Charmed: The Book of Shadows

1	Take It Off / The Donnas 2:40
2	Take a Look / Liz Phair 3:29
3	Sand in My Shoes / Dido 4:59
4	Fallen / Sarah McLachlan Dan the Automator Remix 3:43
5	I Can't Make Me / Butterfly Boucher Chris Lord Alge Remix 3:31
6	San Francisco / Vanessa Carlton 4:12
7	Pieces of Me / Ashlee Simpson David Garcia and High Spies Remix 3:15
8	Unbroken / Missy Higgins 3:39
9	Free / Sarah Brightman Swiss American Federation Club Mix 3:31
10	I Close My Eyes / Shivaree 3:55
11	Home / Zero 7 7:07

Barnes & Noble

Although Charmed is one of the more otherworldly series on network television, the latest in its series of soundtrack albums is peppered with a good number of decidedly earthy tunes, courtesy of women every bit as bewitching as the show's stars. The Donnas kick things off with "Take It Off," a flirty and ferocious ode to boy watching, a mood that Liz Phair furthers with her punchy "Take a Look." A few of the better-known tracks on Book of Shadows appear here in revamped form, from the simmering, sensual revamp of Ashlee Simpson's "Pieces of Me" (remixed by David Garcia) to the ether infusion that longtime Beastie Boys collaborator Dan the Automator lends to Sarah McLachlan's "Fallen." Some of the disc's most intriguing music, however, comes from its lesser-known names -- notably Shivaree's slinky, jazz-tinged "I Close My Eyes." The phrase may not get tossed around as often as it used to, but you'd be hard pressed to find a better manifestation of girl power. David Sprague

All Music Guide

While it isn't much more tied into the action on the show than the first Charmed soundtrack was, Charmed: The Book of Shadows streamlines its approach, focusing on female artists both loud and gentle rather than the willy-nilly, grab-bag feel that Charmed too often had. Though the soundtrack boasts more than a few well-known names, like Sarah McLachlan, Vanessa Carlton, Dido, the Donnas, and Liz Phair, several of the collection's highlights belong to some of the slightly under-the-radar artists. Missy Higgins' "Unbroken" is a piece of whimsical singer/songwriter pop that sounds (pleasantly) like Fiona Apple-lite, while Butterfly Boucher's "I Can't Make Me" treads similarly breezy, alternative singer/songwriter territory. Meanwhile, Shivaree's "I Close My Eyes" has a twangy, sexy undercurrent that sets it apart from the album's sometimes too ethereal feel. A few forays into a dance-oriented sound (David Garcia and High Spies' remix of "Pieces of Me," the Swiss American Federation Club Mix of Sarah Brightman's "Free") aren't entirely successful, but they add a little diversity to the soundtrack without making it sound too scattered. In fact, Charmed: The Book of Shadows plays a lot more like a handmade mixtape or playlist than a soundtrack full of promotional opportunities, which can only be to its credit. Heather Phares