Classic soundtracks, like the ones made by Ennio Morricone, have one major overriding theme that defines them no matter what styles of music are being explored: a tough-as-nails, ass-kicking, grab-them-by-the-throat sense of cool; an untouchable ability to frame iconic imagery and characters with an added aura of gravitas, pounding emotion, and infinite style.
Morricone Youth have spent the past few years on the New York club scene merry-go-round specializing in playing covers of work by Jerry Goldsmith, Henry Mancini, and Krzystof Komeda, to name a few. They're a sextet who bravely tackle the potentially unwieldy challenge of replicating and channeling film music frequently made by large orchestras into a pop jazz idiom. It's a potentially interesting, though admittedly one-trick, idea. Live, it must at the very least be novel if not even possibly amusing. But their debut album, Silenzio Violento, a collection of original songs inspired by the many film scores they have performed over the years, reveals one thing so desperately lacking that its presence would have otherwise shot their music out of the ghetto of slightly quirky, easy-listening dinner party schmaltz and into the same realm as their idols: what they lack is the requisite sense of emotionally-charged atmospheric cool needed to pull off their stylistic tightrope act. Instead of sounding like prime Lalo Schifrin, they come across as a light jazz act playing the afternoon slot in the back corner of a failing all-you-can-eat restaurant attempting to draw in customers by providing live 'groovy' music to accompany the new organic salad bar.
Which is a shame. It's a nice idea that could have potentially worked. Silenzio Violento should have been an album to help inform, expose, and inspire musically-interested youngsters just starting to expand their palettes beyond four chords. Instead, Morricone Youth have made an album that is, at best, the soundtrack to buying a skinny soy latte at the local Starbucks.
1. Silenzio Violento (titoli)
2. Starshine
3. Bonniewood
4. Bye Bye (take 5)
5. Monster
6. Super Villain
7. The Black Forest
8. Heist
9. Drink
10. Brujo Malo
11. Bye Bye (Chase Theme)
12. Funny Thing
13. I.V.A.N
14. Bye Bye ( End Credits) 1. Silenzio Violento (titoli)
2. Starshine
3. Bonniewood
4. Bye Bye (take 5)
5. Monster
6. Super Villain
7. The Black Forest
8. Heist
9. Drink
10. Brujo Malo
11. Bye Bye (Chase Theme)
12. Funny Thing
13. I.V.A.N
14. Bye Bye ( End Credits)
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