A New Elfman Song
Fans of Danny Elfman have been waiting for a very long time (since ‘Corpse Bride’ in 2005) to hear Elfman sing one of his own songs, so it’s a special treat to hear him belt out his new composition, ‘The Little Things,’ at the beginning of the album for ‘Wanted.’ Catchy rhythm and melodic electric guitar back up Elfman’s own very accessible vocals for a musical treat which is classic Danny Elfman. Hints of this song’s melody show up every now and again throughout the score.
The Score
After the song, the album jumps right into a dense, Russian-tinged montage cue, ‘Success Montage.’ Flowing, ever-developing melody and some very infectious instrumentation, along with a healthy helping of electronic sampling, make this one of Elfman’s most enjoyable cues in ages.
The score takes another unexpected step with low male choir performing Gregorian chant under the Philip Glass-reminiscent chords of ‘Fraternity Suite,’ which introduces and explores Elfman’s insistent theme for the film’s organization of assassins. The Fraternity Theme, along with the Slavic-flavored Success Theme, makes up the skeletal structure of the score, fleshed out by wonderfully melodic development and propulsive, rhythmic ingenuity.
This is not a score which takes very long to become interesting or memorable. Themes are cunningly introduced, varied and developed throughout the album, and that variety is a welcome attribute. The electronic rhythms (some of them very reminiscent of ‘Standard Operating Procedure’) never sound stale or slapped on for cheap effect: they are a necessary and indispensable part of the score, and are perfectly tuned to the attitude of the film. They are constructed innovatively and are not only catchy, but even infectious, as heard in ‘Fox in Control’ and ‘Exterminator Beat,’ among other cues. Listeners will certainly be revisiting not only one or two favorite cues, but most of the album.
Unexpected Beauty
The gritty action is not all that there is, however. Some singularly touching moments are heard, and while the action cues are certainly thrilling, it never hurts to hear Elfman write a soft, tragic theme for strings and vocals. One such cue is called ‘Fox’s Story’, and it’s a slightly Middle-Eastern-flavored cue with high strings and strong female vocals. Despite the context of the cue, it’s as lovely and yearning a piece of music as Elfman’s ever written. The melody develops for about two minutes, eventually adding a slow drum rhythm and full adult choir support before returning to the aggressive rhythms of the action material.
Summary
It’s a full-bodied score; it’s a very dense score, and a very multi-dimensional score. There’s a lot to explore and discover here. While it’s got those beloved Danny Elfman trademarks all over it, it goes in several fresh new directions, and never feels stale or recycled.
Russian, Medieval and Middle-Eastern ethnic styles make appearances, along with some undulating Glass-esque string melodies. It’s a striking, bold evolution of the brand new style we heard in ‘Standard Operating Procedure.’ In fact, one could say that ‘Wanted’ sounds like ‘S.O.P.’ on some kind of liberating new steroid. Fans of the composer will want to procure this album without doubt: it’s some of the most entertaining action music the man has composed in quite some time. Enjoy!
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