Last night I was invited out to a film set for a short film currently shooting in south New Jersey. My friend, actor Randy Memoli, was being featured in the evening’s shoot so I stopped on the Garden State Parkway to pick him up. He was very excited to put a CD in the car and hadn’t even loaded up his wardrobe changes and other things before he stuck his head in the car and yelled, “We can listen to the new John Carpenter album!!! …If you want!” What the Hell do you mean, “If I want to?” Truth be told, I haven’t heard anything recently about ‘Lost Themes’ since fellow HorrorSociety reporter Michael Juvinall covered the buzz track, ‘Night.’ But since it was an album from my favorite director of all time, I guess I could make the “sacrifice.”
John Carpenter is synonymous with creating one of the most iconic horror films and slashers of all time – Halloween and Michael Myers. It is a genre defining film that has withstood the test of time, and many fans such as myself, hail Carpenter as one of the best in the business behind the camera and as one of the most clever storytellers. What we don’t always recognize him for, though, are his musical creations and recording style. Did you know that Mr. C. created musical scores and compositions for almost all of his films including The Fog, Christine, They Live, Vampires, and Ghosts of Mars. I’m not sure why he didn’t record any new material for The Ward in 2010, but maybe remnants of that can be found on his album, ‘Lost Themes.’
‘Lost Themes’ was released via Sacred Bones Records on February 3, 2015. Although John Carpenter is the headliner, the rock-star of the album, his son, Cody Carpenter, and an associate, Daniel Davies, contributed to the composition, performance, and engineering of all nine tracks – fifteen if you get the deluxe edition – that make up ‘Lost Themes.’ The non-soundtrack album was all about having fun and making moody music, according to an article by PitchFork.com. Unlike most of his previous efforts, this album wasn’t made with any deadlines or for any specific director who could ask for revisions. It was solely created to deliver Carpenter’s timeless, imaginative, and new, original music to the fans.
For statistics sake, a little bit of Did You Know trivia, ‘Lost Themes’ debuted at #129 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart for the week ending February 13, 2015. On Billboard’s component charts, the record came in at #1 on the Electronic Chart and #10 on the Independent Chart. It also managed to debut in the top 50, #44 to be exact, on the UK Albums Chart in England. Not bad!
So, what did I think of John Carpenter’s ‘Lost Themes’?
Well, let’s just say – my driving skills aren’t that great when I’m driving somewhere new. In other words Randy Memoli and I became lost on the road trip to set and on the road trip home from set. Since we were so busy talking and trying to navigate our way home safely, ‘Lost Themes’ remained in the CD player, going track by track the whole three or four hour drive. And you know what? Neither of us seemed to notice. Although all nine tracks are different and compelling in their own right, they flow together in a completely genius way that very few composers are capable of doing. The music was soothing, mesmerizing, and invigorating all at the same time.
‘Lost Themes’ has a track that fits nearly every mood you can be in and in subtle ways is a soundtrack to any new or big life event you can experience. Going to kick some guy’s ass who slept with your girlfriend? Put in ‘Lost Themes.’ Driving to the grocery store in a blizzard? Put in ‘Lost Themes.’ Watching a meteor shower with a group of friends? Put in ‘Lost Themes.’ What’s great about John Carpenter’s album is that it’s able to step outside of the horror and science fiction audience demographic and entice other listeners who are smart enough to purchase it. I can guarantee that any type of music fan who enjoys synth and electronica and metal without lyrics will thoroughly enjoy this new masterpiece from John Carpenter.
‘Lost Themes’ has tremendous replay-ability, so it goes without saying that you should get your copy in stores or online right now! It is more than worth the price of purchase. Suited for horror fans but unique enough for all listeners, ‘Lost Themes’ is bound to be another piece from John Carpenter that withstands the test of time. Eerie, suspenseful, and it sneak attacks your senses, it has the capability of harkening anyone back to the Golden Age of Horror or to a time in your life when something new or different was happening. And, honestly, I didn’t expect it to be so good. My expectations were more than blown away. I’m glad Randy Memoli brought this for the car ride because I’m better having listened to it.
FINAL SCORE: 10 out of 10 (I mean, we listened to it for four hours total… consecutively… without complaint. How many albums can make you do that?)
