The soundtrack to Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World boasts some serious musical muscle. Among the noteworthy is Beck, whose contribution is a chunk of chillwave that showcases his talent for writing quick, catchy tunes on the fly. With crunchy guitars and clipped drums dripping out of blown speakers, “Summertime” exhibits the same kind of quirky, cartoonish aesthetic expected from the movie. Beck’s standard wordplay is in fine form, as his half mumbled, half shouted baritone bounces along with lines like “soothing myself inside and out/ I’m wearing my welcome inside out.”
“Summertime” seems like the musical equivalent of a painter splattering his oils across a canvas; it’s fast, messy and not indicative of the true talents of its creator. But a big reason the track works is because its easy to tell how much fun Beck is having with it. An unremarkable but likable effort.
