'Walk Hard' music goes down easy ... listen here

This has been a tremendous year for music-related movies. From "Once" to "Control" to "Across the Universe," it seems as if there has been a steady release of tunefully-inclined films.

Yet the most honest rock 'n' roll picture I've seen this year is one that's meant to skewer them.

"Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story," which opens Dec. 21, is primarily a spoof on the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line," but it uses that storyline as a jumping-off point, providing a sort of Cliff's Notes edition of rock 'n' roll history.

Written by Judd Apatow ("Knocked Up") with director Jake Kasdan, "Walk Hard" plays with rock myths through the decades. But rather than drench them with nostalgia, a la "Walk the Line" or "Almost Famous," "Walk Hard" gets its laughs by showing the so-called legendary moments in rock history as little more than the accidentally absurd instances that they likely were.

Actor John C. Reilly plays the musician Cox as a sort of fortuitous genius, stumbling into Elvis Presley and the Beatles along the way. But, as seen in the trailer, "Walk Hard" isn't glorifying anyone, and instead plays up the buffoonery or absurdity that prevails in rock 'n' roll.

Indeed, "Walk Hard" succeeds because everyone is largely playing it straight, and that's precisely why the music, even when it's at its most silly, is actually pretty enjoyable. The soundtrack will be released Dec. 4 via Columbia Records.

The song "Let's Duet" is mostly a joke -- a playful, sexual-innuendo-laden tune meant to invoke memories of Johnny and June Carter Cash. But while the teasing nature of the song is played for laughs, it manages to create some tension by dancing around the issue, and it's not hard to imagine a good-humored country crooner such as a Robbie Fulks penning a similar number.

And that's not even mentioning the sublime vocals given by L.A.-based singer/songwriter Angel Correa, providing the voice for Jenna Fischer in the film. The song was written by singer/songwriters Charlie Wadhams and Benji Hughes. Listen to the track below:

Click here to listen to "Let's Duet" (Quicktime)

Click here to listen to "Let's Duet" (Windows Media)

The title track is all over the trailer and the Web, and more a straightforward nod to Cash. Written by Kasdan, Apatow and Reilly, with power-pop wiz Marshal Crenshaw, "Walk Hard" is probably a little catchier than "Let's Duet," thanks to some bolder guitar parts with the arrangement.

It gets a bit over-the-top toward the end, but it does a fine job of parodying and marrying lyrical cliches with an early rock 'n' roll attitude.

Listen to the track below:

Click here to listen to the title track, "Walk Hard" (Quicktime)

Click here to listen to the title track, "Walk Hard" (Windows Media)

Sadly, I don't yet have a sample of the strongest song in the film, the closer "Beautiful Ride." It's probably the best shot "Walk Hard" has at scoring an Oscar nomination, as it does a fine job of capturing a rock 'n' roll maturity.

"Beautiful Ride" was cowritten by Mike Viola, leader of power-pop act the Candy Butchers and a contributor on the Oscar-nominated title-song from "That Thing You Do!"

Sharing a writing credit with Viola is singer/songwriter Dan Bern, and those with Google can easily find a clip of Bern singing the song.

(Photo credit: Columbia Records)

Comments

[music]

Her name is Angela Correa, and she rocks!