If you are open to the experience, listening to “The Royal Tenenbaums Soundtrack” could very possibly make you want to quit your job, quit school, throw all of your belongings into a beat-up vintage suitcase and travel the world. Listening … only … to … this.

Taking all of the emotions from the different characters within the movie, and putting them directly to music, this CD is pure bliss.

In a very non-Top 40 way, this CD is the soundtrack to life. Not the lives that we all actually lead, but the lives that we have given birth to in our dreams, and with fine-tuned memories.

Mixed in with instrumental compositions by Mark Mothersbaugh are 11 songs that take their listeners on an introspective journey, a journey through the happiest, most romantic, youthfully rebellious times he or she may have experienced. In its subtle way, the songs plead for you to feel the message they are trying to convey. And you, naturally, bring a piece of yourself along.

If you have never seen “The Royal Tenenbaums” and pick up the soundtrack because it features a Ramones song, you are unprepared. I can foresee what most people will think, soundtrack in hand, perusing the artist’s names on the back.

“What the hell?”

You’ll ask yourself.

“I’ve never heard of any of these bands.”

Take the jump off of the MTV playlist, gentle consumer, I promise it won’t hurt.

Cutting to the chase, this album is one of those in which you can’t just single out one song and play it separate from the rest, because you’ll miss out on the heart of the album. Every song must lead to the next … except one.

Track two, a song by former Velvet Underground vocalist Nico, entitled “These Days,” leads the rest of the songs by a leash.

Nico’s voice is so raw, yet so otherworldly; so familiar, yet so odd. She sings a song that would put any modern songstress to shame.

“These Days” makes you hate the filth and funktitude of this modern world, and yearn – just ache – to be eternally cast as a character in Wes Anderson’s world, who is, incidentally, the director of the film.

After you come down from track two, you’re caught. The rest of the songs that follow include a little Clash, a little Nick Drake. They have you where they want you, and you wouldn’t dare turn off your stereo.

When the CD plays its way to the end, a story has been told, a movie has been played and a classic has been created.