Where the Wild Things Are (Motion Picture Score)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs vocalist Karen O got a lot of attention for the songs she wrote and sang for the soundtrack to Where the Wild Things Are, Spike Jonze’s adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s children’s story. But Carter Burwell’s score for the same film is well worth checking out as well. Burwell is one of the best composers working in Hollywood: he’s the go-to guy for the Coen Brothers, he’s scored projects as diverse as Rob Roy, Being John Malkovich, and Twilight, and his work on Wild Things is excellent. The music is subtle, melodious, and well arranged. The spare “Lost Fur” features a moody piano theme backed by throbbing bass and gentle strumming, while harp, nice woodwind writing, and wordless female vocals mark “Sailing.” “Dirt Clod Fight” actually isn’t subtle at all and it sounds great: Karen O lets out her trademark yelps, the drummer rocks, and guitar comes crashing down. “Carol’s Dark Night” creates an open and mysterious space that evokes the film’s striking visuals. The closer, “We Love You So,” is a gorgeous variation on the opening theme, a quiet, reflective orchestration that simmers.