The soundtrack to the 2001 summer blockbuster flick The Fast and the Furious is packed with enough high-octane power to blast the covers off of your speakers with the speed and impact of a blown-out tire. The 17 tracks on the album are loaded with the identical attitude and swagger of that found in the movie, where rival gangs race to establish their street cred amongst the swirl of revving engines, crime, passion, and power. A laid-back, funky track starts the album off with a note of confidence and smooth swagger, with thumping bass beats accompanying the butter-smooth vocals of Faith Evans, who repeats the mantra, "tha good life." The tune evokes a clear vision of that moment when you're cruisin' the blacktop with the top down, one hand on the wheel, goin' 90 mph, with the road slipping away like running water under your car. Despite the second track on the album -- a crisp, thuggish rap mistakenly set over an infinite loop of strange robotic beat patterns -- the soundtrack is the perfect racecar companion, a veritable album for your common road and track connoisseur, perfect for burning out tires and aggressions simultaneously. Stand by the volume button to blast the sultry, bass-heavy track "When a Man Does Wrong," and keep it cranked to get the full effect of the cool, catchy track "Race Against Time Part 2," featuring Tank and Ja Rule. The tide on the album turns and gains speed with the gritty vocals and aggressive raps of "Furious," right before things slow down long enough for
R. Kelly to lay down his signature steamy bedroom banter on "Take My Time Tonight." The rival gang element of the movie tears into the soundtrack on the raucous track "The Prayer," a no-apologies tune with enough attitude to fire up even the most stubborn pistons. Hustlers get props on the crisp, straightforward rap track "Hustlin'," while the ladies take over the mic on the next to last cut, a remix of
Madonna's "Justify My Love."
Limp Bizkit teams up with DMX,
Redman, and
Method Man for the adrenalized track "Rollin'," which features machine-gun-quick drum patterns and a mean beat. Packed with enough aggressive vocals, slick beats, smooth tracks, and powerhouse anthems for die-hard driving fans, this album is great for those with the need for speed. ~ Kerry L. Smith