Hoot: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Based on Carl Hiaasen's very cool young-adult novel of the same title,Hoottells of a teen boy suddenly plunged into the wacky world of  endangered species and Florida shenanigans. Jimmy Buffett contributes five new songs to the soundtrack, which isn't all that surprising since he  coproduced the movie and his daughter Savannah Jane is credited as music supervisor. The best of his efforts are "Barefootin'," a honky-tonkin'  duet with Alan Jackson, and a faithful cover of Warren Zevon¹s classic "Werewolves of London." The balance of the songs on the CD are nicely laid -back, particularly G. Love's "Back of the Bus" and Maroon 5's cover of Bill Withers's "Lovely Day" (Withers contributes background vocals, though  this doesn't necessarily play in favor of Maroon 5's singer, Adam Levine). Newcomer Brie Larson (who also costars in the movie) contributes a  potential hit with "Coming Around," which sounds like a gushy teen-pop take on Sheryl Crow (yes, it's a compliment). The most exciting track on  the CD, however, is Toots and the Maytals' funk-reggae hybrid "Funky Kingston," and it's from 1973.--Elisabeth Vincentelli