Inland Empire (Original Soundtrack) [Soundtrack]

David Lynch (Performer), Chrysta Bell (Performer), Beck (Performer), Little Eva (Performer), Mantovani (Performer), The Dave Brubeck Quartet (Performer), Nina Simone (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: David Lynch, Chrysta Bell, Beck, Little Eva, Mantovani, et al.
• Audio CD (September 11, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Ryko/Absurda/ David Lynch M.C.
• ASIN: B000VLPV5W
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,870 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great soundtrack despite the absence of Angelo Badalamenti, January 10, 2008

By 

Steward Willons (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Inland Empire (Original Soundtrack) (Audio CD)

Whether you believe "Inland Empire" is a great film filled with mystery, or a meaningless assemblage of unsettling scenes, you can't deny that it has a great soundtrack. Sound design has become so important to Lynch that all of his films since "Lost Highway" feature a constant extra-diegetic sound source of some sort. In "Lost Highway", there were obvious musical selections separated by ominous rumblings and barely audible industrial sounds. Now in IE, the distinction between what is "music" in the traditional sense and what is ambient sound is almost totally blurred. Not all music has melody, and not all ambient sound is without melody - even if only in an abstract sense. While I'm disappointed that Angelo Badalamenti didn't collaborate, Lynch seems to have taken on the task himself with great success.

In many ways, this is an interesting companion to the film. It appears that Lynch created lengthy selections, which he subsequently cut and arranged to work with the editing and flow of the film. Now, we're able to hear them in their entirety, as Lynch originally conceived them. To me, it's a fascinating window into his creative mind.

Beyond Lynch's original material, there are some interesting selections ranging from Beck to Penderecki's intense modernist works. The big disappointment for me was the curious omission of the music from the burlesque club scene. It was a great subversion of sleazy stripper jazz into something atonal, but still groovy.

Finally, many speculate that a lot of the film is explained in the lyrics of "Polish Poem", and this is an easy way to hear it. There do seem to be some answers, but as is typical for Lynch, they're clouded in vague, poetic language and end up raising more questions than they answer.

This is an excellent soundtrack. Even if you were not a fan of the film itself, the music stands on its own. It's different from the popular "Lost Highway" soundtrack, but I think it's equally good.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Music for... "A woman in trouble", September 30, 2007

By 

kg5 (Central Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inland Empire (Original Soundtrack) (Audio CD)

One thing that Lynch cannot be criticized for is producing shallow and brief soundtracks. About 30 seconds short of 80 minutes, the soundtrack to INLAND EMPIRE is just as sonically dense as Lynch's films are visually.

Included on this disc of 17 tracks are 6 compositions written and performed solely by Lynch. The powerful Ghosts of Love ("...Strange what love does..."), and the beautiful Polish Poem (with Chrysta Bell) - frame 14 other songs that include music from Beck, Dave Brubeck, Little Eva and Montovani! The five other compositions by Lynch are dark and moody and though familiar in style to other Lynch music, still holds something new and engaging. Included also are 4 tracks that are from Polish collaborators one of which (Polish Night Music), is one of the most haunting pieces on the entire CD. Rounding out the soundtrack, as in the movie, is Nina Simone's redemptive Sinnerman.

The music in Lynch's films are like pieces of furniture and very consciously placed within the film - in a sort of cinematic feng shiu. Lynch's deep involvement with creating/choosing sound as well as other elements of film work far exceeds that of many, if not most current directors. He's a carpenter, a painter, a lighting and set designer, and a composer. This lends his work to something more personal and intimate. Lynch has made it clear that he has little interest in returning to film as a medium (INLAND EMPIRE was shot entirely on digital video). And the music on Inland Empire is more than incidental: it is as vital as the images. If you're a fan of David Lynch's work, there is no reason why you would not want to add this title to your collection.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing..., September 3, 2008

By 

Javier Aranguiz (Santiago, Chile) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inland Empire (Original Soundtrack) (Audio CD)

In almost 79 minutes, this soundtrack leads you through a very-dark, psycotic and frightening places: Probably all of them allocated in our own hearts and minds. Awesome soundtrack!