You have to hand it to the people behind the remake of Footloose they did a pretty decent job with the movie and they have even made the soundtrack stay true to the original film but at the same time given it a major workover.
For those they haven’t seen the film the new Footloose is very ‘countrified’ and the soundtrack certainly reflects that. Kenny Loggins’ hit ‘Footloose’ gets a groovy country makeover courtesy of Blake Shelton… seriously it’s enough to make country music popular with the teens again.
Zac Brown delivers the very soulful ‘Where The River Goes’ while Lissie’s ‘Little Lovin’’ is an infectious as country can be. One of the big hits of the original Footloose was ‘Holding Out For A Hero’ and here the track is virtually unrecognizable… but in a good way. Ella Mae Bowen brings a real slowed-down Taylor Swift feel to the track, and surprisingly it works wonders.
‘Let’s Hear It For The Boy’ gets a fun makeover by Jana Kramer however, Whitney Duncan’s ‘So Sorry Mama’ sees the album dip a little because it is ordinary to the extreme. Big Rich and Gretchen Wilson team up for ‘Fake I.D.’, which is a track that is certain to become a boot-scooting favorite while Victoria Justice and Hunter Hayes slow down the classic, ‘Almost Paradise’ and give it real meaning.
Cee Lo Green and Kenny Wayne Shepherd team up on ‘Walkin’ Blues’ and give it a real blue grass feel, then comes the sensational ‘Magic In My Home’ by Jason Freeman which not only keeps the bluegrass sound going but could well be one of the best country songs released this year.
A Thousand Horses’ ‘Suicide Eyes’ sees the album dip into the ordinary but the standard rises again quickly with David Banner’s ‘Dance The Night Away’ a brilliant track to finish off a soundtrack that is a surprising joy to listen to.
The country style of the Footloose Soundtrack may scare off some listeners but this album really is worth the effort. The made over songs work well and while there are a couple of dull tracks for the most part it holds its own.
Rating: 