Maurice Sendak’s kiddie classic Where the Wild Things Are was
written in 1963, but Spike Jonze’s film adaptation and its accompanying
soundtrack from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O is a product of an
indie-music generation wary of adulthood. Rather than going down the
painfully chipper Randy Newman route, or (lord help us, Leonard)
another teary rendition of “Hallelujah,” Karen O has created a quiet
soundtrack that showcases her ethereal vocals, ranking up there with
Air’s original score for The Virgin Suicides. Joined by a kids’
choir, plus members of the YYYs, The Raconteurs, The Bird and the Bee
and more, the soundtrack ranges from the minimal (“Igloo,” “Cliffs”) to
the cheerfully jubliant (hand-clapping “Capsize”). Just like the film,
this is kids’ material made for the not-so-young.
Worried Shoes – Karen O And The Kids
This article appears in Oct 22-28, 2009.