FAST & FURIOUS 5 - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2011)

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the soundtrack producers of the Fast & Furious franchise. After four albums featuring sizzling hot tracks to blast from the car stereo whilst driving down our humbly built expressways, we are now blessed with a fifth album – one that contains even more adrenaline pumping music!

With the film set in Brazil, you can expect the entire album to be filled with blazing tracks brimming with raggae rhythmic beats. The mix of Latin and hip hop music should please fans of high energy music.

Flagging off the album is the rap track “How We Roll (Fast Five Remix)” performed by Don Omar, Busta Rhymes, Reek da Villian and J-doe. It doesn’t matter you have no idea these people are – because the infectious energy of the four minute track is enough have you shaking your booties to the music. The other standout English track on the album is American rapper Ludacris’ “Furiously Dangerous”, a brand new track he created for the film (the occasional actor also stars in the movie). Featuring hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse and Claret Jai, the lead single deserves repeated plays on your stereo.

There are a number of Portuguese tracks (read: performed in foreign language) on this album. Whether it’s the ethnic sounding “Carlito Marron” by Brazilian musician Carlinhos Brown, the uber cool “Batalha” by ObandO or the celebratory “Danza Kuduro” by Don Omar (another cast in the movie) featuring Lucenzo, you’d find yourself enjoying every moment these tunes heat up the airwaves.

Topping it off are composer Brian Tyler’s instrumental score from the movie. Three cues “Assembling the Team”, “Mad Skills” and “Fast Five Suite” are included on the album. These rock heavy and aggressive urban tracks bring to mind exciting driving sequences where engines vroom with exhilaration and thrill. It is rare for song compilation soundtracks to include score cues, so kudos to the producers for this move.

This installment of the soundtrack is definitely worth adding to your collection: The 50 minutes of music on this recommended album should be enough for you to drive from one end of the island to the other. So get ready to rev those engines!

ALBUM RATING:

Recommended Track: (13) Furiously Dangerous – Ludacris featuring hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse and Claret Jai

Review by John Li

Posted on 19 May 2011