‘JAY AND SILENT BOB REBOOT’ SOUNDTRACK

Jason Savio

Jay and Silent Bob are back, and they’ve brought with them a collection of catchy songs and laugh-out-loud dialogue that fit the duo perfectly. Much like the film “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot,” the soundtrack to the film has homegrown roots that tie in with Kevin Smith’s family and side projects. There are some more mainstream numbers here, namely REO Speedwagon’s “Keep On Loving You,” but for the most part it feels very much like a mix from Kevin Smith’s own universe, or, as he calls it, View Askewniverse. The theme song to his popular podcast Smodcast is featured, as is a song performed by the Tenth, his teenage daughter’s own band (his daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, has a prominent role in the film). “Shecky Don’t Like It” is a confusing song in that it is about Kevin Smith’s dog–not really anything to do with the story in the movie—but, nonetheless, part of Smith’s life that fans of his are likely familiar with. “Loser,” by Moby Rich, is a standout from a modern band that has a 90’s feel to it, making it right at home with the iconic Jay and Silent Bob characters who first gained notoriety during that same decade. If you were to listen to this soundtrack fresh, without any prior knowledge of Smith or the characters in his movies, you’d probably be left baffled by the strange assortment of songs and dialogue quips that Jay says in between them. For those who are lovers of the View Askewniverse, it’s a fun listen. For more information visit: www.facebook.com/YesThatKevinSmith/

MIRANDA LAMBERT/WILDCARD

Mike Wood

I’m not one generally inclined to listen to country music, but the buzz surrounding Miranda Lambert’s latest (her seventh solo album) convinced me I needed to dip the toes in to see what all the hype was about. After all, Lambert is one of the most awarded artists in country music—this includes nine Academy of Country Music Female Vocalist of the Year Awards—13 Country Music Association awards, and a pair of Grammys. Turns out, the hype is well-deserved. Wildcard is a funky, fun, infectious country-rock potpourri that covers everything from politics to love, and even a love of tequila (“He doesn’t love me like tequila can, nobody can,” she croons on “Tequila Does.”) There are many more lyrics on Wildcard that serve up Lambert’s witty sense of humor, and you’re always listening for the story to unfold (as it so often does in country music), like on “Way Too Pretty for Prison,” where she and Maren Morris are game to hire a hitman to off their deadbeat husbands because, well—the song’s title, and “the lunch trays don’t come with Chardonnay, and the bars there don’t got boys there to buy us drinks.” This is Lambert’s first collaboration with producer Jay Joyce (who has helmed records for Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town and Eric Church), and on Wildcard, he’s helping to deal out the hits in spades. Whether it’s an irresistibly catchy, softly-sung, toe-tapper like “Bluebird” or a raise-the-roof, foot stomper like “Pretty Bitchin,” listeners are in for real treat. Lambert’s country roots are on full display without apology. She’s having fun and so are converts like me—who allow Wildcard to win them over with its whimsy and charms. For more info, please visit mirandalambert.com