::lundi musicaux::

wow. a week without blogging. feels weird. forgive me if this entry seems a bit disjointed. i need to enjoy this extra day off of work to the fullest!

movie scores are a passion of mine. itunes is currently spinning jon brion's soundtrack to eternal sunshine of the spotless mind as i type this. jb has a true knack for capturing the true mood of a film and the characters' emotions. in p.t. anderson's punch-drunk love, i found myself on the edge of my seat with anxiety, true to sandler's barry egan. i very much enjoy jb's use of harmonium, honky-tonk piano, pedal steel, slide guitar, and the dryness and simplicity of the drum beats he orchestrates. movie scoring is blossoming into another art form with artists like jb and danny elfman, both with unique backgrounds in rock, coming on the scene. i can't think of any other "rock stars" of sorts who have crossed over into this field (well, perhaps lisa gerrard), nor muscians of more dissimilar backgrounds. it is encouraging to see the innovations they inspire in contrast to the traditional formulas of john williams and james newton howard. it goes without saying that williams and howard have successful recipes for composition and both are frequently found on the A-list, side-by-side with another American blockbuster film. but doesn't that just make them a dime a dozen, with their widespread popularity and mass audience appeal?

i have much to learn as an aspiring composer and foolhardy critic here, but i do know i don't want to be a dime a dozen.