Review: Various Artists "Friday Night Lights Vol. 2"

"Friday Night Lights Volume 2" features some of the biggest break out artists of the past year, as you'll notice from the track listing below. The music on the soundtrack to the hit television show is rather eclectic, and not at all what I expected given that this show centers on football. There are a handful of sport appropriate (rah rah) anthem type songs, such as the thumping opener, "Percussion Gun" by White Rabbits, but what predominates "Friday Night Lights Volume 2" is more of a coffeehouse, easy Sunday morning set of songs. You'd almost think this was one of the "Grey's Anatomy" soundtracks. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing - just don't take this CD to a pep rally - it sounds more like what one would play after losing a game rather than getting psyched to win one.

"Friday Night Lights Vol. 2" is a good way to check out these "rising stars" and since most of the music is organic and easy, the record makes for a fairly consistent listen. In other words, it plays well as a whole record and does not fall into the soundtrack trap of being all over the map in terms of artists with wildly dissimilar styles. Unfortunately, I found too many of the songs to be nondescript and dull, like a boring halftime show that never seems to end. Highlights include the quiet build of "Killed Myself When I Was Young" by A.A. Bondy and "Fire", a stunning piano ballad by Augustana, one of my favorite bands (if you do have an Augustana record yet, what are you waiting for?). But my favorite player on this team was "Something Good This Way Comes" by Jakob Dylan. With its simplistic beauty, sweet melody, and vivid imagery, it is one of his best tunes since his early Wallflower days.

"Friday Night Lights Volume 2" is out today (digitally) and hits stores May 18.

Track Listing
1. PERCUSSION GUN - WHITE RABBITS
2. SWAY - HEARTLESS BASTARDS
3. KILLED MYSELF WHEN I WAS YOUNG - A.A. BONDY
4. FIRE - AUGUSTANA
5. SOMETHING GOOD THIS WAY COMES - JAKOB DYLAN
6. I KNOW WHAT I AM - BAND OF SKULLS
7. THE MEANEST MAN IN THE WORLD - JOHN DOE
8. IF IT’S THE BEACHES - THE AVETT BROTHERS
9. WHAT YOU HIDE - AM
10. COME THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING - SUFJAN STEVENS
11. THIS IS THE THING - FINK
12. FNL MAIN TITLE - SNUFFY WALDEN

iPOD-worthy: 3, 4, 5

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