Shrek The Third Year: 2007 Record Label: Geffen Track Listing: 01. Royal Pain- Eels 02. Do You remember Rock N Roll Radio? –The Ramones 03. Immigrant Song- Led Zeppelin 04. Barracuda- Fergie 05. Live And Let Die-Wings 06. Best Days-Matt White 07. Joker And The Thief-Wolfmother 08. Other Ways-Trevor Hall 09. Cat’s In The Cradle-Harry Chapin 10. Losing Streak-The Eels 11. What I Gotta Do-Macy Gray 12. Thank You (Falletin Me Be Mice Elf Again) - Eddie Murphy 13. Final Showdown - Rupert Everett 14. Charming's Plan - Harry Gregson-Williams

Review by Janine Macdonald

An important aspect of any film is the music incorporated into it. It’s often carefully selected to suit the mood or theme of the movie. The music selected helps to make it work, or in some cases bomb. Shrek The Third mixes the old with the new, as well as throwing in some impressive covers.

The Eels kick off the soundtrack with “Royal Pain”. A cute little ditty that has bounce, it’s delivered in E’s recognizable raspy voice. It’s not the first time that the Eels have appeared on a Shrek soundtrack. In fact, apart from Eddie Murphy, they are the only band that has appeared on every soundtrack. This time they appear twice, also performing “Losing Steak”, which is another stellar performance.

From there the soundtrack takes a welcoming step back in time with The Ramones’ “Do You Remember Rock N Roll Radio?”, Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song”, and Wings’ “Live And Let Die”.
It was a surprise to hear such classics on a Shrek soundtrack, since the others have been more pop albums than rock, and more about newer bands, rather than older ones. However, after listening to the rest of the soundtrack, the songs meld within the soundtrack, especially “The Immigrant Song”, which compliments Wolfmother’s classic rock-sounding “The Joker And The Thief”. Both tracks have such a similar style of sound, that it’s hard to separate the two from each other.

Fergie’s version of “Barracuda” was another surprise. I’d heard, before buying the album, that she had covered Heart and was prepared to skip through the song. Although vocally, she has always had the strength to produce great music, I didn’t think she would be able to give “Barracuda” the justice it deserved.
I was wrong. Fergie’s cover of “Barracuda” is one of the best songs on the soundtrack. She really nails each line, delivering it with the same oomph Ann Wilson delivered the first time around. In honesty, hearing the first couple of lines delivered with such strength, I thought it was Ann Wilson singing. Fergie has updated the classic rock track for a whole new generation to fall in love with all over again.

What Shrek album would be complete without Eddie Murphy belting out a tune? Yet again he teams up with Antonio Banderas (Can anyone really ever forget their version of Mi Vida Loco?)
This time around they cover Sly And The Family Stone’s “Thank You”. It’s a cute version, but I prefer their cheeky version of “Mi Vida Loco”.

I’m a little surprised that Prince Charming himself, A.K.A Justin Timberlake didn’t add anything to the soundtrack. But in saying that, it takes nothing away from what this soundtrack is, very worthy.

Tracks not to miss: “Royal Pain”, “The Immigrant Song”, “Barracuda”, “Do You Remember Rock N Roll Radio?” and “The Joker And The Thief”

I give it 4/5

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