Various Artists: Rushmore : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

The soundtrack to Rushmore mixes early tunes by bands such as the Kinks and forgotten gems like "Making Time," by Creation, with Mark Mothersbaugh's score, which sounds like Bach played by the Romper Room kids. Like the movie, the soundtrack pays tribute to young love in all its annoying, cloying, earnest and ingratiating qualities. It charms -- but by forcing you to enjoy songs like Unit 4+2's insipid 1965 hit "Concrete and Clay" and Chad and Jeremy's "A Summer Song."

So be it. For once, these mostly British Invasion songs are used as something other than period music, and they sound refreshing in Rushmore's contemporary setting. What rock performer today would try something as free of cynicism as John Lennon's "Oh Yoko!"? The Rushmore soundtrack creates its mood so convincingly that it's sad afterward to discover that, played by itself, Cat Steven's "The Wind" once again sounds like treacle. It's like having to grow up all over. (RS 807)

RICHARD ABOWITZ

(Posted: Feb 8, 1999)

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Track List

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Hardest Geometry Problem In The World (track not available in Rhapsody)
Making Time (track not available in Rhapsody)
Concrete And Clay
Nothing In This World Can Stop Me From Worryin' Bout That Girl (track not available in Rhapsody)
Sharp Little Guy (track not available in Rhapsody)
The Lad With The Silver Button (track not available in Rhapsody)
A Summer Song (track not available in Rhapsody)
Edward Appleby (In Memoriam) (track not available in Rhapsody)
Here Comes My Baby
A Quick One While He's Away
Snowflake Music (track not available in Rhapsody)
Piranhas Are A Very Tricky Species (track not available in Rhapsody)
Blinuet
Friends Like You, Who Needs Friends (track not available in Rhapsody)
Rue St. Vincent (track not available in Rhapsody)
Kite Flying Society (track not available in Rhapsody)
The Wind
Oh Yoko (track not available in Rhapsody)
Ooh La La (track not available in Rhapsody)
Margaret Yang's Theme (track not available in Rhapsody)