Californication isn’t really on my radar, so I was surprised to learn that not only is it in its third season, but it has soundtracks.  The clumsily named Season 3: Music from the Showtime Series Californication comes out on November 24 and isn’t half bad.  The album is mostly a mix of adult contemporary with a few harder rock songs thrown in.  About half the tracks are covers, which seemed unusual to me, but it works.

I’m not a big Rob Zombie fan, so the not exactly subtle “Pussy Liquor” was lost on me, and “Bitch, I Love You” by Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears was also a miss.  I loved Danielle Duval turning the Grease classic “You’re the One that I want” into a sexy torch number, and “Boys are Boys and Girls are Choice” by The Monks has a terrific hook.  John Neal’s “Real Big Leaguer” has fine sentiment and some interesting production, but it drags on too long.  Widespread Panic does a decent, if overly straightforward, cover of Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” (“And his hair was perfect.”).  There are a surprising number of good covers on this Californication 3, and Jimmy LavFave’s take on Bob Dylan’s “Not Dark Yet,” is probably the best.  I’ve always loved that song and LaFave’s vocals with the simple guitar and piano backing him up are a perfect fit.

The better Warren Zevon redo comes from G.G. Allin and the Criminal Quartet with an accordion-based “Carmelita,” complete with oddly cheery sing-along.  The rock remix of Spider Problem’s “Cha Cha (Be My New BF)” is infectious fun while Sleepy Sun’s “Lord” is simply lovely.  “3 Rounds and a Sound” from Blind Pilot is gentle and soothing but a bit too earnest.  We head back to the covers with Stuffy Shmitt’s solid version of Steve Winwood’s “Can’t Find My Way Home.”  I’m torn on Damhnait Doyle’s version of Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me.”  Her breathy vocals make it work as a ballad, but the plinkity plinking music box in the background reminds me of the Golden Girls episode where Rose babysat the piano-playing chicken, and that’s wrong on many levels.

Most of the songs on Californication 3 are about journeys, feeling lost, or love, which fits what I know of the show, but “Werewolves of London?”  Not that you need a reason for such a classic, but color me curious.  If you like interesting cover versions of songs that were already good, this soundtrack is for you and any adult contemporary music fans should be pleased, too.  It’s not groundbreaking, but it is solid and it certainly makes for enjoyable background music.

Track Listing:
1. Pussy Liquor:  Rob Zombie
2. Bitch, I Love You:  Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
3. You’re the One That I Want:  Danielle Duval
4. Boys Are Boys and Girls Are Choice:  The Monks
5. Real Big Leaguer:  John Neal
6. Werewolves of London:  Widespread Panic
7. Not Dark Yet:  Jimmy LaFave
8. Carmelita:  G.G. Allin and the Criminal Quartet
9. Cha Cha (Be My New BF) (Rock Remix):  Spider Problem
10. Lord:  Sleepy Sun
11. 3 Rounds and a Sound:  Blind Pilot
12. Can’t Find My Way Home:  Stuffy Shmitt
13. I Want You to Want Me:  Damhnait Doyle