Customer Reviews

Traffic: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Steven Soderbergh often collaborates with Cliff Martinez as composer on his films. Martinez had artistic ability but never stood out to me from great composers like Jerry Goldsmith,Ennio Morricone,James Horner et al, but this cd puts him up there with the very best. Taking a note from ambient musicians like Brian Eno and Steve Roach, Martinez has crafted such a wonderful score that it shimmers with brilliance. When I first saw this critically acclaimed film one thing that hit me was the score, it was a whole ambient orchasteration, so delicate with cues so subtle and enigmatic to certain scenes that it was very powerful.I was so happy that finally someone had enough artistic sense to use minimalist music like ambience to get the plot forward and smartly so.Kudos to Soderbergh

except for the tracks from Morcheeba ,Krudorf and Dorfmiester and Fatboy Slim this cd plays and classifes as an ambient cd. The tracks I mentioned seemed really odd on this compilation and ruin the atmosphere of the cd. Like some other reviewer pointed out, it's like putting a Roxy Music track on a Brian Eno cd.

If you want to get into ambient music, this cd is a great introduction. As a film composition it ranks vert highly up there for its use of subtleties and arrangements.

I would buy this CD for the last track alone. "Ascent(an ending)" by Brian Eno is also the last track in the film. It is so beautiful and moving in its simple brilliance that it would be a major sin for a music lover to pass this track by. There are no words for this music done by Brian Eno. The closest it comes to is like memories you have. it's a kiss, a speckled raindrop, a passing light, a baby's eyes.

its amazing.

Having seen the trailer for Traffic only once, I wasn't sure what to expect. Fans and critics all gave the film high marks and being a big Steven Soderbergh fan, my hopes were high. This sweeping epic of a film is truely wonderful, featuring an all-star cast, top-notch cinematography, and great performances.

Great films almost always have a memorable score.. and Traffic is no exception. The has several tense and emotional moments where nary a word is spoken. Instead, we're treated to wonderful ambient soundscapes courtesy of Cliff Martinez.

His music manages to stir emotion, yet remain unobtrusive throughout the film. Standouts include "Helicopter", "La Cagaste", and "I Can't Do This." This is great thinking music, and while most tracks are on the short side (2 to 3 minutes) I can listen to some on repeat for hours.. they're that good. Guests include Herbie Hancock, Flea, Fatboy Slim, Kruder & Dorfmester, and Brian Eno.

Whether or not you're a fan of electronic music, you'll most likely enjoy this one. One of 2000's best pictures also has, in my opinion, one of 2000's best scores. Highly recommended...

I think the music by Cliff Martinez on the Traffic soundtrack is excellent. While watching the film, I was convinced I was listening to Robert Rich.

Robert Rich is one of the early pioneers of dark ambient music. If you enjoyed Martinez's score, check out Robert Rich's "Numena" and "Gaudi" (Matinez's "Helicopter" sounds very similar to Rich's "The other side of twilight"). Both of these recordings were made in the early '90s, but you would never guess this when listening to them.

Also, Rich teamed up with another dark ambient recording artist, Steve Roach, on "Soma" and "Strata". Both of these recordings are excellent. In addition, Steve Roach has released a number of excellent CDs, "Magnificent Void", "Artifacts", "Origins", etc. - I could go on forever.

In short, if you like the work of Martinez (i.e. Traffic), check out Robert Rich and Steve Roach. These two artists will open a world of music to you that most people don't even know exists.

I was highly impressed with the movie itself and then realized that the music is such a large part of the movie. The music forces you into a thoughful state and I enjoy listening to the CD when I have reading or paperwork to do. It's all very meditative and profound and draws the listener into something deep. The same is true with Solaris, also by Clif Martinez. I recommend this CD for anyone who loved the movie, anyone who wants to relax, or anyone who wants to think deeply. A fine ambient work!

Awarding the cherished five-star status to a CD which includes ambient, classical, jazz-funk, hip-hop and techno is likely to be a challenge for many of us, but the movie provides the context which makes the 5* rating almost mandatory. Cliff Martinez's compositions remind me of Brian Eno, Mark Isham, Harold Budd and even Lyle Mays in his more atmospheric moments. They are used extremely sparingly across the TRAFFIC movie, but they are always absolutely right for the scene.

This is great music to work to, although there's a lot of bass hanging around that may prove a distraction at volume. As with several of Brian Eno's CDs, you can play this at several volume levels. I've appreciated it in the office at a barely perceptible volume -- so that pieces drift in and out of your awareness, and colleagues in adjacent desks don't hear it above the sound of the air-conditioning.

To extend this CD to 72+ minutes, the last track contains several minutes of total silence, until we get a brief soundbite from the movie dialogue.

Strongly recommended.

I hate soundtracks. In most cases they're just groups of arbitrary songs (usually not any good), that don't have much of anything to do with the movie or each other, thrown together for a few quick merchandising dollars. Scores are at least more consistent, but the music is often slapped together in a hurry just so the movie won't have to rely on dialogue alone (oh, the horror). A genre at best questionable, and at worst insufferable.

Thankfully, there are exceptions. Here Cliff Martinez spins out a mix of light, etheral, sometimes eerie ambient tunes over an exotic percussion backdrop. This score is 36 minutes of relaxing background music perfect for a quiet evening.

But wait, the CD itself is 72 minutes. Here the soundtrack-compiling tradition rears its ugly head. A beautiful piano rendition of Beethoven's Sonata #1, while not quite fitting with the rest of the score, is still a welcome addition. After that the mood is ruined with a couple laid-back hip-hop tracks courtesy of Fatboy Slim and Morcheeba. Sure they were used in the movie, but they still don't belong here; it's like adding a Roxy Music song as a bonus track to a Brian Eno album.

Speaking of Eno, he contributes the dreamlike closing credit music. Between his track and the Martinez selections, you've got a beautiful instrumental album with an additional classical piece. It's just a shame there's also the slight nuisance of skipping those other tracks.

After seeing the movie, I knew I had to have this soundtrack. A great compilation of ambient tracks. This is not a soundtrack you would sing along to, or bring to a party -- but rather one you can sit back and just enjoy (take to the head, so to speak). Each track is filled with such emotion, even if you didn't see the movie you could enjoy it immensely. I bought this soundtrack to kick back, knock down some work and just let my imagination run wild. As stated before, GREAT soundtrack for a dinner party -- or just closing your eyes and being at peace. Don't delay - EXPERIENCE the TRAFFIC!

I agree that this music is enjoyable and after reading several reviews and seeing the movie, I ran out to buy a copy. I decided to listen to the soundtrack at a listening station and it wasn't as good as I remembered. I would hesitate before buying this. You really need the movie to enjoy the music. By itself, the music just doesn't really go anywhere.

I bought this before seeing the movie. It blew me away. The first thirteen songs are from Cliff Martinez, and they're amazingly beautiful and scary at the same time. Other songs like 'on the rhodes again' are brilliant and belong on this score. Good music for any occasion. If you liked 'Heat' or 'the insider' scores you wont be dissapointed with this one. Awesome work from everyone involved.

Before even seeing the film I purchased Traffic's soundrack and it really is a super collection of tunes that as a stand alone CD or as part of the soundtrack (I am sure). Definitely quite ambient, the feel is very much like Tangerine Dream with beautiful synth textures. Also a couple of fun tunes (ie. Fat Boy Slim) that always sound better when your sterio is turned up to 11. Enjoy - great for late night drives....