"Born Slippy"

Underworld
(Wax Trax/TVT, 1996)

Opening with a bouncy synth flourish worthy of Eddie Van Halen and pushing upstairs in the same, uh, vein for nearly 10 minutes, this soundtrack smash (from Trainspotting) finds Underworld graciously ditching their Pink Floyd pretensions in favor of distorted punk sneering and bassless drum catharsis. There's enough shouting about boys and lager to do Oasis proud, yet "Born Slippy" avoids the fate that befell many of its transatlantic successors -- it's no mere computerized rock song.

-- Sean Richardson