Everything about The Hills is better than Laguna Beach, the show that spawned it -- its mix of real-life soap opera drama and fashion world politics is more focused and engaging than Laguna's muddled high school high jinks ever were, and Lauren, Heidi, Whitney, and Audrina's friendships seem more genuine, despite the occasional (or frequent) falling out. This goes for the show's soundtrack, too:
The Hills' mix of drama-queen ballads (
Pink's "Long Way to Happy,"
Lindsay Lohan's "A Beautiful Life," Samantha Moore's "Replace You"), girl-power pop (Superchick's "One Girl Revolution" and show's theme,
Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten"), and homages to Los Angeles (
Missing Persons' "Walking in L.A.,"
Garrison Starr's "Beautiful in Los Angeles") ends up being more grown-up, or at least more listenable, than Laguna Beach's music. Other highlights include
Everybody Else's equal-opportunity power pop, "Rich Girls, Poor Girls," Jag Star's "Leavin'," and
Imogen Heap's gorgeous "Loose Ends," all of which make the soundtrack more than a guilty pleasure -- a description that also applies to the show itself. ~ Heather Phares