The Void-Go-Round: mark mothersbaugh

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Sunday, February 12, 2012

Various Artists-The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou OST

The soundtrack to Wes Anderson’s 2004 film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is an album that features a different array of music that is led by longtime Anderson collaborator Mark Mothersbaugh. Along with some of Motherbaugh’s score pieces, the soundtrack includes various cuts by David Bowie that is performed by one of the film’s cast members in Seu Jorge. With additional material by Ennio Morricone, the Stooges, Scott Walker, and the Zombies. The soundtrack is an eclectic mix of music that is fun although it is the weakest of all of the soundtrack albums made for the films of Wes Anderson.

Opening the album is Sven Libaek’s Shark Attack Theme which is a song that is a mixture of soothing flutes and woodwinds with an accompanying background of lush string orchestras and vibraphones that play up to the music of Steve Zissou’s documentary. Mark Motherbaugh’s Loquasto International Film Festival is an orchestral score piece that includes soothing string arrangements, a flourishing horn solo, a somber flute, and an acoustic guitar that plays to the world of the film festival that Steve Zissou and crew attends. The next two cuts are songs by David Bowie as the first is the soaring ballad Life on Mars? that plays to a scene where Zissou meets his supposed long-lost son Ned Plimpton. The second Bowie track is in the form of an acoustic cover of the song Starman performed by Seu Jorge as his character sings the song to play up the quirkiness of the film.

The Mothersbaugh score piece Let Me Tell You About My Boat is a mid-tempo piano instrumental that features soft percussions, flourishing woodwinds and string instruments as Zissou takes Ned on a tour of his boat. Seu Jorge’s cover of Bowie’s Rebel Rebel is another acoustic cut as Jorge sings the song to play up the Belafonte’s departure to find the Jaguar shark and kill it. Motherbaugh’s Zissou Society Blue Star Cadet/Ned’s Theme Take 1 is another score piece that is led mostly a soft percussion and a calm piano as it then becomes an upbeat electronic track led by warbling analog synthesizers to play up Team Zissou’s exploration underwater. Devo’s Gut Feeling is a frenetic post-punk track that starts off a bit slow and then build up into something faster with its guitars, drums, and keyboards as it plays up Team Zissou’s continuous journey on sea.

Sven Libaek’s Open Sea Theme is a swift yet calm jazz-piece led by a flourishing piano melody with soothing woodwinds and guitar melodies that plays to the exotic world of the sea that Team Zissou is fond of. Seu Jorge’s cover of Rock N’ Roll Suicide is another acoustic ballad cut that has Jorge playing to some of the somber moments of the film. Ennio Morricone and Joan Baez’s Here’s To You is a mid-tempo track that is led by Morricone’s broad yet sumptuous musical accompaniment as Baez sings the song in an operatic quality as it’s a song that the Jane Winslett-Richardson character listens to in her room as she falls for Ned. Mothersbaugh’s We Call Them Pirates Out Here is a chilling score that includes cadence drum fills and sinister string arrangements as it plays to the arrival of the pirates who decide to take control of the Belafonte and its crew.

Iggy and the Stooges’ Search and Destroy is a raucous proto-punk with blazing guitars and Iggy Pop’s snarling vocals as it’s a scene where Steve Zissou goes on a rampage to attack the pirates aboard on his ship. Paco de Lucia’s La Nina de Puerta Oscura is a flamenco-based piece led by rhythmic claps and flourishing guitars as Steve Zissou seeks aid from his estranged wife Eleanor at her private home. Seu Jorge’s cover of Life On Mars? is presented as a poignant acoustic ballad as he sings to the melancholia that surrounds the Belafonte. The Mothersbaugh score piece Ping Island/Lightning Strike Rescue Op is an electronic instrumental led by a tapping drum machine, fuzzy synthesizer melodies, and soothing flutes and strings that play the same melody as Team Zissou goes on a rescue mission to fight off remaining pirates.

Seu Jorge’s cover of Bowie’s Five Years is another acoustic ballad as Jorge’s character sings to reflect the moments Team Zissou had dealt with following the rescue mission. Scott Walker’s 30 Century Man is a mid-tempo folk piece as Scott Walker sings in his baritone vocals as Ned Plimpton decides to get the team back on track to find the Jaguar shark. The Zombies’ ballad The Way I Feel Inside is a poignant piece with somber lyrics as it is a melancholic tune that plays to a key moment of sadness that occurs in the film. Closing the album is David Bowie’s upbeat rocker Queen Bitch as it plays to film’s final moments as Zissou finds redemption as he and his team walk to the Belafonte.

While the music presented in the soundtrack is fantastic, the big flaw with the soundtrack are what is missing in the soundtrack. Along with more of Seu Jorge’s covers of David Bowie songs that would appear in his The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions album that featured more proper recordings of those songs. The other notable omission is Sigur Ros’ Staraflur which appears in one of the film’s big moments as well as New Order’s Ceremony that was in the film’s trailer. Despite these omissions, the soundtrack for The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is still a pretty fun album to get from Wes Anderson and score composer Mark Mothersbaugh.

Wes Anderson Soundtracks: Bottle Rocket - Rushmore - The Royal Tenenbaums - Seu Jorge-The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions - The Darjeeling Limited - Fantastic Mr. Fox - (Moonrise Kingdom)

Wes Anderson Films: Bottle Rocket - Rushmore - The Royal Tenenbaums - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou - Hotel Chevalier - The Darjeeling Limited - Fantastic Mr. Fox - Moonrise Kingdom - The Auteurs #8: Wes Anderson

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Various Artists-The Royal Tenenbaums OST

The 2002 expanded reissued version of soundtrack to Wes Anderson’s 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums is an album that features lots of music from the film including its score by then-longtime Anderson collaborator Mark Mothersbaugh. Along with cuts by John Lennon, Bob Dylan, the Ramones, Nico, Elliot Smith, the Vince Guaraldi Trio, the Velvet Underground, Nick Drake, Emitt Rhodes, the Clash, and Paul Simon. It is a soundtrack that is truly eclectic as well as enriching to the whimsical tone of Anderson’s acclaimed film.

Opening the album is a 38-second score piece 111 Archer Avenue by Mark Mothersbaugh that opens with sound of an orchestra tuning up that is followed by a melodic-chiming sound with an orchestra playing briefly. Nico’s evocative These Days is a somber ballad led by a soothing guitar melody, a soft string arrangement, and Nico’s haunting vocals to complement Richie Tenenbaum’s feelings for his adopted sister Margot. The Ysaye Quartet’s performance of Marcel Ravel’s String Quartet in F Major (Second Movement) is an upbeat track filled with string plucking and soothing arrangements performed by the quartet. Paul Simon’s upbeat, acoustic-driven Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard is a wonderful cut that plays to Royal Tenenbaum’s growing relationship with his grandsons Uzi and Ari as they delve into various forms of mischief.

Mark Mothersbaugh and the Mutato Muzika Orchestra’s performance of George Enescu’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in F Minor is an instrumental piece that delves into various instrumental breaks that includes a sturdy cello, various percussion performances, a somber piano, and a flourishing harpsichord that plays to Chas Tenenbaums’ paranoia. Bob Dylan’s Wigwam, from the much-maligned 1970 album Self-Portrait, is a track that includes mariachi-horns, a slow piano, and a country-style presentation with Dylan singing along to the melodies. Motherbaugh’s Look at that Old Grizzly Bear is a short score piece that is played to a smooth jazz rhythm that is led by a chiming keyboard to play up an object Royal finds. John Lennon’s Look at Me is a haunting acoustic guitar track filled with Lennon’s entrancing lyrics about love as it reflects on the sense of longing between its characters. Emitt Rhodes’ Lullaby is a soft, acoustic guitar track that plays like a lullaby to play up some of the film’s melancholia.

Mark Motherbaugh’s Motherbaugh’s Canon is a plaintive score piece led by a calm harpsichord and a soothing string arrangement as it plays up to Royal’s departure from the family home as he comes to the realization that these brief moments with his family were the best moments of his life. The Clash’s Police & Thieves is a mid-tempo punk track that is quite calm and playful as it’s one of the many Clash songs that often accompanies the character of Eli Cash. Motherbaugh’s Scrapping and Yelling is a playful orchestral cut led by plucking strings, a harpsichord, and a flute to play up some of the film’s whimsical elements. The Ramones’ Judy is a Punk is a short yet fast-paced song with driving guitars and Joey Ramone’s intense vocals as it plays to the scenes of Margot Tenenbaum’s secretive life and numerous affairs. The short score piece Pagoda’s Theme is led by flourishes of sitars and vibrant Indian percussions that plays up to the character of Pagoda.

Elliot Smith’s Needle in the Hay is a dark, folk-track filled with cryptic lyrics and a fast-paced acoustic guitar strum as it plays to one of the most chilling moments of the film. Nick Drake’s Fly is another folk-inspired track that features a soothing cello accompaniment and flourishing harpsichords as Drake sings in a soaring vocal to evocative imagery as it plays to Richie and Margot’s feelings for each other. Mothersbaugh’s I Always Wanted to Be a Tenenbaum is a smooth yet rhythmic piece led by a melodic piano and harp to play up Eli’s own issues including his lack of being in a family. Vince Guaraldi Trio’s Christmas Time is Here is a calm piano-piece that features a children’s choir as it plays to the melancholia that surrounds Richie. The Velvet Underground’s Stephanie Says is a dream-laden track led by melodic guitar chimes, soft rhythms, and Lou Reed’s swooning vocals as it’s a song that accompanies Mordecai’s flight as he returns to Richie.

The next two tracks are score pieces by Mark Mothersbaugh with the first being the reflective Rachel Evans Tenenbaum (1965-2000) that is led by a soft organ that is accompanied by chiming organs and a somber string as Royal visits the grave of Chas’ wife wondering what he can do to help his son. Sparkplug Minuet is led by a tapping piano melody with a chiming vibraphone and soft, frenetic drum fills to play up the aftermath of Etheline Tenenbaum’s marriage to Henry Sherman as Royal watches with a sense of pride. Nico’s The Fairest of the Season is mid-tempo track led by a melodic guitar and a soothing string arrangement to accompany Nico’s vocals as it plays to Margot and Richie having a moment. The closing track is a soaring orchestral cover of the Beatles’ Hey Jude played by The Mutato Muzika Orchestra as it is filled with wonderful arrangements of harpsichords, strings, and all sorts of instruments to play up the early accomplishments of the Tenenbaum children.

The soundtrack to The Royal Tenenbaums is an extraordinary album from Mark Mothersbaugh and Wes Anderson. While it doesn’t feature other material from the film like music from the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Erik Satie, and more songs by the Clash. It is still a fantastic album that serves as an accompaniment to the film as well as being one of the best soundtracks to come from Wes Anderson. In the end, the soundtrack to The Royal Tenenbaums is a superb album from Mark Mothersbaugh and the artists that contributed to the album.

Wes Anderson Soundtracks: Bottle Rocket - Rushmore - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou - Seu Jorge-The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions - The Darjeeling Limited - Fantastic Mr. Fox - (Moonrise Kingdom)

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Various Artists-Bottle Rocket OST

The soundtrack to Wes Anderson’s 1996 debut film Bottle Rocket is a collection of tracks that largely features the score music of Devo co-founder Mark Mothersbaugh. Filled with an array of jazz pieces, the soundtrack includes music from Oliver Onions, the Proclaimers, Rene Touzet, and SETI. The music plays up to the trials and tribulations of three young men as they try to become criminals in this very fun and playful soundtrack.

Opening the album are five score cuts by Mark Mothersbaugh which begins with Voluntary Hospital Escape. A short, 54-minute track with upbeat, tapping percussions that is filled with flourishing guitar melodies, flutes, and an array of bells. Gun Buyers is an upbeat cut with fast-playing jazz guitar riffs that is played with great flourish to emphasize a scene of Anthony, Dignan, and Bob doing shooting practice. Bookstore Robbery is a vibrant, drum-driven piece with bombastic bass fills and frenetic bongos to play up the energy of the robbery. Dignan’s Dance is a snazzy jazz-piano piece with tapping percussions as it plays to Dignan’s celebration of the robbery. And Also Because He Fired Me is a short piece led by a sleigh bell and a swooning vibraphone to play up the melancholy of Dignan’s ordeal as he, Bob, and Anthony are on the run.

Oliver Onions’ Zorro is Back is a folk-driven piece with a harpsichord intro and guitar flourishes that has a country feel to the song as it has the three men going onto a road trip. Motherbaugh’s Cleaning Rooms with Inez is an upbeat jazz piece with tapping rhythms and smooth vibraphones that plays to Anthony’s infatuation with the cleaning lady Inez. Another Mothersbaugh score piece in She Looks Just Like You is a mid-tempo yet somber guitar-driven piece with tingling keyboards as it plays to Anthony’s fascination with Inez. Rene Touzet’s Pachanga Diferente is a Latin-based track with samba rhythms and blazing horn arrangements that plays up to Anthony’s fascination with Inez. The score piece No Lifeguard on Duty is a low-key jazz piece led by a soft guitar strum, smooth vibraphones, and a soaring violin solo.

Touzet’s Mambo Guajiro is another Latin-based track led by vibrant piano riff with rhythmic congas and a swooning horn section for the bar scene where Dignan and Anthony hang out at with Inez. Rocky is an upbeat jazz piece from Mark Mothersbaugh as it is filled with arpeggio-laden guitar melodies, bopping rhythms, and a soft keyboard riff as it plays more to Anthony’s feelings towards Inez. Doesn’t Sound That Bad in Spanish is a low-key score piece driven by shaking percussions, an oboe, a swooning violin and a melodic acoustic guitar to play up more of Anthony’s feelings towards Inez. The Proclaimers’ Over and Done With is an upbeat folk track led by wailing Scottish vocal harmonies as it plays up to Anthony and Dignan’s departure from the motel as they go back on the road.

The last seven tracks on the album are more score pieces from Mark Mothersbaugh such as the smooth vibraphone-driven of Snowflake Music/Mr. Henry’s Chop Shop that features a shaky sleigh bell as it then segues into a flute-driven jazz piece with a sumptuous bass riff and boppy drum fill. You’re Breaking His Heart is an upbeat jazz piece led by walloping drum fills and a soaring flute as Dignan and Anthony meet up with Mr. Henry about some plans. Goddamnit, I’m In is a piece led by a tingling xylophone with a bopping percussion accompaniment as well as a soft accordion played early in the track. No Jazz is an upbeat jazz piece led by a wailing flute solo that is accompanied by a blazing piano and a steady drum fill to play to a party attended by Dignan, Anthony, and Bob about the upcoming heist.

Highway (Reprised) is another jazz cut led by a flute with a Latin-based guitar solo as it revolves around Anthony wanting to contact Inez. 75 Year Plan is a variation of Voluntary Hospital Escape with more tingling percussions in the mix as well as more Spanish-laced guitars and steady drum fills. The closing track is Futureman’s Theme, a more folk-based cut with a playful jazz rhythm in tapping percussions, washy string instruments, and a wailing accordion as it is a cut that plays to the character of Futureman as well as being the piece played in the final credits.

While the soundtrack isn’t perfect due to the exclusion of the Rolling Stones’ 2000 Man and two songs by the band Love, notably Alone Again Or from their 1967 landmark album Forever Changes. The soundtrack for Bottle Rocket is an excellent album from Mark Mothersbaugh and the artists that appear in the film. It’s a record that is very playful and fun as it is the perfect piece of music played to Wes Anderson’s widely-beloved debut film. In the end, the soundtrack for Bottle Rocket is a superb album for fans of the film.

Wes Anderson Soundtracks: Rushmore - The Royal Tenenbaums - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou - Seu Jorge-The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions - The Darjeeling Limited - Fantastic Mr. Fox - (Moonrise Kingdom)

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Various Artists-Rushmore OST

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 1/25/08 w/ Additional Edits.

The soundtrack to Wes Anderson's Rushmore is a wonderful soundtrack that features Anderson's love for British rock music, notably the British Invasion period of the 1960s. Along with a film score by one of Anderson's collaborator, Mark Mothersbaugh of the band Devo, the score and music emphasizes on the moods and journey through the characters of Anderson's unique world in the film. With contributions from Cat Stevens, the Kinks, the Who, the Creation, Unit 4+2, Chad & Jeremy, the Faces, Zoot Sims, Yves Montand, and John Lennon. The soundtrack to Rushmore is a wonderfully energetic, joyful, and powerful compilation of music.

The soundtrack opens with Mark Mothersbaugh score instrumental entitled The Hardest Geometry Problem In The World with its fast-paced string plucks and jazz-like guitars to convey the intensity that then slows down to something dreamy with chiming instruments as it is later followed by a jazz, acoustic guitar and flute accompaniment. The track serves as a wonderful opener to the dream world of Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) as he dreams about solving the hardest geometry problem ever. The next track is the Creations' Making Time which is a fast, rocking track that sounds similar to the Who in its intensity and angst. Yet, this British Invasion classic works to emphasize Max Fischer's reality that includes numerous extracurricular activities that he is a part of in his school Rushmore. Unit 4+2 bring in Concrete & Clay is another British Invasion obscurity that is a kinetic track featuring jazz-like guitar riffs and calypso rhythms in this wonderful song that plays to Max's love for his school Rushmore.

The Kinks arrive with a somber song called Nothing In This World Can Stop Me Worrin' Bout That Girl that plays to Ray Davies' plaintive lyrics and acoustic presentation as the song is a wonderful track that conveys the melancholic behavior of Herman Blume (Bill Murray) in a scene where he has everything but is unhappy. The next two tracks are from Mark Mothersbaugh's film score. First is Sharp Little Guy is a fast, 43-second instrumental filled with chiming keyboards, xylophones, and guitars that is one of several music themes to Max and his unique world. The Lad With The Silver Button maintains that intense, fast score of chiming, whistling music with organs and guitars in a scene where Max meets and falls for the school's new kindergarten teacher Miss Cross (Olivia Williams). The classic Chad & Jeremy song A Summer Song in its lovely, folk-like presentation with amazing vocal harmonies and an orchestral accompaniment is a lovely track that emphasizes Max's crush for Miss Cross. While the song conveys a sense of nostalgia, it's a great song that definitely proves that it's still relevant during that era of rap-metal and teen-pop of the late 1990s.

Edward Appleby (In Memoriam) by Mark Mothersbaugh is another 43-second instrumental led by a harpsichord with harp plucks to convey the sense of melancholia as she is still saddened by the death of her late husband (played by Owen Wilson via photograph). Cat Stevens arrives with one of his earlier songs Here Comes My Baby with its chiming piano accompaniments and 60s pop instrumental background as Stevens sings this lovely song that brings together the trio of Max, Miss Cross, and Blume in all of their moments including a pep rally at Max's new public school. This song is a wonderful discovery as it shows what Cat Stevens was doing before his famous singer-songwriter era in the 1970s.

Next is a live version of A Quick One While He's Away from the band's 1970s live album Live At Leeds. While the version from the Rolling Stones' Rock N' Roll Circus in 1969 was used in the film, the classic mini-opera track from the Who about an extramarital affair is great piece that emphasizes the feud between Blume and Fischer for the affections of Miss Cross. Especially since the song in all of its angst through Pete Townshend's writing and guitar work with Keith Moon's frenetic drumming is amazing as the song changes tempo where its coda of "You are forgiven" is what was used in the film. Snowflake Music which appeared in Wes Anderson's 1995 debut film Bottle Rocket is another piece by Mark Mothersbaugh which is a 38-second instrumental with holiday chimes and melodic keyboard bells playing in the background to convey the sense of holiday in Max's world as well as the world of Dignan & Anthony in Bottle Rocket. Another Mothersbaugh piece comes in the instrumental Piranhas Are A Very Tricky Species which is essentially a percussion-based track filled with rollicking drums and percussions beating frenetically which is also used in other Anderson films to convey a sense of action.

Zoot Sims' Blinuet is a jazz, instrumental piece featuring the saxophonist playing nice jazz riffs through a smooth, mid-tempo presentation with pianos and drums as it's a track that conveys Max's love for Miss Cross during a drunken dinner with Mr. Blume. Mothersbaugh's Friends Like You, Who Needs Friends is an instrumental that is played during Max's expulsion from Rushmore as well as his dissolution with friend Dirk Calloway (Mason Gamble) who says the track's title line as the track features a dirge-like organ and pounding bass drum accompanied by holiday chimes. Rue St. Vincent by Yves Montand is a French ballad sung in French to convey the melancholic mood of Miss Cross as Max tries to discover her sadness as well as her breakup with Herman Blume. Kite Flying Society by Mark Mothersbaugh is another instrumental that features the same, chiming presentation with a looped organ accompaniment and harp plucks as the track conveys Max's new discovery in a girl named Margaret Yang (Sara Tanaka) through a remote-controlled airplane.

Cat Stevens' The Wind is one of Stevens' classic songs as its wonderfully soft, plaintive acoustic presentation and Stevens' soft voice conveys Max's growing development as a person while seeking redemption for things he's done wrong. John Lennon's Oh Yoko from Imagine is a wonderful, upbeat song with Phil Spector's amazing production in this wonderful love song from John to Yoko Ono as the song plays to Max's renewed friendship with Herman Blume as he helps him get his life on track as it's a wonderful song for the film and its use. The last song on the album is the Faces' Oh La La sung by Ron Wood is a wonderful acoustic-driven number from the band's final studio album of the same name.

Used for the film's end and final credits, it's a fitting closer with its wonderful, folk-like presentation as its' a wonderful sing-a-long song with its great chorus of "I wish that I knew what I know now". The album closer and final Mark Mothersbaugh instrumental Margaret Yang's Theme is a jazz-like theme with fast guitar plucks, washy pianos and accordions to mark the arrival of Miss Yang while the track is also played in the final credits. Not in the film's soundtrack that includes jazz cuts from Django Reinhardt and two other songs that appear in the film. First is Donovan's Jersey Thursday and the other is the Rolling Stones' I Am Waiting. The Stones' track is used to convey Fischer's melancholia but the reason the wonderful acoustic number isn't used was because a lot of the Stones' early music was not allowed to be on any film soundtracks due to legal reasons.

The soundtrack to Rushmore is truly one of the best film soundtracks of the 1990s and an essential soundtrack from the world of Wes Anderson. Fans of Anderson's films must have the soundtrack as its collection of British Invasion songs and Mark Mothersbaugh's lovely score is truly wonderful. With songs that will give a sense of nostalgia or maybe a memory of the film, it is a great mix of music as it has a wonderful energy of angst, romanticism, melancholia, and joy. In the end, the film soundtrack to Rushmore is a wonderful gem of great music assembled by auteur Wes Anderson.

Wes Anderson Soundtracks: Bottle Rocket - The Royal Tenenbaums - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou - Seu Jorge-The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions - The Darjeeling Limited - Fantastic Mr. Fox - (Moonrise Kingdom)