X (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

X (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
Tyler Bates and Chelsea Wolfe
ReleasedMarch 25, 2022
Recorded2021–2022
GenreFilm score
Length49:03
LabelA24 Music
ProducerTyler Bates and Chelsea Wolfe
Tyler Bates chronology
Books of Blood
(2020) 		X
(2022) 		Day Shift
(2022)
Chelsea Wolfe chronology
Bloodmoon: I
(2021) 		X
(2022) 		She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She
(2024)

X (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2022 slasher film of the same name written, directed, produced and edited by Ti West, starring Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson, Brittany Snow, Owen Campbell, Stephen Ure and Scott Mescudi. The album featured an original score composed by Tyler Bates and Chelsea Wolfe which was released through A24 Music on March 25, 2022.

Development

X marked Bates' second collaboration with West after he previously worked with the latter on The Sacrament (2013).[1] Bates said that the pair intended to "create a vocal-centric score framed with organic synthesizers and atmospheres that evoke a sonic aesthetic of '70s arthouse horror films". He then used the wakka wakka guitars as another substantial component to the score, that provided a propulsive element to the disturbing scenes. Wolfe, who had not soundtracked a film before, primarily contributed her voice to the score, and attempted to use non-singing sounds to emulate the character's emotions.[2] Bates compared the score to that somewhere between that of Debbie Does Dallas and Rosemary's Baby.[3]

Release

The soundtrack album was released on March 25, 2022, by A24 Music.[4] It was preceded by a cover version of "Oui, Oui, Marie" performed by Wolfe, which was released as a digital single on March 11, 2022.[5]

Additional music

The film incorporates a number of songs from the 1960s and 1970s, including "In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry,[6] "Act Naturally" by Loretta Lynn,[citation needed] and "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult.[7][8][6] Additionally, one scene in the film features Jackson (Scott Mescudi) and Bobby-Lynne (Brittany Snow) performing "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac, with the former playing acoustic guitar and the latter providing vocals.[9][10]

Critical reception

Justin Lockwood of Bloody Disgusting wrote "Bates and Wolfe have created a unique musical tapestry befitting such a rich and unique cinematic experience."[11] Matt Donato of /Film wrote "Tyler Bates and Chelsea Wolfe's disquieting score scampers with chaotic freneticism".[12] Patrick Cavanaugh of ComicBook.com wrote "While Bates was able to lay a foundation to establish the mood and atmosphere of the picture by establishing an era-appropriate base level, Wolfe's more haunting and ethereal vocal contributions elevate the discordant elements of the score while never fully plunging us into darkness."[13]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Tyler Bates and Chelsea Wolfe, except where noted

X (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."My God" 2:10
2."Maxine Meets Pearl" 1:19
3."Theda" 2:36
4."Pearl's Lullaby" 1:31
5."Fucking Finally" 1:14
6."Pearl's Rapture" 1:20
7."Dolls" 3:00
8."Pumping Gas" 0:20
9."Our Secret" 3:08
10."Use Your Telephone" 0:52
11."We Talked About This" 2:07
12."Nice Girl" 1:34
13."Headlights" 4:21
14."Sorry to Disturb You" 2:38
15."The Cellar" 1:06
16."What Is It Baby?" 1:13
17."I Was Young Once" 3:05
18."Tell Me I'm Special" 3:59
19."Maxine Grabs the Gun" 4:11
20."Oui, Oui, Marie" (vocals by Chelsea Wolfe)
6:15
21."Bring Our Daughters Home" 1:00

References

  1. ^ Venutti, Isabella (March 7, 2023). "Gear Talks: Tyler Bates, composer behind Pearl, X and John Wick". Mixdown Magazine. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Cavanaugh, Patrick (March 15, 2022). "How Chelsea Wolfe Brought Ancient and Haunting Soundscapes to A24's New Horror Film X". ComicBook.com. Paramount Global Resources. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Crouch, Rachael (May 3, 2022). "Tyler Bates and Chelsea Wolfe on Creating the Dark, Funky X Soundtrack: Interview". Consequence. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  4. ^ "X (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Album by Tyler Bates, Chelsea Wolfe". A24 Music. March 25, 2022. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023 – via Apple Music.
  5. ^ "X Soundtrack Details". Film Music Reporter. March 11, 2022. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Baughan, Nikki (March 15, 2022). "'X': SXSW Review". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  7. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (March 14, 2022). "'X' Review: '70s Horror Meets '70s Porn in the Rare 'Chain Saw' Homage That Earns Its Fear". Variety. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  8. ^ Gilchrist, Todd (March 14, 2022). "Ti West works more genre-manipulating magic with X". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  9. ^ Roeper, Richard (March 17, 2022). "'X' marks a smart, inventive take on gory horror and old-school porn". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  10. ^ Chapman, Wilson (March 18, 2022). "'X' Director Ti West on Capturing Porn and '70s Texas in His New Slasher Flick". Variety. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  11. ^ Lockwood, Justin (April 4, 2022). "'X: Motion Picture Soundtrack' Review – A Unique Musical Tapestry from Tyler Bates and Chelsea Wolfe". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Donato, Matt (March 16, 2022). "X Review: A Slick And Stunning Original Slasher [SXSW]". /Film. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  13. ^ Cavanaugh, Patrick (March 14, 2022). "X Review: A Viscerally Violent Reminder of Our Own Mortal Decay". ComicBook.com. Paramount Global Resources. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2024.