Anchored by
Fiona Apple's crashing-at-midnight version of
the Beatles' "Across the Universe," this 12-song soundtrack offering dishes up the usual mix of a couple modern tunes (both provided by
Apple), oldies (
Gene Vincent, the
Dave Brubeck Quartet,
Etta James,
Elvis Presley,
Buddy Holly & the Crickets), and an orchestral score (provided by
Randy Newman). There's really no theme to the set (it all hinges flimsily on the film's nostalgic-tripping premise), but any album that tosses in vintage
Elvis and
Miles Davis can't be all that bad. The reason to hear
Pleasantville, though, is for
Apple's take on
the Fab Four. Lazily recited over a slight hip-hop beat,
John Lennon's ode to spiritual serenity is given a post-modern spin that is simultaneously dreamy and decadent. It's not at all the bummer it could have been. ~ Michael Gallucci