'Smallville'Soundtrack

Elektra Records

Grade: A-

If you are an addict of the WB's "Smallville," then you certainly have no excuse not to buy this CD. Even if you are not a fan of the WB's teenage, angst-filled dramas, you still have no reason not to buy the new "Smallville Soundtrack," which features songs from Weezer, Remy Zero and Phantom Planet. Ok, I too will admit that when I first picked it up I expected another commercially manufactured tribute to pop music and teeny-bopper romance.

The real fact of the matter, though, is that the "Smallville Soundtrack" contains great songs, regardless of your musical preference. The CD is based around songs featured on "Smallville," the WB network's show about the life of young Clark Kent, the future Superman. It features music such as the show's theme song, Remy Zero's "Save Me." Well-known favorites, such as Weezer's "Island in the Sun" and Five for Fighting's "Superman," are also included on the CD. "The songs on the CD really match the show well," remarked Ernesto Lopez '06, a huge "Smallville" fan himself.

Most of the songs on the CD are of the light rock genre, such as Lifehouse's "Everything" and Phantom Planet's "Lonely Day." I personally prefer punk rock, but even I found myself getting into the slow, dreamy melodies of Ryan Adam's "Nuclear" and Steadman's "Wave Goodbye."

The "Smallville Soundtrack" also features excellent music from some lesser well-known artists. The voices of The Flaming Lips on "Flight Test" put me in a wonderful stress-free, relaxed mood, and VonRay's vocals on "Inside Out" are reminiscent of the musical style of Creed.

The CD contains twelve tracks in total, but it is packed with tons of extras for the average buyer and "Smallville" addicts alike. You can watch VonRay's live performance of "Inside Out" and Remy Zero's HBO performance of "Perfect Memory." "The Smallville Soundtrack" also allows online access to the sold-out first issue of DC Comics' "Smallville" comic book and previews of upcoming "Smallville" comics as well. To top it all off, the CD gives devoted fans the opportunity to take a 3-D interactive tour of the "Smallville" town itself.

You do not have to be a fan of the TV show or think Tom Wellington (aka Clark Kent) is cute to enjoy the "Smallville Soundtrack." The CD contains songs about love, not fitting in and growing up -- issues we can all certainly relate to at this point in our lives, even if we are not future superheroes. I do not know why I did not give the "Smallville Soundtrack" an A grade. Maybe it is because I still cannot admit to the fact that I actually enjoyed a soundtrack from a teeny-bopper WB show.

The "Smallville" soundtrack will be released in stores today.