Thumbsucker [Soundtrack]

thumbsucker [soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The indie drama Thumbsucker, pertaining to a 14-year old boy struggling with the habit that gives the movie its title, gets the symphonic treatment with this original score by Tim DeLaughter of The Polyphonic Spree. Mingling with the flowery orchestration and flute trills are three tracks by the late Elliott Smith, who was involved in the early development of the film with director Mike Mills. While Spree fans have come to expect the full sonic overload of the 20+ strong ensemble, DeLaughter's best track is the one where he picks up a guitar and sings sans backing band, "Wonderful You." DeLaughter is in a delicate situation here, sharing the disc with the superior song craft of Smith. Smith's contributions, including "Let's Get Lost" from From a Basement on the Hill and the never-before-released "Thirteen" and "Trouble" only hint at what this soundtrack might have been. While DeLaughter's tracks make good film music, Smith's stand upright on their own, regardless of context. Ultimately, both contributors provide the soundtrack with a feeling of adolescent melancholy well suited for the film. -- Ryan Boudinot

Product Description
This soundtrack was written and recorded by Tim DeLaughter, frontman for The Polyphonic Spree and also features three tracks from late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, including the original "Let's Get Lost" and covers of Big Star's "Thirteen" and Cat Stevens' "Trouble," the latter believed to be among the last tracks he ever put to tape.

Thumbsucker,The Polyphonic Spree,Elliott Smith,Hollywood Records,Original Score,Pop,Soundtrack,Soundtracks,Soundtracks & Film Scores

Thumbsucker [Soundtrack]

Average customer rating:

One fantastic track
genius music for a genius film
Spirit Abounds
Delightfully Askew
Smith Die Hards Only

Thumbsucker
The Polyphonic Spree , and Elliott Smith
Manufacturer: Hollywood Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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To: Elliott From: Portland

ASIN: B000AMJEIW
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

The Crash
Scream & Shout
Slow Halls
What Would You Let Go
Empty Rooms
Wonderful for You
The Rebecca Fantasy
Thirteen - Elliott Smith
Pink Trash Dream
The Green Lights
Debate Montage
Trouble-Elliott Smith
Skinny Dip
Sourness Makes It Right
Some of the Parts
Matt Schraam
Let's Get Lost - Elliott Smith
Justin's Hypothesis
The Call of the Wild
Wait and See
Move Away and Shine
Acceptance
Move Away and Shine (In a Dream Version)

Amazon.com

The indie drama Thumbsucker, pertaining to a 14-year old boy struggling with the habit that gives the movie its title, gets the symphonic treatment with this original score by Tim DeLaughter of The Polyphonic Spree. Mingling with the flowery orchestration and flute trills are three tracks by the late Elliott Smith, who was involved in the early development of the film with director Mike Mills. While Spree fans have come to expect the full sonic overload of the 20+ strong ensemble, DeLaughter's best track is the one where he picks up a guitar and sings sans backing band, "Wonderful You." DeLaughter is in a delicate situation here, sharing the disc with the superior song craft of Smith. Smith's contributions, including "Let's Get Lost" from From a Basement on the Hill and the never-before-released "Thirteen" and "Trouble" only hint at what this soundtrack might have been. While DeLaughter's tracks make good film music, Smith's stand upright on their own, regardless of context. Ultimately, both contributors provide the soundtrack with a feeling of adolescent melancholy well suited for the film. -- Ryan Boudinot

Album Description

This soundtrack was written and recorded by Tim DeLaughter, frontman for The Polyphonic Spree and also features three tracks from late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, including the original "Let's Get Lost" and covers of Big Star's "Thirteen" and Cat Stevens' "Trouble," the latter believed to be among the last tracks he ever put to tape.

Customer Reviews:

One fantastic track.......2007-04-07

I was listening to this CD for the first time and wasn't feeling very impressed. Perhaps if I saw the film I would appreciate some of the tracks more. I wasn't paying very much attention to the music when I found myself feeling very relaxed and peaceful. The track that was playing was Acceptance and at over 30 minutes long it is worth getting the CD just for this one track. Some day soon I'm going to put this track on repeat and listen to it for most of the day. In fact, I think I'll do that tonight with the volume turned way down. It should make for some very pleasant dreams.

genius music for a genius film.......2006-07-31

I find it extremely irritating when a reviewer with limited knowledge of a film (or, even worse, when a reviewer hasnot watched the film) takes it upon themselves to trash a soundtrack. The qualms I have with this practice are purely due to my aesthetical opinion: certain films require certain types of soundtracks. Some films, like Almost Famous and Snatch, work best with track lists full of imposing titles and in such a circumstance the music, for a moment or two, becomes the focus of the film. In films like Lost in Translation and Thumbsucker, the music never takes a dominant role over the film itself; instead it plays the role of a constant emotional supplement, accurately and beautifully rendering the action on screen through sound. The soundtrack, to any who has watched Thumbsucker, is an amazing work of art and a case study in complementing an amazing film with amazing, yet not overbearing, music. Any viewer, any fan, and any colleague of Mike Mill's will have the same positive reaction to this soundtrack after watching the great film it supports. Reviewers who review soundtracks without watching the movies they stem from, take note: this album was intended as a complement to great film, not a compilation made at the director's whim...I sincerely challenge you to watch the movie and claim that these songs, soaking in emotion, are dry and banal!

Spirit Abounds.......2005-12-22

a thoughtful, fascinating and hypnotic collection of songs from dual geniuses. Evokes a lot of mood, melancholy and joy. Ultimately we feel bemusement at the fallen souls around the indomitable Tim DeLaughter. This work presents the convergence of amazing spirits of our generation.

Delightfully Askew.......2005-12-21

Originally envisioned as an Elliott Smith covers project, Thumbsucker director Mike Mills' soundtrack was thrown into disarray by the sudden death of Smith in 2003. Tim DeLaughter and his band of musical misfits The Polyphonic Spree have ably filled the void left by the demise of the Heatmiser miserablist, taking to the task with gusto. Banjos, piccolos and fluttering additions open the score on The Crash, Scream & Shout and What Would You Let Go sound like amiable Architecture In Helsinki snippets, Wonderful For You is a delicate Tim DeLaughter acoustic piece and the dreamy Acceptance stretches to half an hour in length. Elliott's unfinished Thumbsucker symphonies are offered up in the shape of Trouble, Let's Get Lost and Thirteen, with each track blending neatly with the fragile beauty of the Polyphonic songs swirling around them. Of the Spree highlights, Call Of The Wild is a loud rush, Tim DeLaughter's old band Tripping Daisy is notably resurrected for Debate Montage and Move Away And Shine is an uplifting conclusion.
As with the Thumbsucker movie, The Polyphonic Spree's trek through their debut soundtrack offers lulls, glorious missteps and a final act that serves as a bold benchmark for the future.

Smith Die Hards Only.......2005-12-07

Having not seen the film and how the music is woven into the narrative, I shall only say, that as an album, free of images and cinematic context, the music here is banal, dry, and expunged of interesting melody. There is melody here and there, but it is constituted around an array of endlessly boring arrangements and mediocre singing.

I certainly understand the difference between an actualized song per se and music composed as filler, accenting the images or plot. But this is too much filler and not enough song. For a great album with both songs and cinema-based compositions, see The Graduate soundtrack or Harold and Maude. The Polyphonic Spree continue their role as a poor man's Wayne Coyne. Two stars for the album and Five for Elliott, Cat, and Big Star. Smith die-hards need only purchase.

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