Danny Elfman "So Lo" 1984**

This is the only pop album to come out under the name of renowned film composer Danny Elfman. Of course in 1984 the Tim Burton collaborations and oscar nominations were still years away, while Elfman already had a career in pop as leader of the New Wave/Ska group Oingo Boingo. The band had started as a performing theater troupe and gradually morfed into a pop group, but still retained a strong theatrical element and fascination for everything macabre. Take a look at this album cover: does it surprise you that this guy wrote the songs to "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Corpse Bride"? Not to mention loaned his singing voice to those movies' bony characters, Jack Skellington and mr. Bonejangles. It's no wonder he and Tim Burton became inseparable; as the Greek saying goes "the pot rolled down and found the lid". Contrary to what the title (So Lo=solo) suggests, however, Elfman didn't exactly leave Oingo Boingo behind for this one. He pretty much used most of them on this album, which is why many reviewers still consider this as a part of their discography. Presumeably he decided to present it as a solo album because the overall sound is heavily influenced by synthpop, sounding like a cross between disco, proto-Depeche Mode and Talking Heads. It's not a good fit for the music; it ends up sounding hopelessly outdated despite having some good tunes. Opener "Gratitude" for example is a cool dance song merging new wave and world music, "Cool City" is another upbeat tune which reminds me of Big Audio Dynamite, while the mid-tempo "The Last Time" sounds more like David Byrne. "It Only Makes Me Laugh" exchanges synths for a more organic and bright ska sound with horns - an instant improvement. In general, if this wasn't Danny Elfman, I wouldn't have bothered with this album. As it is, there is some curio value - recognizing the Elfman we know and love from his soundtracks from time to time unexpectedely emerging from this typically 80's synthpop record. Tim Burton fans might want to check this out...

*** for Gratitude, Cool City, Go Away, It Only Makes Me Laugh, The Last Time

** for Sucker for Mystery, Tough as Nails, Lightning, Everybody Needs