Youth in Revolt

Photographer: Bruce Bermelin.
The soundtrack to director Miguel Arteta's romantic comedy/teen sex romp Youth in Revolt comes fully stocked with the kind of precious, twee/indie folk-pop that began showing up in films in the late 90's after Wes Anderson broke into the mainstream with Rushmore and the Royal Tennenbaums. The collection's tagline, "My album kicks your album in the face" is credited to the film's protagonist, Nick Twisp, played by former Arrested Development actor-turned twee-indie film star Michael Cera. It's a fitting sentiment from an actor/character who has made a career out of juggling both earnestness and irony, as the songs that populate Youth in Revolt are anything but dangerous -- Cera himself provides the lo-fi, instrumental acoustic nugget "I Have a Boyfriend." Seattle indie pop outfit the Fruit Bats kick things off with the compilation's best track, the wistful and wonderful "When You Love Somebody," followed immediately by the second best cut, the lovely "I Willn't Be a Prisoner" from California's Little Wings. From there, it's your typical hodgepodge of flighty, hipster indie pop, offbeat selections from 60's French pop singers (Jacques Dutronc), funny rappers (Fatlip), new wavers (Fun Boy Three), and WWII era-vocal pop sensations (Jo Stafford), all tied together by a dutifully whimsical score from John Swihart that owes more than a little tip of the hat to Mark Mothersbaugh. ~ James Christopher Monger