You’ve already seen the tracklist for the soundtrack to Noah Baumbach’s indie dramedy, “Greenberg,” which features an original score — or technically a “music by” credit — written by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. The new soundtrack art is to your left, but for the curious on how it sounds, we’re here to satiate you a bit. Having already seen the film, we also had the chance to hear it.
Musically, Murphy’s new compositions take center stage, but there’s also lots of musical references in the picture. Greta Gerwig’s character, a lost, but aspiring singer sings a song by tragic American folkie Judie Sill at the Silverlake Lounge (the film is entirely set in Los Angeles). Ben Stiller goes into a whole monologue about the tragedy that was Karen Dalton’s life (the ’60s cult country folk artist who closed out the emotional ending to Baumbach’s “Margot At The Wedding” with the great song, “Something on Your Mind” — see a pattern with the singer songwriters mentioned throughout?). Galaxie 500 has two memorable moments in the picture (we called the exact song about 3 years ago) as does Duran Duran’s “The Chauffeur” which really gets the spotlight shone on it (lord, that’s an underrated and amazing song). There’s even a comical and persistent mention of the band Korn at a party Stiller’s character attends which is pretty amusing (oh and a “Disco Inferno” reference as well).
Not included on the soundtrack but used in the film are tracks by Lily Allen, Paul & Linda McCartney, Serge Gainsbourg, ’60s bubblegum group, The Association, Judee Sill’s aforementioned, “There’s a Rugged Road,” DFA band Yacht, hip-hop groups Chuck The Triple Threat, The Nucc and ’80s punk band, Drunks With Guns.
As for James Murphy’s score, don’t expect anything that remotely sounds like LCD Soundsystem (which he has already said) and or any of their music, despite the fact that the trailer uses their great song “All My Friends.” While one opening song has a swirling, dislocated feel, perhaps with a minor Brian Eno-ish bent to it, the rest of the music is pretty traditional indie movie score; bouncy piano to a simple four four beat, the occasional lilting wordless falsetto, and well, simple variations of a theme of unobtrusive piano jaunts. Perhaps not exactly what LCD Soundsystem fans were looking for — we don’t exactly see many people aside from obsessives rockin’ these instrumentals on their iPod — but they work for the most part for the rhythm of the movie and obviously this was the goal (and yes, he has the tiniest cameo in the whole world which is shown in the trailer). And there is one new LCD track called, “Oh You (Christmas Blues),” but we couldn’t tell which song it was (unless it’s the aforementioned Eno-ish like track).
The credits do end with one new James Murphy song called, “If You Need A Friend,” and it’s startling different from LCD Soundsytem, featuring the same skip-happy pianos, leisurely, taking-a-stroll drums, and jangly acoustic guitars while Murphy coos along.
At the very least the soundtrack — and the film to some extent — should defy all indie-rock like expectations, which is generally a good thing. Applicable song links below.
All The Music Featured in “Greenberg”
The Steve Miller Band – ‘Jet Airliner’
James Murphy – ‘People’
Nite Jewel – ‘Suburbia’
James Murphy – ‘Sleepy Baby’
James Murphy – ‘Thumbs’
Albert Hammond – ‘It Never Rains In Southern California’
James Murphy – ‘Plenty Of Time’
The Association – ‘Windy’
James Murphy – ‘Photographs’
James Murphy – ‘Gente’
Judee Sill – ‘There’s a Rugged Road’ (sung by Greta Gerwig)
Galaxie 500 – ‘Strange’ (featured twice in the picture)
LCD Soundsystem – ‘Oh You (Christmas Blues)’
James Murphy – ‘Birthday Song’
Paul & Linda McCartney – “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”
James Murphy – ‘Dear You’
The Nucc – “Stick ‘Em Up”
Chuck The Triple Threat – “Tell Me What You Need”
Sonics – ‘Shot Down’
Lily Allen – “Everyone’s At It”
Duran Duran – ‘The Chauffeur’
Drunks With Guns – “It’s A Wonderful Subdivision”
Serge Gainsbourg – “Melody”
Yacht – “Ring The Bell”
James Murphy – ‘Please Don’t Follow Me’
James Murphy – ‘Photographs (Piano)’
James Murphy – “Australia”
James Murphy – ‘If You Need A Friend’
Duran Duran – “The Chauffeur”