AMG Review of Girls Gone Wild Music, Vol. 1 [Bonus DVD]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

Well, you know what you're gonna get if you buy the first soundtrack to #Girls Gone Wild, the enduring video series that showcases a never-ending series of college girls and unknown strippers exposing their breasts and butts. You're gonna get songs that are strip-club anthems and frat-party favorites in the first half of the 2000s -- songs like Andrew W.K.'s "Party Hard," J-Kwon's "Tipsy," Petey Pablo's "Freek-A-Leek," Eamon's "F*** It (I Don't Want You Back)," and Kelis' "Milkshake." Since it's released on BMG's Jive/Zomba label, it shouldn't come as a surprise that over half of the 17 songs here are from Jive recording artists, either. It also shouldn't be a surprise that this collection of party-hearty rap and rock keeps the party going, even through songs that have nothing to recommend them outside of the groove. What does come as a surprise is that right in the middle of all these contemporary hits is Ini Kamoze's early-'90s flash-in-the-pan "Here Comes the Hotstepper" (albeit in a different mix). Seems a little strange, but that's the only strange thing about this party-ready album. Oh, almost forgot -- the CD comes with a bonus DVD. It runs 20 minutes and comes with a music video for "Freek-A-Leek" intercut with scenes from #Girls Gone Wild, then commercials for the #Girl Power series and #Spring Break 24K, complete with uncensored scenes from the videos, such as a naturally busty girl arguing that she needs breast implants and some foxy boxing. So, if you've ever wondered what a #GGW video was like but never wanted to get one of the videos -- and also would like to have "Party Hard" on CD -- this is an excellent opportunity to see what it's all about.