Mad Men: On the Rocks, the first collection of David Carbonara’s original score music from the acclaimed television series, compiles incidental music from the show’s 4th and 5th seasons, which has arguably been the show reaching a peak in maturity and its ravishingly vintage 1960s signature style. Because of this, David Carbonara’s score music receives a debut comprised of his absolute best highlights from a point where the show and its music has settled comfortably into its slick and authentic period-piece groove. While the average length of these tracks is around a minute, the majority of them are undeniably uppity, and with quite a lot going on in them as well. Carbonara has constructed cues that cover all the basics and beyond when it comes to the music culture and composition style of the time of Mad Men’s setting.
On the Rocks has a range of very catchy swing and brassy bop cuts, lounge-worthy jazz songs that more than complement the show with cool and suave overtones -- and in doing so make for more substantial material than your average waiting room intercom or elevator jingles -- and equally sophisticated and sultry string and piano music appearing on the more drawn-out compositions. The songs may be very short, but the brevity actually ties in nicely with the show in a uniquely thematic way, as some of the songs can play as infectious commercial music that Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce would be behind. At the end of a long day at the office,
Mad Men: On the Rocks makes a strong first impression with a nicely selected group of Carbonara’s best music from the show, and makes sure to include just as much sounds from a variety of the show’s locations as it does music from the most important and standout scenes. The success of Mad Men’s style may largely lie in its strikingly alluring visual presentation, but
On the Rocks proves the score music to be an important factor in that very enticing equation.
