SOUNDTRACKS
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Soundtracks are a lot more than movie music...
...or so I'm ready to argue as a 30 year devotee of this sorely under appreciated genre. So, in an effort to do my part, each week
I'll be making recommendations of soundtracks current and vintage, make a fuss over long awaited soundtrack scores finally getting
a well deserved release, and in general, make some noise about this often overlooked category. Beyond my long experience as a
listener and as a pianist and songwriter, both of which I've put to use in writing a quarterly soundtrack column for the Chicago
Tribune, I can only offer my recommendations. You'll discern my taste soon enough and upfront I'd like to make it clear that I'll
focus most heavily on SCORE soundtracks. In the end, all criticism is subjective but if I can point a listener toward a little heard
soundtrack or strongly advise you to either ORDER IMMEDIATELY or SKIP ALTOGETHER, all the better.
...or so I'm ready to argue as a 30 year devotee of this sorely under appreciated genre. So, in an effort to do my part, each week
I'll be making recommendations of soundtracks current and vintage, make a fuss over long awaited soundtrack scores finally getting
a well deserved release, and in general, make some noise about this often overlooked category. Beyond my long experience as a
listener and as a pianist and songwriter, both of which I've put to use in writing a quarterly soundtrack column for the Chicago
Tribune, I can only offer my recommendations. You'll discern my taste soon enough and upfront I'd like to make it clear that I'll
focus most heavily on SCORE soundtracks. In the end, all criticism is subjective but if I can point a listener toward a little heard
soundtrack or strongly advise you to either ORDER IMMEDIATELY or SKIP ALTOGETHER, all the better.
For your consideration: a ghostly trio of offbeat scores from movies that didn't
connect with audiences on a large scale but nevertheless offer plenty in the icy chills
department. First up is the Kevin Costner serial-killer flick Mr. Brooks (Milan
Records). Ramin Djawadi utilizes deep bass electronics, trance percussion effects
and a wall of throbbing guitars mixed with strings to get the menacing message
across. Gabriel Yared, noted for his lush orchestral scores done in collaboration with
director Anthony Minghella, goes the horror route in 1408 (Varese-Sarabande
Records) with terrific though traditional results, thanks to orchestral arrangements
favoring shrieking strings and muted, threatening horns ("Back to 1408" is a
standout creepy cut). The best thing about the latest "Bad Seed"-type movie Joshua
is its idiosyncratic score by Nico Muhly (www.nicomuhly.com), a 26-year-old New
Yorker who is making a big name for himself in the world of classical avant garde.
Muhly's chamber music-style score features chilly piano, flinty woodwinds and plenty
of dissonance. Unfortunately, the score has yet to be made publicly available,
though a solo album by Muhly, "Speaks Volumes" (The Bedroom Community
Records), which sounds similar, is.
Chilling scores aside, here's my review of Mr. Brooks, 1408, and Joshua.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don't forget to check out previous soundtrack recommendations by visiting the
ARCHIVES
Next Recommendation: TBD
connect with audiences on a large scale but nevertheless offer plenty in the icy chills
department. First up is the Kevin Costner serial-killer flick Mr. Brooks (Milan
Records). Ramin Djawadi utilizes deep bass electronics, trance percussion effects
and a wall of throbbing guitars mixed with strings to get the menacing message
across. Gabriel Yared, noted for his lush orchestral scores done in collaboration with
director Anthony Minghella, goes the horror route in 1408 (Varese-Sarabande
Records) with terrific though traditional results, thanks to orchestral arrangements
favoring shrieking strings and muted, threatening horns ("Back to 1408" is a
standout creepy cut). The best thing about the latest "Bad Seed"-type movie Joshua
is its idiosyncratic score by Nico Muhly (www.nicomuhly.com), a 26-year-old New
Yorker who is making a big name for himself in the world of classical avant garde.
Muhly's chamber music-style score features chilly piano, flinty woodwinds and plenty
of dissonance. Unfortunately, the score has yet to be made publicly available,
though a solo album by Muhly, "Speaks Volumes" (The Bedroom Community
Records), which sounds similar, is.
Chilling scores aside, here's my review of Mr. Brooks, 1408, and Joshua.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don't forget to check out previous soundtrack recommendations by visiting the
ARCHIVES
Next Recommendation: TBD
The soundtrack covers for Mr. Brooks
and 1408 are real, the one for Joshua is
just a bit of wishful thinking +
Photoshop at the moment!
and 1408 are real, the one for Joshua is
just a bit of wishful thinking +
Photoshop at the moment!
