The Wrestler: Official Motion Picture Soundtrack

The soundtrack to The Wrestler holds a very interesting mix of artists and manages to mostly steer straight toward the outright cheapness of a WWE compilation, as one might expect it to do. It has as few emotional highs and lows as the film does, draws mainly from ’80s metal classics, and unfortunately omits the Golden Globe-winning, Bruce Springsteen theme track of the same name.

It starts out with balls-to-the-wall metal tune, “Bang Your Head” by Quiet Riot, a fast and loud tune that starts the album out at a great pace, compared to the following tune, “Don’t Know What You Got (Til It’s Gone)" by Cinderella, a somewhat whiny ’80s ballad that slows things right down.

Following this is a complete reversal of genres and Birdman & Lil Wayne come in with “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy,” one of the two nondescript and unnecessary rap tunes on the CD. (The other being Solomon’s “Blowin’ Up.”)

The next unnecessary aspect of the soundtrack comes with the song “Soundtrack To War: Welcome To Hell” by Rhino Bucket, which sounds like an attempt at an AC/DC cover band, except without the rock-star attitude, or the ability to grip listeners.

“Round And Round,” one of the two songs by Ratt on the album, is in fact the only tune that doesn’t feel overstretched or overdone and that one can enjoy in any mood. Scorpions and Slaughter also make an appearance on the CD, to little effect.

Essentially, this record is really suited to the film it supports. But unless you think The Wrestler is a cinematic masterpiece and you want the soundtrack to remember the film’s good times, this is really something you can avoid. Seriously. You won’t even have to feel like you’re missing out on anything, just ignore it completely.