About the Soundtrack: Offered up as a double bill from MovieScore Media, the soundtracks for "J-OK'EL" and "Marcus," by composer George Shaw, is available both as a CD and download option from the label's web site. The first 21 tracks are of the CD's headliner, "J-OK'EL," while tracks 22 to 30 are from the independent thriller, "Marcus." Up front, the listener is getting a great value with this 2 for 1 deal and it doesn't hurt that the music is enjoyable too! Also, there are some interesting notations from the composer on the insert which gives one an idea about Shaw's approach and what aspects he was most fond of with each production.
What immediately impressed me about J-OK'EL were the two primary themes of the score. The first, an ominous yet engaging theme was put to use early on in the soundtrack, providing a sense of danger while still working in a thematic vein. The second is more of a dramatic, heartfelt motif that represents more of the human component, or so I gather, of the film's characters. I found this second theme to be quite memorable and haunting. Further, there are moments where a solo female voice is used that adds yet another distinct touch to the music from this horror feature.
The majority of the soundtrack shifts between the thematic statements and the interesting underscore. The best thing of all about this is that at no time did it feel like I was listening to a cookie cutter horror score. Shaw's work holds up well for the duration of the 21 tracks and made for an above average and worthwhile listening experience. Before I even moved on to the second film on this soundtrack release, I was ready to proclaim "J-OK'EL" a success.
"Marcus" is more of a traditional psychological thriller and is noted as a small, independent production. Hearing Shaw's classical sensibilities and tone for this score, one could tell that his capabilities only added production value to the film. It's a nice score with excellent instrumentation, though there were some moments that needed to be filled with a vintage horror/thriller underscore, thus it's not a completely thematic effort. That said, there are plenty of nice moments to indulge in, not the least of which is the final track of the score and of the album.
Simply put, the closing track, "Carol of Death" gave me goose bumps of the good variety. Taking the classic Christmas song, "Carol of the Bells," Shaw gives it a unique and creative twist by slowly weaving his thematic material from "Marcus" into the carol. It's a wonderful piece of work. The seamless and smooth integration of Shaw's music into this song stamps this track as a work of brilliance. While "J-OK'EL" offers quite a few highlights, it's this cue that is my favorite of the album, and quite frankly, one of the best segments of music I have heard in all of 2008.
Final Score: If you're interested in hearing music that is original and fresh, then look no further than George Shaw's work with "J-OK'EL." Not only will you be able to catch a glimpse at the future of film music with this young composer's work, you'll be treated to non-standard fare in a genre that typically delivers routine music. Indeed, "J-OK'EL" and "Marcus" makes for a quality tandem and a great buy for film music fans.
