Review Summary: I am Jack's unrelenting aggression.
Violence, aggression, odd humor, sex, what else isn't there to love about Fight Club? Not only was its philosophical take on the present day world intriguing, but the well-written story based on Chuck Palahniuk book really was an adrenaline rush of chaos. The soundtrack itself is something that really ingrains itself into the movie. Frankly, it fits perfectly. Not only are the IDM and electronic beats so well put together by The Dust Brothers, it in itself can be listened in its entirety as if it were a concept album.
The soundtrack to Fight Club is most definitely one of the best in recent memory; The Dust Brothers manage to make the intensity and obscurity within the movie ooze out of every track. From start to finish each track one way or another will get you “going” in a matter of speaking. The intro track itself isn’t necessarily energetic, but it does set the tone throughout the album – the drum beats, small loops of electronic, ambient pieces within it foreshadow the rest of the album. Within the beginning of each track is a continuation (usually) of the previous end.
“Homework” is when it starts…your blood starts pumping, you feel uplifted; well uplifted might be the wrong term, but more like unstoppable maybe. The entire album has the elements and themes from the movie – sex, violence, energy, depression, motivation, quirkiness. Every time a there is a pause in the music it starts up again as if it was turned off to check if everything is in the right place.
“What Is Fight Club?” has a bass filled affair with drum breaks and electronic eeriness that captures the ear; as if you are truly exploring underground haven of what it is named after. What exactly holds this album together isn’t really what you should be asking yourself, but what can you decipher from the music itself to bring yourself to such an energetic rave. The bass, electronic beats, small thumps here and there, the odd eerie noises within its core, or could it beat the drums that propel it to great heights?
The Dust Brothers manage to keep repetition within the music, without it sounding dull and boring. Instead you feel engaged and enthralled to say the least. “Who Is Tyler Durden?”, “What Is Fight Club?”, “Single Serving Jack” all have the same type of structure, but feel entirely different from one another.
Now this album isn’t all about aggression and violence, there are some moments that are somewhat playful (like the movie). “Corporate World” is by far a completely different sounding track compared to its predecessors at that point in the album. The really…strange beats feel as if someone is playing a xylophone, once it stops they kick in a few moments later only to be found with overblown beats we are accustomed to that once again keep the blood churning. “Hessel, Raymond K.” seems to follow “Corporate World” with its playfulness until you hear a small cut from a DJ, then without hesitation enters the electronic sounds to introduce “Medula Oblongata”.
This soundtrack seems to find its place well. Each track seems as if they are building on each other until an epiphany (no pun intended). With each slow moving beat comes a thunderous bass and electronic loop. Take “Jack’s Smirking Revenge”, not only does it follow this well, it does it repeatedly. The suddle pauses that are calming seem to soothe you until the bass kicks in overdrive as if a revelation has come. “Stealing Fat” has a fun drum beat with hums of noise that interchange between them; quite addictive actually for the mere fact it is a short and sweet track. “Commissioner Castration” starts off as if you’re meditating then goes off in a psychotic rage that is headed by addictive drum beats that stick with you forever, then just like that the beat changes to lower tone of drumming and picks up once again – this goes on for the majority of the track; not only is this perfect, but its somewhat relaxing.
“Finding The Bomb” is merely one of the strongest tracks for the sheer reason of its intro. The 6:51 of pure bliss of low tones and chaos that comes with the usual break beats are great. It’s as if you were high strung on something and can’t stop. ” I ran. I ran until my muscles burned and my veins pumped battery acid. Then I ran some more.” –Edward Norton
The highly motivational and simple truth closer “This Is Your Life” is perfect, not only does it have the only vocals within the entire album it’s the simple truth for every person.
“This is your life, this is your life, this is your life, this is your life
Doesn't get any better than this
This is your life, this is your life, this is your life, this is your life
And it and it's ending one-minute at a time”
The Dust brothers manage to create a perfect album to complete a really daring look at society for mainstream movies. With its heavily driven bass, electronic loops, computer samples, drum beats and perfect continuation that never lets up the Fight Club soundtrack is near perfection.
