REVIEW: Soundtrack, Godmoney (V2 Records)

- Sean Eric McGill

Back in the late eighties and early nineties, I was big into skateboarding. But, due to the limitations of time and the fact that my knees are one good fall away from surgery, I had to get out of it. The soundtrack for Godmoney, however, made me wish I was able to go back out again.

The director of the film, Darren Doane, describes the soundtrack to his film as "the ultimate mixed tape". Hes right. When I was skating, we put together tapes all the tape to listen to while we skated. Bands like Suicidal Tendencies, The Ramones, Black Flag, P.I.L, and others all found their way onto our tapes. We had only two requirements for our tapes - they had to be music that we enjoyed, and they had to be loud.

The soundtrack to Godmoney certainly fulfills both of those demands. Even the lighter songs, like Farsides "Hope You're Unhappy" remind me of those long-ago days spent in parking lots, building ramps and whatnot. But, sticking true to my own musical tastes, it's the heavier tracks like "Rusty" by Slick Shoes and "Reject" by Living Sacrifice that got my blood pumping. And for me, these feelings were key to my enjoyment of the album since every track reminded me of some pleasant memories.

Now, it needs to be said that Godmoney (the film) isn't about skateboarding, or pleasant memories, for that matter. Which brings us to the point about whether or not the film works in conjunction with the movie it is a part of. Honestly, I can't say for sure. The film, which will premiere at movie festivals and then start working its way across the country, probably won't come with three hundred miles of my hometown, so needless to say, I haven't seen it.

But, from what I do know about it, it's a dark story of a young man (Rick Rodney of Strife, whose band contributes "Untitled", one of the best tracks of the album) who leaves his home and his lifestyle behind him and finds that no matter where you go, you can never run from yourself. Now, when you compare that description of the film to the music on Godmoney, you certainly do have a connection.

Overall, the soundtrack to Godmoney is not only the album I wish I had seven years ago, but also one damn fine movie soundtrack. No effort is made to cater to a multiple set of genres, giving it a perfect coherence. Even when it lightens up, it never shifts gears. Come to think of it, neither did we on those long-ago days.