Karen-O and the Kids
“Where the Wild Things Are” OST
DGC / Interscope
Reviewing an original soundtrack objectively is always a difficult task. You need to keep in mind that it was written to work with the film more than on its own. Karen-O, lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and former girlfriend of the film’s director Spike Jonze, was tasked with creating the music for one of the most beloved children’s books in history. Together with the other Yeah Yeah Yeahs members and stars like Bradford Cox (Deerhunter) and Greg Kurstin (Bird and the Bee), Karen-O creates a fitting soundtrack for a visually heavy and nostalgia inducing film. It’s a soundtrack that sounds both childish and mature. All the song titles are directly related to the movie, but in a weird choice, the lyrics barely are. This soundtrack could easily stand as an album by itself, it seems more of a new exploration of Karen-O’s sounds than an album directly related to a movie. The artists try to explore different possibilities, and explore acoustic tracks as well as child choirs and uplifting melodies. Her voice is also a highlight, and probably makes the album more enjoyable, as it soothingly enters your ears and makes you comfortable and at the same time vulnerable, much like the movie’s protagonist. There’s even a lullaby called Hideaway, which will get you close to breaking down in tears with its extreme subject and performance. Before listening to the album closely, I was thinking of making a witty review, even if I liked it. But, after listening closely, I’ve realized the powerful atmosphere that it creates, with or without the visuals of the film. It’s clearly one of the best albums of the year and a great effort on mixing a well known story with the artist’s own sounds. I hope more movies start trying this approach, instead of using the generic rip-off orchestral soundtracks. We’ve had it with those!
