Titus: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

The score to Titus, Julie Taymor's film version of Shakespeare's bloody play, starts exactly the way one assumes it will: a generous chorus pumps out a foreboding (and relatively unintelligible) chant, supported by tumultuous orchestration. The orchestra will appear again, on occasion, but trust that this is the last moment your ears will experience anything that they are even remotely expecting. Perfectly suited to Taymor's flamboyant, genre-mad interpretation of Shakespeare's script, composer Elliot Goldenthal (Alien 3, Interview with the Vampire, Heat) has fashioned a tapestry that also includes hot-tempered big-band jazz, industrial rock, circus themes, and exotic tone poems. Furthermore, these elements overlap in ways that are more detailed and inventive than the motion picture industry generally allows. Midway through "Tribute & Suffrage," at the height of a hopped-up swing session, the set metamorphoses into kettledrums that usher in a majestic, symphonic sequence. The next time jazz is heard ("Swing Rave"), the band is backed by fuzz-toned guitarists (among them Page Hamilton, of the metal band Helmet) who could frizz Brian Setzer's retro perm. Clearly it is Goldenthal, and not Hollywood mercenary Michael Kamen, who should have conducted Metallica's orchestral S&M project. --Marc Weidenbaum Amazon.com

Another brilliant Goldenthal score!

Goldenthal's score for Titus displays many different styles, including classical, jazz, rock, and electronica. Although the score will almost surely seem schizophrenic to those who haven't seen the film, as a show of Goldenthal's talents it is masterful. June 30, 2007

Weird . . . I like it!

Yes, I am a Goldenthal fan. I purchased this soundtrack by word of mouth. I've never seen the film so I didn't know what to expect.

Wow, this is one crazy soundtrack ranging from loud choral chants to bombastic chaos to jazz swinging. This album has it all.

"Victorious Titus" is an awesome way to open the album. It begins with a loud male chorus chanting away in some language followed by loud, hard-hitting percussion. By the end of the track, the music has accelerated into something "victorious". This is easily one of the best tracks of the album.

"Revenge Wheel" is very dark. It begins with rolling brass grunts followed by loud French horn blasts. Short, dark and enjoyable.

"Tribute & Suffrage" is where we first heard the jazzy tunes. The most "swinging" jazzy tunes are present in "Swing Rave".

"Pickled Heads" is the most violent song of the album. It opens with electronic distortion played under some weird, electronically distorted voices. The track continues as a bit of a hard rock track then becomes jazzy, and then circus like before ending to trombone grunts. This is without a doubt the most diverse track.

"Titus Vow" is another one of my favorites. The beginning of the track sounds a lot like Final Fantasy (hence why I like this one), then the music shifts to a longer version of Demolition Man's "Confronting the Chef". This is a cool, fun, "action" track ending in atmospheric noise with electronic percussion.

"Finale" is my favorite track of the album. After the beating Goldenthal gives us for about an hour, we get 8 minutes to relax as we ascend into the sky-whatever. The track is soft in repeated loops sounding a bit like chimes with other weird combinations, but overall it's "soothing".

This is a great soundtrack. A must own for Goldenthal and non-Goldenthal fans alike. February 8, 2006

What a great soundtrack!

I loved Julie Taymor's film. This soundtrack is the perfect compliment to Taymor's visually stunning movie. January 30, 2005

Fundamental issue !

If you liked the film and even if you became in a hard fan of it (as I do) you need this CD , because the music was another fundamental triumph of this Taymor film .
Simply overwhelimig , that music will invade you all your spirit. August 12, 2004

Masterpiece

I never liked the movie but got addicted to its sound track.

Simply it is a MASTERPIECE! April 28, 2002

More reviews at Amazon.com ...