Josie & The Pussycats Josie And The Pussycats Soundtrack CD

Even though Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid, and Rosario Dawson bring the cartoon musical group Josie And The Pussycats to life on the silver screen, their collective non-musical talents forced executive music producer Babyface and wife Tracy Edmonds to create a post-millennial version of the Monkees. Former Letters To Cleo frontwoman Kay Hanley provides the voice of Josie, while original songs like "3 Small Words," "Shapeshifter," and "Pretend to Be Nice" turn out to be the kind of sugar-coated guitar-driven alt-pop that conjures up images of '90s stalwarts Belly and Veruca Salt.

The songwriting and recording contributions from members of Fountains Of Wayne, Counting Crows, the Go-Go's, and Matthew Sweet also cinch the power-pop karma coursing through this hook-laden project. Chugging covers of "Real Wild Child," the Motown standard "Money," and the band's theme song are the Jolt cola accompanying the Pop Rocks sensibility of these whip-smart songs. The only non-Josie cuts are by DuJour, another fictional band in the film, who come across as a modern-day Blackstreet for the teen crowd thanks to jams like "Dujour Around the World" and "Backdoor Lover."

Original score cmposed by John Frizzell.

Personnel: Anthony President (programming).

Audio Mixers: David J. Holman; Kevin Thomas; Adam Schlesinger.

Recording information: Brandon's Way, Hollywood, CA; Q Division, Somerville, MA; Right Track Studios, New York, NY; Tracken Place, Los Angeles, CA.Uncut (9/01, p.110) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...The Pussycats rock!..."