Hot Fuzz Soundtrack

Album review

Like Shaun of the Dead, Edgar Wright's Hot Fuzz has a soundtrack that is witty, well-chosen, and steeped in British rock history. Kicking off with Adam Ant's "Goody Two Shoes" and including the Crazy World of Arthur Brown's "Fire" and the Kinks' "Village Green Preservation Society," the album gathers a treasure trove of classic but not over-exposed, tracks, along with some newer ones: the Fratellis' barreling blend of punk, glam and pop sounds just as good on "Solid Gold Easy Action Town" as it did on Costello Music. However, the deeper the soundtrack digs, the better it gets: "Dance with the Devil" by legendary drummer Cozy Powell and Stavely Makepeace's throbbing instrumental "Slippery Rock 70s" sound weirdly familiar but hard to place, making them perfect musical cues for a film that goes from comedy to action to horror and back again. Likewise, the soundtrack touches on the film's police theme without being heavy-handed (no songs by the Police, for example); Supergrass' "Caught by the Fuzz" and XTC's "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" keep things witty and light, while Jon Spencer and the Elegant Too's heavy, funky "Here Come the Fuzz" feels equally inspired by Jimi Hendrix and the themes to '70s cop shows. Indeed, the pop songs on Hot Fuzz are so bright and brash that "Hot Fuzz Suite" -- which compiles excerpts of David Arnold's score into one 22-minute track -- sounds even darker and more intense by comparison. Moving from gentle acoustic moments to electronica, jazz and horror-inspired choral chanting, Arnold's music is accomplished and versatile, but might have had more impact on the album if it was presented as separate cues. Either way, Hot Fuzz is a very enjoyable, smart soundtrack.

© Heather Phares /TiVo