About the Soundtrack: Carter Burwell and the Coen brothers bring us yet another collaboration with, "Burn After Reading," an effort that is more along the lines of what we're accustomed to from them, both with the film and its music. Released by Lakeshore Records, the soundtrack offers 23 tracks from Burwell's score with a slim running time of 36 minutes. The style of the score is minimal at times but the overall body of work definitely has an original presence to it. Think "Fargo" light.
What You Need to Know: Welcome back, guys. While I appreciated "No Country For Old Men," I felt as though the hype got ahead of the movie itself. With "Burn After Reading," The Coens got back on track toward their original style, presenting a movie that brims with dark humor and shocking situations in what has resulted in a rather successful return to comedic form. Back also is Carter Burwell, who was able to shed some of the nondescript underscore from 'No Country' with his effort here, a score that brings home some of the melodic, earthy styles we've come to expect from him. That is, except for one difference -- the percussions, baby!
Begin and ending the movie with a highly energized use of percussions, Burwell adds a distinct, original tone to the score with drum beats that could have been substituted in a martial arts film with great ease. Needless to say, he was definitely thinking out of the box with this one! While the percussions are granted their most extended use during the intro and outros (the satellite zooms in the film), the intensity of the pounding rhythms do emerge during some of the more climactic moments of the score proper. By using such wonderful percussive elements, Burwell brings in a different, heightened type of energy to a film that could have gotten by with merely a conservative approach. I suppose this type of creative style is a good example why Burwell and the Coens work so well together.
In addition to the drums, "Burn After Reading" also offers a nice, darkened piano melody that represents the offbeat characters and their ill fated situations. This is just the right type of counterpoint to the percussive elements of the score. When backed further by the use of strings and flutes, Burwell's minimal style is able flourish in a well rounded style. The end result is an effective, often entertaining score that has enough color and personality to match the characters stride for stride.
Final Score: "Burn After Reading" offers a breezy 23 tracks of classic Burwell and is definitely a quick listen!. Even if the peaks don't reach the high points of some the composer's other, more prominent Coen film scores, this one has enough foreboding melodic styles to satisfy fans of his work.... and most listeners in general. Had their been more content, than this would have grabbed a higher grade.
