the arrangements are more pared-down here, befitting the scruffy, street-musician setting. Being the lesser-known entity, Irglová feels like a revelation; she sounds a bit like a folkie Björk on "If You Want Me," and her song "The Hill" is downright heartbreaking. Irglová and Hansard had already made the 2006 album The Swell Season together, so their collaboration here feels really organic--they sound particularly good together on the title track, for instance. Now that's the kind of magic you want from musicals. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Beautiful, 11 May 2008
Delicate sounds; perfect for sitting in the sunshine with a glass of wine. This arrived on Friday - and I have not stopped listening to it... Kinya Dawson's lyrics are amazing. Highly recommended.

Forget Soundtrack, this is my all time ALBUM of the year, 26 Mar 2008
This is sheer genius, I thought the film was supurb but I left the cinema thinking 'oh my god I need that soundtrack!' The songs are all thouroughly provoking, catchy, uplifting and simply unforgettable. I think anyone who has a sense of humour and an ounce of good music taste will adore this soundtrack.

An excellent soundtrack from a great movie!, 19 Mar 2008
This soundtrack is brilliant. It shows the individuality of Juno and you'll be surprised how good it is, even if you haven't heard of some of the artists!

"the monkey on your back is the latest trend", 10 Mar 2008
Well for the first time in my life, i went to see a movie because i had heard the soundtrack. This in my opinion is an amazing album although of course different people have different taste, saying that however i didn't know i was into this type of music until now. The Juno Sountrack is one of the finest things i've added to my music collection in a long time and since i recieved it last week it has not been off. I find myself singing the songs as i go about my business, and as the lyrics come from my mouth a smile can't help but form.

What i love about alot of the songs is the way in which they have been recorded, they sound like they are sitting on the couch in the same room as you, singing and strumming their guitars, and for you guitar players out there, the songs are so easy to learn and you WILL find yourselves playing along.

There are also songs in there from the likes of 'the kinks' and 'buddy holly' which add to the wide variety of talent shown in the album. For me though, the song played in the opening credits 'All i want is you' by barry louis polisar is my favorite, such an amazing opening to the album and indeed the film.

Anyways this i think is my first ever review, i hope i've been helpfull...

Buy this album.

It`s an ok family movie, 04 Mar 2008
I can understand why the majority think it is quirky and cute, the main protagonist has a very logical and direct way of dealing with her immediate problem.... who will be a good parent to her child. While she does not have the strength or presence of mind to deal with a termination, she determines that only the best will do for her unborn child. So, she embarks upon a quest to find the ideal parents. However no one is ideal and to this she must bend.

The acting is very good, and the script innovative, however the comedy lies in the personality of the actress. I do not get the comedy. Perhaps it is me..... the steps she takes and her responses to the situations in which she finds herself I find tragic, not funny at all.

I found this film to be full of pathos. The occasional smile as I understood her response, but as a mother myself, I understood her cause. It wasn`t funny. Men should watch tihs and understand that the feeling that a mother has for her child is relevant even in the earliest of stages.

This film would have been much improved by omitting the so called humour.
+

Stunning, evocative music., 14 Apr 2008
I'm not from the US, my family hail from Kashmir and I was born in the UK, grew up listening to punk rock but WOW! The soundtrack literally drips with the era and place it hails from; every time I hear a snippet I swear I can feel the heat and smell the wheat - so amazing!

Diverse selection of old-time music, 01 Jul 2005
The music here, like the film it provides the soundtrack for, is presumably intended to take us back to the thirties. Several songs from that era are featured along with traditional material that would have been popular then. Recorded mainly with state-of-the-art technology (except for some old recordings that are included and re-mastered), the sound quality is far superior to anything available in the thirties. Several different types of music can be found here - blues, gospel, country and folk - mainly performed by contemporary artists with a deep respect for tradition. I'll just pick out some of them although there are many excellent songs here.

Even Alison Krauss sticks firmly with tradition here - she often brings contemporary influences into her music these days but not here. Alison can be heard here on Down to the river to pray (as a solo singer), I'll fly away (providing harmony vocals for lead singer Gillian Welch) and Didn't leave nobody but the baby (joining Gillian and Emmylou in three-part harmony).

The inclusion of two Carter Stanley songs on a soundtrack such as this is predictable but welcome, with the Whites performing a superb version of the oft-recorded Keep on the sunny side, while the Peasall children (Hannah singing lead with Sarah and Leah providing harmony vocals) are in great form on In the highways. Children's recordings rarely impress me but this track does.

One song here that surprised me (though perhaps it shouldn't have) is Big rock candy mountain. It can be found on plenty of albums of children's songs, when it is invariably presented as an up-tempo song that children can (if they wish) sing along to. Here we get the original 1928 recording by Harry McLintock, who sings it at a more measured, reflective pace, showing that there is more to this song than I originally thought. I still prefer it as an up-tempo song generally but I'm glad I heard this version. I wonder what the Peasall sisters would have done with this song.

The Coen brothers clearly hoped that this soundtrack would provide a resurgence of interest in traditional music. While this soundtrack was a big commercial success, it seems that the majority of people who bought it (and continue to buy it) regard it as something of a novelty. Nashville record labels signed some traditional singers (Elizabeth Cook, though not featured here, is one that comes to mind) but they didn't get enough airplay on American country radio, so such artists were dropped and Nashville returned to its contemporary format. I'm sure that this soundtrack helped to win some new fans for traditional music, but not as many as the Coen brothers would like.

a lovely mix of traditional music, 04 Nov 2003
Performed by some of today's best singers, this multi-Grammy Award winner is a marvelous addition to any country/folk music collection. Some of these artists are at the top of their field, but some will be "discoveries" for most of us, like the beautiful rendition of "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" by Chris Thomas King, a versatile young man who is versed in many styles, and here sings in the old blues tradition and does it brilliantly.

The highlights for me are: The legendary Ralph Stanley, with his plaintive acappella chant of "O Death", which carries with it all the pain and soul of Appalachia, and the purity of "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" by the Soggy Bottom Boys, who consist of Union Station member Dan Tyminsky on lead vocals and guitar, backed by Harley Allen and Pat Enright. For anyone who likes traditional music, you can't get any better than this.
Another acappella gem is "Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby", with Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Gillian Welch harmonizing like an angels from another era. Everything on this disc recalls days gone by; there is a refreshing simplicity, and a lot of the songs are filled with faith.

There is exquisite musicianship on this CD, and it is a nice long one at 60'34 minutes. The booklet insert is something I appreciate too; it is a collage of yellowed stained paper on peeling walls, with a terrific layout, and as it says on one of its pages, "Old-Time Music Is Very Much Alive".

oh brother where art thou, 13 Jul 2002
first class traditional country and a bit of bluegrass. represents excelent value for money. so many good tracks its hard to pick one that shines above the rest.listen to YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE by norman blake if you are not tapping your toes then someone has nailed your feet to the floor.then there's I'm a man of constant sorrow-Soggy bottom boys Wow!then for a real treat try The Stanley Bros. Angel Band Traditional country at its best. many other great tracks from Alison Krauss the queen of country and the Whites with keep on the sunny side,backings are fantastic. This is one CD you won't be dissapointed with

GREAT ALBUM . . . BUT TRY BEFORE YOU BUY, 06 Jun 2002
Let me make one thing clear. "O Brother..." is one of my favourite films of all time. Not only that, but the musical soundtrack is one of its strongest features and stands as a valuable cultural document in its own right. In short, this is an album that anyone who loves country, bluegrass or folk music is likely to want in their collection.

So why, as I write, am I tossing up whether to only give it four stars? The answer is that I'm attempting to review it, not as a collector's item or a socio-historical document but as an album of music for repeated listening in the comfort of your own home. For that reason I'm not going to review the film rather than the album, as some reviewers here have done, because I don't assume that every listener is going to have the movie playing back in their heads as they listen to the music.

Rather, my comments are based on how this album will sound to someone who has picked up on the hearsay, or watched the Grammy ceremony, and is tempted to go out and buy this as a musical compilation. And in that setting, many listeners are going to be disappointed. The fact that a song has integrity, emotion, historical importance or great musicianship doesn't automatically make it great entertainment.

There are some standout contributions: The title song is long-term loveable (although why four different renditions of the tune are needed on the album is a mystery - a couple of the "period" instrumental versions which work well on the movoe soundtrack are somewhat less successful as pure listening music. Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch are as usual faultless. Ralph and the other Stanleys are devastating. But how many times will you want to listen to the 4+ minutes of prison chant that opens the album? Or the squeaky kiddy song (the Peasalls)? Or the ancient ditties like "Big Rock Candy Mountain"? After a couple of spins, you may find yourself reaching for the skip button more than is comfortable.

I'm not really knocking this record - in a sense it's a masterpiece. And it's rightly selling by the millions. But if you haven't seen the film I'd give it a whirl in the listening booth before you part with your cash.

It's Bad , 26 Aug 2007
High School Musical is being talked about by teenager's everywhere, so I was determined to see what it was like. I asked someone I knew (who is obsessed with it) If I could borrow their copy of the soundtrack - And now I wish I hadn't. For staters the actual music is just over-used up beat dance tracks. With some weak mordern R and B thrown in. The things kicks of with a song entitled "Start of Something New". The song is merely just a badly written, horribly sang pop song. The vocals are very poor, there are signs of lack of emotion (in all the tracks). The second one, which is more of an R and B tune, is well irritating. The whole trainers squeeking in the back ground is simply annoying beyond beliefe. The "Gota getcha getcha getcha head in the game" just proves how weak and simplistic these lyrics really are. There is nothing fantastic about any of the songs - the ones sang by the blond girl are deffinatly the worst - she can sing...she's just horrible at it. I can't understand why something with such weak music, singing and lyrics has become to popular. I'm a pretty open minded person when it comes to music I listen to Metal, Rock, Rap, Punk, Pop, Dance, Classical, Reagge, World music, Folk, Eletronic ect but I can honestly say this should be left as a mat for your cup of tea.

A great start to this wonderful sequel!, 13 Aug 2007
Original premiered in American in January 2006, the first version of High School Musical made its way to UK TV screens in mid to late 2006, and boy was it hyped! People were going crazy about it, and it would soon prove to be the start of a so far brilliant sequel.

1/ Start Of Something New/ 3:16
The opening song, and one of the best known. Performed by the wonderful Gabriella and Troy, Start of Something New is an awesome ballad basically about love or friendship. But you've heard it anyway.

2/ Get'cha Head In The Game/ 2:27
Performed by Troy, despite its hype and popularity, this is actually one of my least favourites, but it's incredibly catchy and still loveable.

3/ What I've Been Looking For/ 2:03 & 4/ What I've Been Looking For (Reprise)/ 1:19
The former, performed by Ryan and Sharpay; my second favourite on the set. A wonderful, catchy sing-a-long tune and you'll find yourself tipping your toes to. The latter is the same track performed in ballad form by Troy & Gabrielle, though the full song is not used. My least favourite out of the two.

5/ Stick To The Status Quo/ 4:28
Yet again one of the more popular songs. This was not released as a single, yet still managed to enter the UK Top 75 on downloads alone due to its insane popularity. It's the only album track on the set to have achieved this.

6/ When There Was Me & You/ 3:00
This seems to be one of the most hated songs on the soundtrack with critics and even fans alike, yet I don't understand it because Gabriella's vocals are absolutely astounding.

7/ Bop To The Top/ 1:47
Ryan and Sharpay's second song on the album, and my favourite. Awesome song.

8/ Breaking Free/ 3:27
The first single from the set and the one that got everyone going crazy about the soundtrack. This started off as my favourite song on the set, but as I got to learn other songs I quickly grew tired of it. Performed by Gabriella and Troy, it's still an appaulsable track.

9/ We're All In This Together/ 3:51
The final track used in the actual film and the 'party' song of the album. Great closure to the film.

10/ I Can't Take My Eyes Off You/ 2:51
Despite not being used in the film, this is still a favourite of mine.

11/ Get'cha Head In The Game (Performed by B5)/ 2:45
The instrumentation is a little different from the original performed by Troy, noticably the introduction. I find the song on the whole a little pointless, I don't think it should be included.

12/ Start Of Something New (Karaoke)/ 3:20 & 13/ Breaking Free (Karaoke)/3:26
Title says it all.

Overall, although as not as good as the follow-up, High School Musical 2, this is still one hell of a soundtrack and I advise you buy the film along with this. Originally sparking controversy when critics found out Zac Efron (Troy) was not actually singing (the high notes on his parts are performed by Canadian singer-songwriter and actor Drew Seeley), Zac would go on to use his own - improved and excellent - vocals in the second soundtrack.

FOR KIDS not for adults, 02 Aug 2007
Get over being miserable! There's a lot of feel good tunes on this album! Toe tapping and enjoyable tracks. The film is quite witty and makes me quite pleased that there is finally something available for kids that doesn't invovle any competitiveness about being better than anyone, looking better than anyone - the songs are encouraging and have a background theme of working together. No swearing - no innuendo's nothing that could be considered a bit dubious. I did hesitate buying this for my 7 year old because of it being High School - but it's so good and teaches a very good lesson about teamwork! I'm afraid that reviewers like Mrs Doorly need to get a life! This is a fantastic album - SUNG BY KIDS FOR KIDS! It's not a talent quest nor is it aimed at impressing the grumps. It's the new 'Grease' cleaned up and done very well so! It's a feel good soundtrack and all adults I know say their kids (7-12 yrs) LOVE this album! Admittedly, I prefer other music, but - this wasn't targeted at me - it was targeted at the age range that actually admit to loving it!


High School musical is Alsome , 03 Jun 2007
This Soundtrack is Amazing the Best musical film Ever Why buy Grease This is much better Dont Waste you time buy it it is catchy

why buy this?, 26 Apr 2007
When i think of over hyped the only thing other than this that springs to mind is the PS3 and guess what traits they both share? They are both terrible . for me listening to even 10 seconds of this song was like hearing Elton John throw up on a one of his so called "classics" seriously why buy the soundtrack unless you enjoy hearing talentless hacks sing about the most inane things for what an hour hears a simple idea forget about buying crap and go for something good which this cd is completely lacking in

I've never seen such an awesome movie in my life!, 03 Apr 2008
All i say is that this is quite possibly the most perfect, surreal movie ever created. Me and my friend Stephen Kane sat and watched it seven times and never got bored. We know all the songs and the words "What time is iiiitt??"

I 100% recommend this movie, it made my life.

A grease but better, 02 Apr 2008
I know people say this is just like Grease The Musical: I find this really annoying there are millions of musicals out there and they pick on this one leave it alone it it brilliant!
My fave songs are:

What time is it
Faboulous
Work this out
You are the music in me (Gabriella/Sharpay)
I don't dance
Gotta go my own way
All for one
Bet on it

I find High School Musical better than High School Musical 2 can't wait for High School Musical 3 Senior Years

Is this album worth it? You can 'Bet On It', 21 Mar 2008
Phenomenally strong album from the young cast of HSM2.
Bet On It is clearly the stand out track, brilliantly performed and sung by Troy (Zac Efron). The whole album is an incredible listen and a must buy for any HSM fan.

Really good mix of songs, great =], 01 Jan 2008
I wasn't really keen on this album at first, having seen the first film and thought it all a bit 'cheesy', but when I turned it on I was quite surprised.
There are some slow songs, like Gotta go my own way, and some more pop songs, like Bet on it, sang by Zac Efron. The songs are all extremely catchy & will be in your head all day long!
A really brill CD, I'd recommend it to anyone

Trouble, 06 Nov 2007
My daughter has taken over my car with this CD. its all we listen to at home, car, garden etc.
I cant wait to watch the HSM on ice .

Excellent, 02 Jul 2008
I saw the film first and bought myself this cd afterwards. I love every song on it. If it's the music from the film that you want it's all on here. I'd highly recommend this cd.

Original, easy-listening, refreshingly new, 22 Apr 2008
With or without the dvd, this music is new and refreshing. With the DVD, there is added meaning. Get the CD, watch the DVD.

Best soundtrack for years, 21 Mar 2008
I can count the number of film soundtracks I've bought on two hands, this is one of the best. Outside of the category of film soundtracks it's still one of the best albums I've heard in a while.

A superb effort from two talented musicians, I really hope the do something together again soon.

Mellow and moving, 06 Jan 2008
Overall a great collection of songs : I would agree it does resonate more emotionally if you have seen the film first , as the music is integral to it. However I did buy this before I had had a chance to see the film (it didn't get that wide a release unfortunately) and the songs still stand up very well by themselves.

Glen Hansard was previously in The Commitments and latterly the band The Frames so the musical pedigree is very good. A couple of the tracks have previously seen the light of day on the most recent Frames album "The Cost" (2006) ("Falling Slowly", "When Your Mind's Made Up") while "Say It to Me Now" goes all the way back to their mid-90's album "Fitzcarraldo" , but the arrangements/versions here are new - the latter revisited as a belter solo effort with just acoustic guitar.

The style is more folky and softer than Hansard's band The Frames, which are also highly recommended if you like the music here - as mentioned before their last album "The Cost" is similar in tone to this.

(As an introduction to the Frames I would recommend you start with The Frames 2002's live album "Set List" , and either "Fitzcarraldo" & "Dance with the Devil". )



You can't beat great songs, 02 Jan 2008
As a songwriter I am forever converted to five beats in the bar as well as on occation a simple approach to songwriting. The songs on this album are stunning, and just like the film, wake something that has been asleep for a while. I feel sorry for the people for whom this is not their cup of tea.

Beautiful, 11 May 2008
Delicate sounds; perfect for sitting in the sunshine with a glass of wine. This arrived on Friday - and I have not stopped listening to it... Kinya Dawson's lyrics are amazing. Highly recommended.

Forget Soundtrack, this is my all time ALBUM of the year, 26 Mar 2008
This is sheer genius, I thought the film was supurb but I left the cinema thinking 'oh my god I need that soundtrack!' The songs are all thouroughly provoking, catchy, uplifting and simply unforgettable. I think anyone who has a sense of humour and an ounce of good music taste will adore this soundtrack.

An excellent soundtrack from a great movie!, 19 Mar 2008
This soundtrack is brilliant. It shows the individuality of Juno and you'll be surprised how good it is, even if you haven't heard of some of the artists!

"the monkey on your back is the latest trend", 10 Mar 2008
Well for the first time in my life, i went to see a movie because i had heard the soundtrack. This in my opinion is an amazing album although of course different people have different taste, saying that however i didn't know i was into this type of music until now. The Juno Sountrack is one of the finest things i've added to my music collection in a long time and since i recieved it last week it has not been off. I find myself singing the songs as i go about my business, and as the lyrics come from my mouth a smile can't help but form.

What i love about alot of the songs is the way in which they have been recorded, they sound like they are sitting on the couch in the same room as you, singing and strumming their guitars, and for you guitar players out there, the songs are so easy to learn and you WILL find yourselves playing along.

There are also songs in there from the likes of 'the kinks' and 'buddy holly' which add to the wide variety of talent shown in the album. For me though, the song played in the opening credits 'All i want is you' by barry louis polisar is my favorite, such an amazing opening to the album and indeed the film.

Anyways this i think is my first ever review, i hope i've been helpfull...

Buy this album.

It`s an ok family movie, 04 Mar 2008
I can understand why the majority think it is quirky and cute, the main protagonist has a very logical and direct way of dealing with her immediate problem.... who will be a good parent to her child. While she does not have the strength or presence of mind to deal with a termination, she determines that only the best will do for her unborn child. So, she embarks upon a quest to find the ideal parents. However no one is ideal and to this she must bend.

The acting is very good, and the script innovative, however the comedy lies in the personality of the actress. I do not get the comedy. Perhaps it is me..... the steps she takes and her responses to the situations in which she finds herself I find tragic, not funny at all.

I found this film to be full of pathos. The occasional smile as I understood her response, but as a mother myself, I understood her cause. It wasn`t funny. Men should watch tihs and understand that the feeling that a mother has for her child is relevant even in the earliest of stages.

This film would have been much improved by omitting the so called humour.
+

Stunning, evocative music., 14 Apr 2008
I'm not from the US, my family hail from Kashmir and I was born in the UK, grew up listening to punk rock but WOW! The soundtrack literally drips with the era and place it hails from; every time I hear a snippet I swear I can feel the heat and smell the wheat - so amazing!

Diverse selection of old-time music, 01 Jul 2005
The music here, like the film it provides the soundtrack for, is presumably intended to take us back to the thirties. Several songs from that era are featured along with traditional material that would have been popular then. Recorded mainly with state-of-the-art technology (except for some old recordings that are included and re-mastered), the sound quality is far superior to anything available in the thirties. Several different types of music can be found here - blues, gospel, country and folk - mainly performed by contemporary artists with a deep respect for tradition. I'll just pick out some of them although there are many excellent songs here.

Even Alison Krauss sticks firmly with tradition here - she often brings contemporary influences into her music these days but not here. Alison can be heard here on Down to the river to pray (as a solo singer), I'll fly away (providing harmony vocals for lead singer Gillian Welch) and Didn't leave nobody but the baby (joining Gillian and Emmylou in three-part harmony).

The inclusion of two Carter Stanley songs on a soundtrack such as this is predictable but welcome, with the Whites performing a superb version of the oft-recorded Keep on the sunny side, while the Peasall children (Hannah singing lead with Sarah and Leah providing harmony vocals) are in great form on In the highways. Children's recordings rarely impress me but this track does.

One song here that surprised me (though perhaps it shouldn't have) is Big rock candy mountain. It can be found on plenty of albums of children's songs, when it is invariably presented as an up-tempo song that children can (if they wish) sing along to. Here we get the original 1928 recording by Harry McLintock, who sings it at a more measured, reflective pace, showing that there is more to this song than I originally thought. I still prefer it as an up-tempo song generally but I'm glad I heard this version. I wonder what the Peasall sisters would have done with this song.

The Coen brothers clearly hoped that this soundtrack would provide a resurgence of interest in traditional music. While this soundtrack was a big commercial success, it seems that the majority of people who bought it (and continue to buy it) regard it as something of a novelty. Nashville record labels signed some traditional singers (Elizabeth Cook, though not featured here, is one that comes to mind) but they didn't get enough airplay on American country radio, so such artists were dropped and Nashville returned to its contemporary format. I'm sure that this soundtrack helped to win some new fans for traditional music, but not as many as the Coen brothers would like.

a lovely mix of traditional music, 04 Nov 2003
Performed by some of today's best singers, this multi-Grammy Award winner is a marvelous addition to any country/folk music collection. Some of these artists are at the top of their field, but some will be "discoveries" for most of us, like the beautiful rendition of "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" by Chris Thomas King, a versatile young man who is versed in many styles, and here sings in the old blues tradition and does it brilliantly.

The highlights for me are: The legendary Ralph Stanley, with his plaintive acappella chant of "O Death", which carries with it all the pain and soul of Appalachia, and the purity of "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" by the Soggy Bottom Boys, who consist of Union Station member Dan Tyminsky on lead vocals and guitar, backed by Harley Allen and Pat Enright. For anyone who likes traditional music, you can't get any better than this.
Another acappella gem is "Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby", with Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Gillian Welch harmonizing like an angels from another era. Everything on this disc recalls days gone by; there is a refreshing simplicity, and a lot of the songs are filled with faith.

There is exquisite musicianship on this CD, and it is a nice long one at 60'34 minutes. The booklet insert is something I appreciate too; it is a collage of yellowed stained paper on peeling walls, with a terrific layout, and as it says on one of its pages, "Old-Time Music Is Very Much Alive".

oh brother where art thou, 13 Jul 2002
first class traditional country and a bit of bluegrass. represents excelent value for money. so many good tracks its hard to pick one that shines above the rest.listen to YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE by norman blake if you are not tapping your toes then someone has nailed your feet to the floor.then there's I'm a man of constant sorrow-Soggy bottom boys Wow!then for a real treat try The Stanley Bros. Angel Band Traditional country at its best. many other great tracks from Alison Krauss the queen of country and the Whites with keep on the sunny side,backings are fantastic. This is one CD you won't be dissapointed with

GREAT ALBUM . . . BUT TRY BEFORE YOU BUY, 06 Jun 2002
Let me make one thing clear. "O Brother..." is one of my favourite films of all time. Not only that, but the musical soundtrack is one of its strongest features and stands as a valuable cultural document in its own right. In short, this is an album that anyone who loves country, bluegrass or folk music is likely to want in their collection.

So why, as I write, am I tossing up whether to only give it four stars? The answer is that I'm attempting to review it, not as a collector's item or a socio-historical document but as an album of music for repeated listening in the comfort of your own home. For that reason I'm not going to review the film rather than the album, as some reviewers here have done, because I don't assume that every listener is going to have the movie playing back in their heads as they listen to the music.

Rather, my comments are based on how this album will sound to someone who has picked up on the hearsay, or watched the Grammy ceremony, and is tempted to go out and buy this as a musical compilation. And in that setting, many listeners are going to be disappointed. The fact that a song has integrity, emotion, historical importance or great musicianship doesn't automatically make it great entertainment.

There are some standout contributions: The title song is long-term loveable (although why four different renditions of the tune are needed on the album is a mystery - a couple of the "period" instrumental versions which work well on the movoe soundtrack are somewhat less successful as pure listening music. Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch are as usual faultless. Ralph and the other Stanleys are devastating. But how many times will you want to listen to the 4+ minutes of prison chant that opens the album? Or the squeaky kiddy song (the Peasalls)? Or the ancient ditties like "Big Rock Candy Mountain"? After a couple of spins, you may find yourself reaching for the skip button more than is comfortable.

I'm not really knocking this record - in a sense it's a masterpiece. And it's rightly selling by the millions. But if you haven't seen the film I'd give it a whirl in the listening booth before you part with your cash.

It's Bad , 26 Aug 2007
High School Musical is being talked about by teenager's everywhere, so I was determined to see what it was like. I asked someone I knew (who is obsessed with it) If I could borrow their copy of the soundtrack - And now I wish I hadn't. For staters the actual music is just over-used up beat dance tracks. With some weak mordern R and B thrown in. The things kicks of with a song entitled "Start of Something New". The song is merely just a badly written, horribly sang pop song. The vocals are very poor, there are signs of lack of emotion (in all the tracks). The second one, which is more of an R and B tune, is well irritating. The whole trainers squeeking in the back ground is simply annoying beyond beliefe. The "Gota getcha getcha getcha head in the game" just proves how weak and simplistic these lyrics really are. There is nothing fantastic about any of the songs - the ones sang by the blond girl are deffinatly the worst - she can sing...she's just horrible at it. I can't understand why something with such weak music, singing and lyrics has become to popular. I'm a pretty open minded person when it comes to music I listen to Metal, Rock, Rap, Punk, Pop, Dance, Classical, Reagge, World music, Folk, Eletronic ect but I can honestly say this should be left as a mat for your cup of tea.

A great start to this wonderful sequel!, 13 Aug 2007
Original premiered in American in January 2006, the first version of High School Musical made its way to UK TV screens in mid to late 2006, and boy was it hyped! People were going crazy about it, and it would soon prove to be the start of a so far brilliant sequel.

1/ Start Of Something New/ 3:16
The opening song, and one of the best known. Performed by the wonderful Gabriella and Troy, Start of Something New is an awesome ballad basically about love or friendship. But you've heard it anyway.

2/ Get'cha Head In The Game/ 2:27
Performed by Troy, despite its hype and popularity, this is actually one of my least favourites, but it's incredibly catchy and still loveable.

3/ What I've Been Looking For/ 2:03 & 4/ What I've Been Looking For (Reprise)/ 1:19
The former, performed by Ryan and Sharpay; my second favourite on the set. A wonderful, catchy sing-a-long tune and you'll find yourself tipping your toes to. The latter is the same track performed in ballad form by Troy & Gabrielle, though the full song is not used. My least favourite out of the two.

5/ Stick To The Status Quo/ 4:28
Yet again one of the more popular songs. This was not released as a single, yet still managed to enter the UK Top 75 on downloads alone due to its insane popularity. It's the only album track on the set to have achieved this.

6/ When There Was Me & You/ 3:00
This seems to be one of the most hated songs on the soundtrack with critics and even fans alike, yet I don't understand it because Gabriella's vocals are absolutely astounding.

7/ Bop To The Top/ 1:47
Ryan and Sharpay's second song on the album, and my favourite. Awesome song.

8/ Breaking Free/ 3:27
The first single from the set and the one that got everyone going crazy about the soundtrack. This started off as my favourite song on the set, but as I got to learn other songs I quickly grew tired of it. Performed by Gabriella and Troy, it's still an appaulsable track.

9/ We're All In This Together/ 3:51
The final track used in the actual film and the 'party' song of the album. Great closure to the film.

10/ I Can't Take My Eyes Off You/ 2:51
Despite not being used in the film, this is still a favourite of mine.

11/ Get'cha Head In The Game (Performed by B5)/ 2:45
The instrumentation is a little different from the original performed by Troy, noticably the introduction. I find the song on the whole a little pointless, I don't think it should be included.

12/ Start Of Something New (Karaoke)/ 3:20 & 13/ Breaking Free (Karaoke)/3:26
Title says it all.

Overall, although as not as good as the follow-up, High School Musical 2, this is still one hell of a soundtrack and I advise you buy the film along with this. Originally sparking controversy when critics found out Zac Efron (Troy) was not actually singing (the high notes on his parts are performed by Canadian singer-songwriter and actor Drew Seeley), Zac would go on to use his own - improved and excellent - vocals in the second soundtrack.

FOR KIDS not for adults, 02 Aug 2007
Get over being miserable! There's a lot of feel good tunes on this album! Toe tapping and enjoyable tracks. The film is quite witty and makes me quite pleased that there is finally something available for kids that doesn't invovle any competitiveness about being better than anyone, looking better than anyone - the songs are encouraging and have a background theme of working together. No swearing - no innuendo's nothing that could be considered a bit dubious. I did hesitate buying this for my 7 year old because of it being High School - but it's so good and teaches a very good lesson about teamwork! I'm afraid that reviewers like Mrs Doorly need to get a life! This is a fantastic album - SUNG BY KIDS FOR KIDS! It's not a talent quest nor is it aimed at impressing the grumps. It's the new 'Grease' cleaned up and done very well so! It's a feel good soundtrack and all adults I know say their kids (7-12 yrs) LOVE this album! Admittedly, I prefer other music, but - this wasn't targeted at me - it was targeted at the age range that actually admit to loving it!


High School musical is Alsome , 03 Jun 2007
This Soundtrack is Amazing the Best musical film Ever Why buy Grease This is much better Dont Waste you time buy it it is catchy

why buy this?, 26 Apr 2007
When i think of over hyped the only thing other than this that springs to mind is the PS3 and guess what traits they both share? They are both terrible . for me listening to even 10 seconds of this song was like hearing Elton John throw up on a one of his so called "classics" seriously why buy the soundtrack unless you enjoy hearing talentless hacks sing about the most inane things for what an hour hears a simple idea forget about buying crap and go for something good which this cd is completely lacking in

I've never seen such an awesome movie in my life!, 03 Apr 2008
All i say is that this is quite possibly the most perfect, surreal movie ever created. Me and my friend Stephen Kane sat and watched it seven times and never got bored. We know all the songs and the words "What time is iiiitt??"

I 100% recommend this movie, it made my life.

A grease but better, 02 Apr 2008
I know people say this is just like Grease The Musical: I find this really annoying there are millions of musicals out there and they pick on this one leave it alone it it brilliant!
My fave songs are:

What time is it
Faboulous
Work this out
You are the music in me (Gabriella/Sharpay)
I don't dance
Gotta go my own way
All for one
Bet on it

I find High School Musical better than High School Musical 2 can't wait for High School Musical 3 Senior Years

Is this album worth it? You can 'Bet On It', 21 Mar 2008
Phenomenally strong album from the young cast of HSM2.
Bet On It is clearly the stand out track, brilliantly performed and sung by Troy (Zac Efron). The whole album is an incredible listen and a must buy for any HSM fan.

Really good mix of songs, great =], 01 Jan 2008
I wasn't really keen on this album at first, having seen the first film and thought it all a bit 'cheesy', but when I turned it on I was quite surprised.
There are some slow songs, like Gotta go my own way, and some more pop songs, like Bet on it, sang by Zac Efron. The songs are all extremely catchy & will be in your head all day long!
A really brill CD, I'd recommend it to anyone

Trouble, 06 Nov 2007
My daughter has taken over my car with this CD. its all we listen to at home, car, garden etc.
I cant wait to watch the HSM on ice .

Excellent, 02 Jul 2008
I saw the film first and bought myself this cd afterwards. I love every song on it. If it's the music from the film that you want it's all on here. I'd highly recommend this cd.

Original, easy-listening, refreshingly new, 22 Apr 2008
With or without the dvd, this music is new and refreshing. With the DVD, there is added meaning. Get the CD, watch the DVD.

Best soundtrack for years, 21 Mar 2008
I can count the number of film soundtracks I've bought on two hands, this is one of the best. Outside of the category of film soundtracks it's still one of the best albums I've heard in a while.

A superb effort from two talented musicians, I really hope the do something together again soon.

Mellow and moving, 06 Jan 2008
Overall a great collection of songs : I would agree it does resonate more emotionally if you have seen the film first , as the music is integral to it. However I did buy this before I h