Soundtrack Review: DJANGO UNCHAINED

Is it too soon to predict what the greatest film of 2013 is?  Those who are answer yes may just not have seen  Quentin Tarantino's latest masterpiece, Django Unchained.

Leonardo Dicaprio is both charming and
terrifying as Calvin Candie

The film is, in a classic Tarantino style, is a mashup of a genres and the soundtrack is no different.  From heart wrenching spanish ballads, to deep hip hop,  to one bad ass James Brown track featuring 2Pac, the music hits the nail on the head in every scene drawing the viewer into Django's story, his past and his revenge.

With western themes appropriately featured throughout the soundtrack, the collaboration of genres and languages means that the music is always keeping you on your toes, wanting to know what's going to be next, or rather who?

"Freedom" by Anthony Hamilton and Elaya Boynton encapsulates Django's position at the beginning of the film.  Constant repetition lyrically paired with rhythmic percussion that reflects the sound of stomping, - heavy chained steps - matched with deep male backing vocals which could almost be mistaken for groans, takes you back to the 1850's and the struggle that so many slaves  faced every day.

A particularly interesting and entertaining attribute of the DJANGO UNCHAINED soundtrack album are the dialogue clips featured between the emotive songs, telling the story as it would be told if you were watching the movie, adding emphasis and purpose to these already powerful tracks. 

John Legend features on the album performing "Who did that to you?"  A deep track driven by an organ in a slight twist from Legend's traditional instrument of choice.  Django's story is tale of revenge and this song in particular see's two different sides of this tale.  Anyone who has seen the Django Unchained trailer (below) will know that there is a somewhat romantic element to the story - without giving too much away, Django is searching for his wife.  In Legend's track we are lead to wonder whether this song is directed towards Django's love or Django himself.

The standout track (and there's always one) is the James Brown and 2Pac mash up "Unchained (The Payback/Untouchable)".  When this track comes on in the film,  Jamie Foxx has never looked so good.  Sampling, what will be in years to come, a stand out one liner from all of Tarantino's films, "i like the way you die, boy," these horns and quick spit lyrics will have you feeling your own satisfaction's from Django's revenge.  It's so dirty.  Dirty satisfaction.

Unsurprisingly, the composer behind the Django Unchained theme has worked with Tarantino before on both Kill Bill films.  Teaming up with Robb Boyd, behind the soundtrack listing of action films such as the X men and Fast and Furious series joined by Mary Ramos - who had also worked on previous Taratino films including Pulp Fiction and Inglorious Basterds - it's no surprise that this soundtrack has come out as fantastic as it has. 

If you are yet to see this movie I strongly encourage you get along asap,  and after you walk out, reflect on how the music contributed to the story, and think about the last time music has done that in a movie for you. 

Django Unchained is currently screening throughout Australia. 

Django Unchained Soundtrack - Track Listing

1. Winged
2. Django (main Theme) – Luis Bacalov, Rocky Roberts
3. The Braying Mule – Ennio Morricone
4. In That Case, Django, After You…
5. Lo Chiamavano King (his Name Is King) – Luis Bacalov, Edda Dell’orso
6. Freedom – Anthony Hamilton & Elayna Boynton
7. Five-thousand-dollar Nigga’s And Gummy Mouth Bitches
8. La Corsa (2nd Version) – Luis Bacalov
9. Sneaky Schultz And The Demise Of Sharp
10. I Got A Name – Jim Croce
11. I Giorni Dell’ira – Riz Ortolani
12. 100 Black Coffins – Rick Ross
13. Nicaragua – Jerry Goldsmith Featuring Pat Metheny
14. Hildi’s Hot Box
15. Sister Sara’s Theme – Ennio Morricone
16. Ancora Qui – Ennio Morricone And Elisa
17. Unchained (the Payback/untouchable) – James Brown And 2pac
18. Who Did That To You? – John Legend
19. Too Old To Die Young – Brother Dege
20. Stephen The Poker Player
21. Un Monumento – Ennio Morricone
22. Six Shots Two Guns
23. Trinity (titoli) – Annibale E I Cantori Modern

Kanye West presents GOOD Music: Cruel Summer

Good Music Cruel Summer

R. Kelly, Big Sean, John Legend, Kid Cudi and, of course, BFF Jay-Z are just some of the big wigs that emerge, with this album, from the dirty depths of old-school rap with a stank like it’s fresh from the ghetto. 

You’re immediately hooked when Big Sean starts throwing creamy rhymes your way in Clique – a clique you definitely want to be a part of: Ye, Rih, B and LeBron are mentioned by Jay-Z. And Kanye? Well he goes on with lyrics to inspire jealousy about the outrageous success of Niggas in Paris, his Maybach and being neighbours with TC. A bit OTT but classic Kanye nonetheless.

Mercy spits thick, nose-wrinkling beats at you with fiery force. They glare at you sideways. It’s undoubtedly the best song on the album. It is truly filthy. Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz and Kanye himself fill the beats with the dirtiness they deserve. Wind the windows down and sink low in your seat, one hand on the wheel. Sure enough, you’ll start believing you’re the baddest kid in town.

Kid Cudi and Kanye West

Take it down a notch and get yourself some romancing tips, hustler style, from Bliss. John Legend and Teyana Taylor tell the typical love story of girl meets boy, boy takes girl to London in his private jet while showering her in gifts from Tiffany. Okay, not so typical. But this song is as smooth as silk and John Legend’s voice is unbelievably cool. The track is complementary yet stands alone within the album, which manages to maintain its street cred even without one mention of the ‘n’ word.

This entire album is seriously cool. It takes it back to the streets, with subtleties of rap beginnings. It’s stripped to basics, the songs riddled with clever rhymes and a brilliant beat, all performed by some insanely successful artists – hand-picked by Ye, it’s his custom-made album. Best played loud.

By Natalie Brunoli

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Alt-J (∆): An Awesome Wave.

Dreamy melodies, buzzing harmonies and heavy guitar riffs. Poetic lyrics and piano chords, ambient noise and that feeling in your chest from the bass, when you play it nice and loud.

Alt J's debut album "An Awesome Wave"
is on sale now.

Oh, and that voice.

Alt-J gives it to you hard. Their debut album, An Awesome Wave, is undeniably addictive – it’s the noticeable cool and frenetic, yet relaxed, energy of the album that does it to you.

The first release, Breezeblocks, lyrically punches you in the heart. It grabs at you and demands you feel it too. And you do. There’s no wonder they chose this as the virgin release. It’s a mix of everything this album is about.

Alt J (∆)'s debut single - Breezeblocks

Something Good takes you on a little wander through highs and lows. Twinkling notes leading you from verse to bridge to chorus and back again. It’s happily mellow. The interludes (there are three) help weave the story of an album laden with clever, tight, expressiveness – with or without words. Song after song, a stimulating, vivid picture is painted of whatever you need it to.

Fitzpleasure is a little heavier, a little more rock, and a little bit sexy. It’s littered with dirty crooning harmonies, building to an unmistakable climax of rhythm and motion. It drags you in. Before you know it, you’re pulling right into the perfect barrel of an awesome wave.

Paddle your heart out and get on it.






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Alt J (∆) are

Gwil - guitar/vocals 

Joe Newman - guitar/vocals

Gus Unger-Hamilton - keyboards 

Thom Green - drums

http://www.altjband.com

Fall In: Chet Faker

Album Review: Chet Faker

This week's blog post is two firsts; a post by a guest blogger and an album review. Natalie Brunoli, journalism graduate of Bond University, passionate writer and music fan, put aside a little of her time review the recent album release from one of the (and her own) most anticipated acts of the upcoming music festival Splendour in the Grass - Chet Faker.

Chet Faker: Thinking in Textures

Chet Faker - Thinking in Textures

There’s a raw quality to this music, this album. Chet Faker tells his stories with a sound that pulls you in. It’s like intense, whispery sex. It’s punchy, it’s hot, it’s clever, and it’s more than a little bit exciting.

From the EP Thinking in Textures, the lead song I’m Into You, kick starts an album laden with smooth undertones, heavy melodies and beats that lick your skin. (I still can’t quite make out what he says to the girl mid-song, but it’s super sexy nonetheless.)

Soulful and sensual, you’re led on a journey of electro-funk born from acoustic heritages and a talent that is unmistakeable in the structural brilliance of every track.

And if ever a cover was done well, it’s No Diggity. Chet Faker takes the Blackstreet original, adds some class and blends it with nonchalance and effortless cool that makes you slide your nodding head into each slinky beat. Success.

Cigarettes and Chocolate gains some speed, gives you time to breathe (or take a cold shower) and lets you fall into the music. The track bursts with energy and meaningful peaks and troughs of fullness and smallness that complement each other.

A definite flavour runs riot through the album, but somehow each song manages to stand on its own, unique in every sense of the word.

If Thinking in Textures were a day, it would be the haziest Sunday afternoon you could imagine.

You find Chet Faker on Soundcloud, Twitter and Facebook.  If you'd like to connect with this blog post's author Natalie you can follow her on twitter, or check out her tumblr to for more of her thoughts.