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Today’s Free For All Friday is almost as much about a movie as it is an album. The Man From U.N.C.L.E came to theaters last weekend, and I was one of the four or five people who saw it. I’m a shameless Guy Ritchie, Armie Hammer, and Alicia Vikander fan, which is why I joined the masses (a term used loosely), but, nonetheless, I went in with decidedly low expectations. What I got was a classic, throwback-y spy thriller that was breezy, silly, and a whole lot of fun. 

One of the key stars was the spectacular soundtrack supervised by Guy Ritchie and Ian Neil, featuring original music by composer Daniel Pemberton. The resulting mash-up of Italian pop songs and phenomenal spy movie musical pastiche is practically worth the price of admission on its own. From the “Yazz flute” of the “Escape from East Berlin” in the opening chase scene to the brash “ahhs” of “Take You Down” in the final action set piece, Pemberton picks and chooses some of the best musical tropes from espionage thrillers of yore, modern hollywood, and spaghetti westerns. In fact, the OST often feels haunted by the ghost of (still living) film music great Ennio Morricone. It’s a connection especially evident in the guitar work, which often bears his jangly trademark sound. 

Neil and Ritchie’s musical selections are equally solid, from the burning riffs of Tom Zé’s “Jimmy, Renda-se,” to Bert Berns and Solomon Burke’s soulful “Cry to Me” to the gorgeous ballad “Che Vuole Questa Musica Stasera” — the latter two employed to wonderfully clever effect in the movie. There’s not a shy decision anywhere on this record. Each track is as bold, unique, and enjoyable as the last. 

See the movie, (seriously, I’m one of the two people in the world on board with “The Man from U.N.C.L.E 2,” which is totally not going to happen) then listen to this album, or vice versa. It’s one of the rare soundtracks that stands on its own merits. Even without a movie attached, this is a compendium of excellent, off the beaten path music, and wonderful homages to a rich history of great film music. This is about as good as it gets for a film OST, in my book.

Highlights include: “Escape from East Berlin,” “Circular Story,” “Take You Down,” “Che Vuole Questa Musica Stasera.”

(Source: Spotify)