MILK

MILK

MILK
List Price: $18.98
Our Price: $1.99
You Save: $16.99 (90%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Listen soundtracks from this album



(Click here)
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store

CD Details

Composer: Danny Elfman
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Soundtrack
CD Release Date: 2008-11-24
Music Label: Decca
Soundtracks:
  1. "Queen Bitch" (David Bowie)
  2. "Everyday People" (Sly & the Family Stone)
  3. "Rock The Boat" (Hues Corporation)
  4. "You Make Me Feel [So Real]" (Sylvester)
  5. "Hello, Hello" (Sopwith Camel)
  6. Bach: "Well Tempered Clavier" (Swingle Singers)
  7. MAIN TITLES
  8. HARVEY'S THEME
  9. HARVEY'S WILL
  10. THE CASTRO
  11. THE KISS
  12. POLITICALS THEATER
  13. NEW HOPE
  14. HARVEY WINS
  15. PROPOSITION
  16. REPEALED RIGHTS
  17. GAY RIGHTS NOW
  18. DOG POO
  19. VOTE PASSES
  20. BRIGG PUSHING
  21. THE DEBATES
  22. WEEPY DONUTS
  23. HARVEY'S LAST DAY
  24. GIVE EM HOPE
  25. POSTSCRIPT
  26. HARVEY'S THEME
  27. ANITA'S THEME
  28. MT SAX SOLO

Music reviews of MILK

Music Review: Decent dramatic score for an important movie
Rating: 3 Stars

Although many people nowadays will not know his name, Harvey Milk remains a hugely important figure in American political history. As the first ever openly gay man ever elected to public office in the United States, Milk served one term as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in the late 1970s, and was responsible for passing a stringent gay rights ordinance for the city, before being assassinated by fellow city supervisor Dan White in November 1978. Having already been the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary, `The Times of Harvey Milk', in 1984, director Gus Van Sant's new film charts the life and death of a man who has since been labeled `a martyr for gay rights' in dramatic narrative; the film stars Sean Penn as Milk, Josh Brolin as White, and features Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna and James Franco in supporting roles.

Milk is Danny Elfman's fourth collaboration with Gus Van Sant, after To Die For, Psycho and Good Will Hunting, and the second of these to result in an Oscar nomination for the erstwhile composer. As one might expect, Elfman's score portrays Milk as a noble, tragic figure in American political history, but thankfully stops short of all-out deification, instead recognizing the flawed, uncertain, human side of Milk's character, while still acknowledging the hugely important legacy he created for the accession of gay rights in California.

Anyone who has experienced the development of Danny Elfman's musical style over the years will understand what I mean when I say that Milk falls most assuredly into the `modern' end of his writing. Gone are the days of big, dramatic themes and beautifully icy orchestrations; the new Elfman is closer in tone and style to Philip Glass than his old self, and as such Milk follows that style, relying heavily on repeated note clusters, undulating rhythmic elements, and a generally introspective tone, albeit one which is augmented by a number of prominent solo instruments, notably piano and saxophone. The "Main Titles" are a perfect example of this new voice in his writing, consisting as they do of oddly-metered glassy textures and mourning violins, with the saxophone hooting sonorously over the top of it all.

Cues such as "Politics is Theater", "The Debates" and "Anita's Theme" further engage in the textural similarities with Glass, almost comparing the political shenanigans that take place behind the doors of power to the endlessly churning wheels of a cog, or the innards of a clock, relentlessly repeating and on-going, but never truly seeming to make much progress beyond the machinations of the process itself. Once in a while there is a curious, but hugely engaging fusion of his newly-embraced minimalism with the rampaging brass ebullience and choral daintiness of early scores such as Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands that makes for intriguing listening. The more dramatic elements of the score are characterized in cues such as "Gay Rights Now!", which introduce a tempestuous ostinato for timpani, glockenspiel and strings that adds a sense of urgency and excitement to the score, while remaining rooted in its minimalistic tendencies.

The theme for Harvey himself, as heard in "Harvey's Theme 1" and "Harvey's Theme 2", is warm and comforting, with soothing brass chords and a gently dignified string backing, which makes for genuinely attractive listening. Other cues, such as "The Kiss", the lovely "New Hope", the bright "Vote Passes", and the elegiac "Postscript" have an equally upbeat aspect, occasionally even working a boy's choir, a solo trumpet, and choppy, urgent percussion writing into the mix, as well as further distinguished statements of Harvey's theme. The "Main Titles Sax Solo" which concludes the album, is a delightful showcase for the jazz-inflected talents of lead saxophonist Phil Todd.

However, the best music is saved for the climax of the film (and score), in the cues "Harvey's Last Day" and "Give `Em Hope". It is during these cues that Elfman's thematic prowess comes firmly to the forefront of the score, building from a gently romantic piano solo, gradually working in the contemporary rhythmic elements that filter through much of the score, and eventually emerging into a lush, but appropriately restrained rendition of Harvey's theme for the full orchestra which successfully captures the sense of pride Milk's life - and death - instilled in San Francisco's gay community.

I can see how Milk would not appeal to fans of Elfman's earlier scores, and how some could even go so far as to consider it a little disappointing. It's not a score which has big themes, or even especially big moments of emotional catharsis. It's not even Elfman's best score of 2008 - that accolade goes to his documentary score, Standard Operating Procedure. What Milk does do, however, is further illustrate the increasing maturation of Elfman as a dramatic film composer, with the musical chops to write successful, appropriate, intelligent music across a variety of genres, and for this reason alone comes recommended.
More MILK free music reviews:
1 2

Description of MILK

MILK has an original score by Grammy and Emmy AwardŽ winner Danny Elfman ("Batman," "Desperate Housewives). CD includes Danny Elfman's score and the following songs: "Everyday People" (Sly & the Family Stone), "Queen Bitch" (David Bowie), J.S. Bach - Prelude No. 7 in E Flat (The Swingle Singers), "You Make Me Feel [Mighty Real]" (Sylvester), "Rock the Boat" (The Hues Corporation) and "Ah, quegli occhi! Quale occhio al mondo" - Tosca (Maria Callas/Giuseppe Di Stefano). Academy Award nominee Gus Van Sant ("Good Will Hunting," "My Own Private Idaho") directs Academy Award winner Sean Penn as renowned activist Harvey Milk. Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in America, was assassinated in 1977, and is today recognized as an icon and a leading figure in the gay rights movement. In addition to Sean Penn, the cast includes Josh Brolin ("No Country For Old Men") as city supervisor Dan White, the man who first befriended Milk and then notoriously shot both he and the San Francisco mayor George Moscone (Victor Garber). MILK is tour de force performance by Sean Penn as the lead character, and he will certainly receive an Oscar nomination for this role. In real life Harvey Milk was witty, charming, insistent and completely memorable. Penn captures Milk in all his brilliance. Photos: Phil Bray

Miscellaneous CDs

Music Genres
Bestsellers in Miscellaneous CDs
Slow Fade (As Read By Will Oldham) ImageRudolph Wurlitzer - Slow Fade (As Read By Will Oldham)
Release date: 2011-05-03; Music CD
Best price: $10.98
Price in other shops: $25.49
3 Fools 4 April Image3 Fools 4 April - 3 Fools 4 April
Release date: 2008-03-25; Published: 2006; Music CD
Best price: $7.14
Price in other shops: $31.98
Sing Like the Stars ImageJudy Clark - Sing Like the Stars
Release date: 2008-07-22; Published: 2008; Music CD
Best price: $23.99
Price in other shops: $33.49
Race and Win: Race Boat Crewing with Tucker Thompson ImageRace and Win: Race Boat Crewing with Tucker Thompson
Bennett; Release date: 2007-01-01; DVD
Best price: $23.07
Price in other shops: $34.95
Coming Home to our Appetite: Guided Imagery ImageRebecca Cooper - Coming Home to our Appetite: Guided Imagery
Release date: 2009-06-01; Music CD
Best price: $12.42
Price in other shops: $12.95
Bull-Jean Stories ImageSharon Bridgforth - Bull-Jean Stories
Release date: 2005-12-27; Published: 1999; Music CD
Best price: $9.95
Price in other shops: $16.49
The ABCs of Violin for the Intermediate, Book 2: Performance CD ImageJanice Tucker Rhoda - The ABCs of Violin for the Intermediate, Book 2: Performance CD
Carl Fischer; Release date: 2009-03-17; Music CD
Best price: $11.25
Price in other shops: $15.95
You Can Dance - Waltz [VHS] ImageYou Can Dance - You Can Dance - Waltz [VHS]
Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.74
Price in other shops: $19.95
You Can Dance - Rhumba [VHS] ImageYou Can Dance - You Can Dance - Rhumba [VHS]
Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops: $19.95
Dino: Collector's Series ImageDino: Collector's Series
Published: 1998; Music CD
Best price: $9.18
Price in other shops: $9.98
Similar CDs
Alice in Wonderland ImageDanny Elfman - Alice in Wonderland
Alice; Release date: 2010-03-02; Music CD
Best price: $10.32
Price in other shops: $13.98
Iris ImageCirque Du Soleil - Iris
Release date: 2011-11-21; Music CD
Best price: $10.22
Price in other shops: $16.98
War Horse ImageWar Horse
Release date: 2011-11-21; Music CD
Best price: $8.86
Price in other shops: $11.98
Watchmen: Original Motion Picture Score ImageWatchmen: Original Motion Picture Score
BATES,TYLER; Release date: 2009-03-03; Music CD
Best price: $5.77
Price in other shops: $18.98
Taking Woodstock ImageDanny Elfman - Taking Woodstock
Release date: 2009-09-29; Music CD
Best price: $1.48
Price in other shops: $17.99
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (OST) ImageHellboy II: The Golden Army (OST)
ELFMAN,DANNY; Release date: 2008-07-15; Music CD
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops: $17.98
City of Lost Children ImageCity of Lost Children
Release date: 1996-01-09; Music CD
Best price: $8.93
Price in other shops: $16.98
Men in Black 3 ImageDanny Elfman - Men in Black 3
Release date: 2012-05-29; Music CD
Best price: $9.82
Price in other shops: $11.96
Dark Shadows: Original Score ImageDanny Elfman - Dark Shadows: Original Score
Release date: 2012-05-08; Music CD
Best price: $9.88
Price in other shops: $13.98
Inception ImageInception
Release date: 2010-07-13; Music CD
Best price: $9.74
Price in other shops: $13.99
Compare prices and find music notes for more than one million Music CD titles