Many years ago, while pondering his place in the world, a man once asked a very timeless question: “Why, oh why didn’t I take the blue pill?” Yes, the character of Cypher (played by the incomparable Joe Pantoliano) is very much like all of us. Life threw him a choice, and after choosing a path he’s not sure it’s the right one. Buyer’s remorse if ever there was a cinematic equivalent. And I’m sure we all feel that when a film just doesn’t move the mercury for us. Similarly, we probably wish we could take steps to remake our choice. Last year, we got to plug back into The Matrix…
-
-
Interview…Composers Zach Robinson and Leo Birenberg on Music, Metal and Mayhem in ‘Cobra Kai’
You want to become a master of kicking ass in a musical soundscape? It’s easy! Just remember these three simple rules: Strike first, strike hard, show no mercy. Well, whether it’s sweeping the leg, or nailing a face-melting guitar/saxophone solo, our guests today can certainly tell us about their path to be the best…around. It takes time, talent, patience and a good amount of networking. Earlier this year, we spoke with composer Zach Robinson and had a blast getting to learn about his musical journey. Today, Zach is back as well as the other half of the sonic dojo that props up the Cobra Kai TV show. The duo have…
-
Interview…Junkie XL on the Mondo Box Set of ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’
It’s been a while since we chatted with Tom Holkenborg (aka Junkie XL), and boy how his career has soared. It wasn’t enough to follow George Miller to the ends of the ear and destroy the sonic landscape with such raw and powerful drums. As an artist, he had to push farther, and we’re so glad he did. His signature blend of rhythms – a style that comes from deep down in his DNA – can be heard in all his scores no matter how far apart they seem on the surface. Are we saying that Mad Max: Fury Road, Mortal Engines and Sonic the Hedgehog are the same? Yes.…
-
Music Review…’Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Swings and Soars on Vinyl
Erich Wolfgang Korngold once said that “music is music whether it’s for the movie theater or the concert hall or a video game.” We might have paraphrased a little at the end, but he’s right. Moreover, it’s long been understood that a good video game score can help make any game memorable. It can also have a wondrous life outside the pixelated adventure as well. Today’s music review focuses on Mondo and Hollywood Records’ vinyl release of the soundtrack to Spider-Man: Miles Morales. However, before we dig in, here’s a sliver of transparency: this review was done as a stand-alone listening experience. I’ve not played a Spider-Man game since the…
-
Interview…John Powell on ‘Solo’, John Williams, and A Long Time Before A Galaxy Far, Far Away
British composer John Powell began his career in the advertising world writing music for commercials. Growing up in a musical family, you could say it was in his blood and it wasn’t long before he left the jingle world and headed to Los Angeles after being recruited by Hans Zimmer. While there, he worked on titles like The Prince of Egypt and The Road to El Dorado before being groomed for his first big solo outing: Face/Off. Talk about making an entrance. Powell came out swinging – to match the ballet of bullets and boat chases in the John Woo actioner – but he also gave the film lots of…
-
Interview…Howard Blake Career Retrospective: The Avengers, Commercials, Ridley Scott, Queen and ‘The Snowman’
Truly great pieces of art and entertainment come along once in a generation. They are so expertly crafted, and are so well appreciated that they eclipse a label like “iconic” and, by doing so, become legendary. When that happens, we can be moved, inspired and forever changed by what we’ve witnessed as a culture, population or individual. Sometimes you don’t even have to be part of that time/era or culture to recognize and value the impact, the power and the reach something has. Case in point: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Babe Ruth calling his shot, even a quaint animated children’s story. If we lost you on that…
-
Music Review…’Avengers: Infinity War + Endgame’ Behemoth Box Set
Alan Silvestri is one of our very favorite composers, and his contributions to film are nearly unparalleled. When it was announced that Mondo and Hollywood Records would be releasing the complete scores to Infinity War and Endgame on vinyl, the only thing better than that would be to have the Time Stone so we could actually get it sooner – good news is that it was well worth the wait. We are thrilled to review this box set as Silvestri’s music spins on our turntable, and, trust me, these albums are not to be missed! One of the reasons we love Silvestri’s work is that he has an absolute knack…
-
Interview…Composer Scott Bomar on the Funky Soundtrack to ‘Dolemite Is My Name’
When Dolemite Is My Name came out last year, it blew everyone away. And how could it not? It had Eddie Murphy in the lead role, the story was charming, heart-warming and hilarious, it featured amazing costume design from Ruth Carter (she won an Oscar for Black Panther), and the grooviest soundtrack you could ask for. Having grown up in the ’70s, Memphis-based musician Scott Bomar knows this sound well. With a combination of horns, mean guitar riffs, a well-placed harmonica, and one funky clavinet, he weaves a magical tapestry of soul over Craig Brewer’s film. As fans of the film and the score, we were thrilled to speak to…
-
Music Review…’Dolemite Is My Name’ is Positively Groovy
Mondo is the premiere vinyl soundtrack record label and destination for all sorts of palette-expanding music. Pretty sure that no matter what your appetite is, they’ve got something to whet (and satisfy) it. Case in point. How many times have you asked yourself, “why aren’t there more blaxploitation revival albums out there?” The short answer is that there are. And thanks to these purveyors of acoustic awesomeness, you can easily get your hands on it. Luckily, they didn’t have to dig through obscure catalogs to unearth this glorious title; you can thank Eddie Murphy and Netflix for giving the gift of Dolemite Is My Name to the world just last year. A pet project…
-
Interview…Le Matos on Outrun, RKSS, and Mondo/Death Waltz Vinyl Releases
Last month, we had the great pleasure to speak with a team of composers we’ve admired for some time. Hailing from Montreal, Le Matos has found their way into the hearts of ‘80s fans around the globe with their energetic sound – one that is as catchy as it is perfect for the films to which the music is attached. From their debut album Join Us to the scores to Turbo Kid and Summer of 84, they continue to improve and expand their audio palette. If that wasn’t awesome enough, they’ve won tons of acclaim and scores of fans with their theme remixes from genre classics like Akira, Blade Runner…
