Thumbsucker

by

Various Artists and Elliott Smith

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According to the liner notes, Thumbsucker director Mike Mills was working with songwriting genius Elliott Smith on the songs for the movie when Smith passed away. Months later, while struggling with the editing of the movie and the aftermath of Smith's death, Mills attended a Polyphonic Spree concert that changed and moved him so much that he sought out Tim DeLaughter of The Spree and signed him to finish the musical score to the film. "The Spree saved Thumbsucker," says Mills.

The album has a lush score representing Tim DeLaughter and The Polyphonic Spree at their very best, from the powerful and jubilant single "Move Away and Shine" to the sublime and mellow "Acceptance" (which rolls out comfortably for thiry minutes), punctuated with several songs by the late Elliott Smith.

Usually I leave the movie theater wanting to get the soundtrack, but now it's the other way around. This score makes me want to see the movie, as I'm sure it has to be something very special.

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.