The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou

Performer: Original Soundtrack
Producer: Mark Mothersbaugh; Robert Casale
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Composer: Mark Mothersbaugh. Defying the trend of shoving a bunch of songs together for unit-shifting, the soundtrack to the Bill Murray movie The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou is a cohesive and entertaining collection of songs. Sven Libaek's score pieces are remarkable, from the dreamy jazz of "Shark Attack Theme" to the watery, hypnotic "Open Sea Theme," while Mark Mothersbaugh's offerings are as consistently good as ever. From lilting horn orchestrations ("Loquasto International Film Festival") to bright beautiful pieces ("Let Me Tell You About My Boat"), Mothersbaugh triumphs. Filmmaker Wes Anderson contrasts such instrumentals with outstanding '70s rock choices like Iggy & the Stooges' proto-punk Molotov "Search and Destroy," Devo's "Gut Feeling," and a pair of Hunky Dory-extracted David Bowie classics like the rollicking "Queen Bitch" and the somber brilliance of "Life on Mars?" A second version of the latter, sung in Portuguese by Seu Jorge, is one of five absurd but likable Bowie covers, making for an eclectic but compelling collection. ~ John D. Luerssen Renowned for the eclectic RUSHMORE and THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS soundtracks, director Wes Anderson and music supervisor Randall Poster once again offer up a fascinating variety of songs for Anderson's THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU. The 2004 film, which follows the adventures of an eccentric undersea exploration group, is most traditionally adorned by the typically charming Mark Mothersbaugh (of Devo fame) score and two tracks ("Shark Attack Theme" and "Open Sea Theme") by Norwegian composer Sven Libaek. However, the most notable aspect of THE LIFE AQUATIC soundtrack is the presence of not one, but seven, David Bowie songs. Only two of these tunes ("Life on Mars?" and "Queen Bitch," both from 1971's HUNKY DORY) actually feature Bowie; the other five tracks are performed by Seu Jorge, who contributes gentle, lo-fi renditions of "Starman," "Rebel Rebel," and others in Portuguese. Other artists include folk singer Joan Baez ("Here's to You"), flamenco guitarist Paco De Lucia ("La Nina de Puerta Oscura"), and cult British crooner Scott Walker ("30 Century Man"), making for an album that perfectly captures the various moods of Anderson's quirky film.

Rolling Stone (No. 967, p.84) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[Seu Jorge's Bowie covers] reinvent Seventies glam anthems...as laid-back, samba-flecked gems..." Uncut (p.114) - 4 stars out of 5 - "The effect's oddly spellbinding..."

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