By now you must be living under a rock to not know about "Slumdog Millionaire," this year's Oscar darling. Until Sunday night, however, it was still forgivable to be unacquainted with the film's soundtrack.
Two out of the three nominees for Best Original Song -- "O Saya" and "Jai Ho" -- came from "Slumdog Millionaire."
It is almost obnoxious to have over 66 percent of the nominees for an award coming from the same film, but the mob mentality that has propelled "Slumdog Millionaire" to Oscar dominance is justified. The soundtrack is an unusually strong collection of tracks that not only enhances the movie, but can also stand alone just as well.
While "Jai Ho" ultimately beat out M.I.A. and A.R. Rahman's collaborative "O Saya," these two songs do not do justice to the soundtrack as a whole.
Everyone knows and likely loves M.I.A. for her hit "Paper Planes," but the enregy of the "Slumdog Millionaire" soundtrack extends well beyond her star power.
The atmospheric "Riots" captures the dystopic and terrifying incomprehensibility of mob violence with deep, eerie drumming overlain by distant vocals that sound like cries. While it is not what I'd choose for background music while I try to fall asleep, the interwoven rhythms and background chords enrich the track.
Other instrumental pieces on the album provide easier listening. "Mausam and Escape" is one such song, with its sing-song sitar and beefy, distorted electric synths. Ornate violin transforms the piece into an intense, but melodious track.
Perhaps the strongest track on the album is the techno-pop song "Aaj Ki Raat." Mystical and ethereal vocals soar above a pulsating electronic synth riff that could be the meat of a long lost Donna Summer song. "Aaj Ki Raat" is catchy, tightly produced and infectious. On a largely dark album (from a mostly dark film, despite some inspirational moments) it bursts through like a sonic supernova.
The only low point on the album is the sappy tune "Dreams on Fire." It might be accidental, but it sounds like it could be a long lost duet from "Rent," along the lines of "I Should Tell You." Although "Rent" has its fans and perhaps even its place (although this is debatable), the effusive and sloppily emotional atmosphere that transports the listener to a land of sharing and hand-holding in "Dreams on Fire" drags down an otherwise restrained, yet communicative soundtrack.
It's not often that a movie soundtrack is worthy of listening on its own -- the fact that "Slumdog Millionaire's" soundtrack is such an exception is just one more victory for an exceptional film.