NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience

When they came out with NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience last year, one word came to mind: speed. It's cool enough watching NASCAR on the television, or even playing the computer-game driving simulator tie-ins, but seeing it on a 4-story tall screen, with thundering sound, and in 3D, well, that's pretty impressive. Adding to the adrenaline rush of the film was a score by Eric Colin, and a slew of songs.

The soundtrack gives us mostly songs, and almost all of them reflect the NASCAR experience in one way or another. From the hard-driving guitar in "Boom" by P.O.D. and "Counting the Days" by Collective Soul, to the heartland songs that reflect the NASCAR culture ("Sweet Home Alabama", "Firing Line", "Hill Stomp"), the 51 minutes of music on this album will transport you to a NASCAR rally - without the engine sounds.

Colvin's score provides some emotional material where songs wouldn't work: "Earnhardt Remembered / Build the Car / Practice" is a guitar and drum heavy cue, that ends with some synth elements and percussion to provide an adrenaline push of race practice. "Qualifying / 6AM Race Day / Start Your Engines" is more of the same, but the last bit starts to ratchet up the tension, as the drivers prepare to race each other.

NASCAR's poster girl LeAnn Rimes has two songs on the album: "I Got It Bad", and her rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner". The latter cue builds right into the powerful and testosterone-heavy "Thunder (NASCAR Theme)" by Dave Robidoux. The album reflects the music in the film quite well, and as a compilation disc, works well if you're looking for this type of music.