The nouveau Orange County, California, punk legacy kick-starts the soundtrack to Jake Kasdan's updated teen-hell comedy. The Offspring's newly recorded "Defy You" energetically explores their roots, and Social Distortion offer a live version of their trademark "Story of My Life." But that OC focus quickly gives way to a broad, buoyant collection of punk and hip-hop-inflected pop that includes a Green Day-ish new track by Foo Fighters ("The One") and equally hooky cuts by Cake, Lit, Bad Ronald, Quarashi, and Crazy Town. The album's emotional and musical shadings come courtesy of Pete Yorn's subdued "Lose You," the acoustic "Under the Tracks" by Creeper Lagoon, and Phantom Planet's anthemic "California," as well as a welcome pair of tracks ("Lay Down Burden," "Love and Mercy") by original SoCal Sound legend Brian Wilson. First pressings of the album also include a four-track bonus disc with songs by Zebrahead (the appropriate "O.C. Life"), Ill Kidd, the Ataris, and Riddlin' Kids.
