Never Been Kissed [Audio CD] David Newman - Good

Good - USED BOOK: This book is in good condition with moderate signs of wear. It may contain some highlighting or markings but remains generally clean. The cover may have minor shelf wear, and pages might show slight creasing. Despite these signs of use, the book is well-maintained and fully readable.

Amazon.ca This odds 'n' ends mix of '60s, '70s, and '90s pop clashes like an all-plaid tuxedo, so those with a stereo pre-programming function--or better yet, a remote--would be wise to rearrange this album's songs in a less jarring manner. Unlike many teen flick soundtracks, Never Been Kissed tries hard to follow the film script's championing of the underdog: There are no Everclears, no Alanises, just primarily a warm, risk-free blend of mostly lesser-known pop acts (Semisonic, Remy Zero, Sonichrome) who sound vaguely reminiscent of other, bigger-name pop acts. The rub is that the string of modern bubblegum numbers segues into a sprinkling of old faves like John and Yoko's "Watching the Wheels" and the Beach Boys' "Don't Worry Baby," both of which are hideously out of place next to the ethnic rap stylings of Ozomatli and no-brainer jubilance of teen idol Jeremy Jordan. The final insult is the inclusion of The Smiths' tender "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want," a ballad that strongly identified the mood of '80s high-school movies (it originally appeared on the Pretty in Pink soundtrack) but has no meaning in this cootchy-coo context. --Kristy Ojala

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