Back catalogue: Soundtracks

Review: We don't need to tell you why Tim Burton's musical masterpiece 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is good, but what makes the soundtrack even better? Why, the inclusion of Sir Patrick Stewart's cut epilogue on track two of course! Celebrating the cross-seasonal classic's 30th birthday is this double zoetrope record package, featuring iconic scenes from the stop-motion flick. The star of the show (sorry Patrick) is, of course, soundtrack legend Danny Elfman, who has seemingly gotten OST production down to an art form even to this very day. The Oingo Boingo singer-cum-producer has scored every movie you can think of: 'The Avengers', the 'Fifty Shades' franchise, 'Mission: Impossible' just to name a small handful. What newer fans may not know is that Elfman cracks out the vocals for this musical album, acting as the singing voice for main character Jack Skellington - yes, unfortunately, it's not Chris Sarandon's beautiful voice you're hearing, as great as that would be. It's never too late to get into a timeless classic like this, go out and spread the good word.

Review: The golden age of superhero movies, spearheaded by Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films, was unparalleled, setting the stage for every Marvel movie that followed. These films introduced us to Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, Kirsten Dunst as MJ, and formidable villains like the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) and Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), shaping the blockbuster summers of the past two decades. Who else could score such an important film odyssey than the one and only Danny Elfman?! To celebrate the 20th anniversary, the soundtrack to Spider-Man 2 arrives on vinyl. The score's legendary themes continue to inspire. Witnessing Elfman perform these themes live at Coachella was an unforgettable experience, with a live orchestra captivating the audience. Enjoy one of the most important soundtracks in the superhero genre now on beautiful vinyl.

Review: It's no real shock that a Tim Burton Netflix modern revitalisation of The Addams Family, and particularly the central character Wednesday, would become a global success seemingly overnight. Jenna Ortega's performance was also key to retaining the character's essential components while imbuing new nuances and eccentricities, but the project wouldn't have felt complete without the almost essential soundtrack from Burton's go-to composer Danny Elfman, who is also currently experiencing quite the career resurgence thanks to his excellent Big Mess album from 2021. Linking up with the younger yet equally impressive Chris Bacon, the Wednesday score is equal parts whimsical, macabre, gloomy and horrific, yet endlessly playful, which almost describes all of the Burton/Elfman scores. Thanks to Bacon, there's a notable increase in glitching synths spells and modern tweaks to elevate the usual whimsy to a reimagined standard of orchestral dramatics.

Review: Iconic movie classic Beetlejuice is back and we for one have enjoyed its return. Tim Burton's 1988 cult classic has been reimagined for modern audiences in 2014 and came complete with a new soundtrack. The original score, composed by the legendary Danny Elfman, blends whimsical melodies with eerie undertones, perfectly capturing the film's quirky and haunting vibe. Highlights of the original include Elfman's iconic main titles, which have become synonymous with Burton's gothic style. The new soundtrack also features standout tracks like Alfie Davis & The Sylvia Young Theatre School Choir's rendition of 'Day-O' and Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting," adding fresh dimensions to this timeless, offbeat classic.

Review: As well as his prog rock god status as part of ELP, English musician Keith Emerson is well known for his soundtracks for the likes of Dario Argento's 1980 movie Inferno. This Murderock album was written in part as a tribute to the master of Italian horror Lucio Fulci and was first released in 1985, described at the time as being like Flashdance meets Psycho. It's a mix of dance tunes for the day and some dramatic scores and was first reissued in 1993. This version adds four never before released tunes which were used in the backing to the most macabre scenes of the movie.

Review: Finding out that 8 Mile is two decades old is astounding. Take it in, breathe, then decide what to do with that information. Rewind back to 2003, and life was very, very different - not least as Eminem was still considered a young upstart who needed to prove some stuff to the hip hop establishment, with the movie in question going some way to retelling his own story about going up against haters and coming out on top.
Of course, he was already one of the biggest rap artists on the planet by this point, but still fell in line for criticism over the juvenile nature of many tracks. Amalgamating some of the most respected MCs on one track list - all of who evidently give a seal of approval by contributing to this soundtrack - is certainly one way to prove legitimacy. Nas, 50 Cent, Rakim, Gang Starr, and Jay-Z help make this one of the genre's finest scores of all time.

Review: A true enigma, an artist that represents all that was fascinating and romantic and alluring and intriguing about 20th Century sounds, Brian Eno was always going to need a feature length documentary, when the time was right. Premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Eno, Gary Hustwit's ode to the man, myth and legend, wowed critics and blew audiences away. Not least because it uses a computer programme which selects footage and edits the movie so a different version is shown at every screening. Innovation befitting Eno, removing the visuals and focusing on the sounds readjusts our vision to bring Eno into greater focus. The breadth of what's on this soundtrack is remarkable, from upfront indie on 'Stiff' and the weird folk-pop of 'Spinning Away', a John Cale collaboration, the ghostly post-rave of 'Cmon' with Fred Again, spectacular pianos of 'Motion In The Field', ethereal ambient vocals on 'There Were Bells', the angular punk dominating 'Third Uncle' - we could go on, and on, and on.

Review: Eno is a new and groundbreaking documentary that explores the multifaceted career of musician, producer, artist, and activist Brian Eno. Compiled from extensive footage, music, and interviews, each screening of the film is different as it delves into Eno's music, art, and ideas. Accompanying this cinematic journey is a soundtrack spanning Eno's illustrious career, from early solo works to recent collaborations. Released on CD, the album features tracks from 14 different albums, including three previously unreleased recordings. 'Lighthouse #429, the first track from Eno's Sonos radio station, offers a glimpse into his extensive archive and overall this album celebrates Eno's influential legacy.