SOUNDTRACK: There Will Be Blood Motion Picture Soundtrack (2007).
This soundtrack was composed by Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead. I have not yet seen the movie so I can’t speak about its use in the film (which I assume is very good given all the raves I’ve read about it).
Anyone expecting something Radioheadesque will be disappointed in this soundtrack. There’s nothing electronic or weird (well, not too weird), or anything resembling any of the work he’s done with Radiohead. Rather, the entire work is “classical”: strings abound! Now, I like classical music, and I have some favorite composers. I also like some younger/avant garde composers. So, the fact that this release is on Nonesuch Records, home of Kronos Quartet (one of my favorite classical artists) among other similarly minded artists should tell you something.
The first two tracks are the most gripping. I assume that “Open Spaces” is the “theme” of the movie, and the strings are really arresting. It certainly sets the tone for the movie and the music within. While “Future Markets” presents a very tense, fast score. Another interesting track is “Proven Lands” which is primarily percussion with some pizzicato strings thrown in as well. The rest of the disc consists of very moody, very scene-setting pieces.
By itself the music is rather tense, and you certainly don’t expect a happy ending by the time “Propectors Quartet” finishes up the disc. It sets a dark mood. As Sarah asked when she walked into the room, “What’s this depressing music?” That sums it up right there. I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s used in the movie.
[READ: November 13, 2008] On Chesil Beach
My friend Ailish encouraged me to read an Ian McEwan book several years ago called Enduring Love. I really enjoyed it. And they have now made his book Atonement into a film. But I hadn’t read any other books by him until now. This book was on our donations shelf at the library, so I grabbed it.
It’s a tiny book…200 pages and the dimensions of a paperback, but it seems even smaller. I was able to polish it off in a couple of days.
This is the kind of story in which, as they say, nothing happens. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 