A Simple Plan: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack
Those more familiar with Danny Elfman's gothicBatmanscores, or the often dark whimsy of his other collaborations with director Tim Burton (Pee Wee's Big Adventure,Edward Scissorhands,The Nightmare Before Christmas,Mars Attacks!) may find Elfman's work on Sam Raimi's fine, understated moral thrillerA Simple Planto be nothing short of a revelation. A mature, masterfully evocative exercise in shading and subtlety, Elfman'sPlanmusic breaks new ground for the composer, seeming closer in tone and spirit to Thomas Newman's fine '90s work (especially the Oscar-nominatedUnstrung Heroes). It's an exercise in delicate, minor-key moodiness, delivered by a small wind and string ensemble and decorated with brief, quirkily effective percussive motifs, that's ultimately a seeming contradiction: sadly pastoral. Bluesy, roadhouse romps by the Imperial Crowns, Jolene, and Tina & the B-Sides gratifyingly fill out the set, instead of dominating it as is the case with many soundtracks.--Jerry McCulley