The Lincoln Lawyer (Original Motion Picture Score)

The booklet included with the soundtrack provides a statement by Cliff Martinez, credited with this score, who assures us that the soundtrack "will be one gourmet, gold plated, hand-rolled, gluten-free listening experience." Further, he expresses his confidence "that this soundtrack will give sight to the blind, heal arthritis and bring health, prosperity and X-ray vision to all who hear it." It is even signed, "Cliff Martinez" and dated, "February 2011." Reading this before playing the soundtrack from start to finish with a good pair of headphones I thought, "this is mere puffery." Although his confidence in healing the blind, arthritis and bringing health, prosperity and X-ray vision to all who hear it may be puffed up, over confidence, the soundtrack is indeed "one gourmet listening experience." Watching a quick interview about shooting this film and reading about creating the musical score, I learned that the creators of this motion picture and its accompanying music, in this instance, applied the work philosophy of many criminal defense lawyers who are successful advocates for their clients and who are known as trial lawyers who "do it on the fly:" The furious pace of production was either required of a higher authority's time constraints (the producers like the court for lawyers) or the pace was the result of procrastination resulting in a concentrated effort towards achievement of a specific goal. Either way, the analogy of a successful criminal defense lawyer applies to the production. If the government was prosecuting this soundtrack, it wouldn't even make it to trial but if it did, the jury would give the Lincoln Lawyer his "NG." The Lincoln Lawyer's original motion score is great (especially when prepping cases at midnight)!

Cliff Martinez is consistantly one of my favorite composers. His film scores are almost always engaging, inserting themselves into the film in such a way as to almost become a living, breathing, character in the movies he's lent his talents to. A great percussionist, having drummed for some of punk/alternative's great acts like Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Dickies, and Lydia Lunch, he brings his staccato, stylized synchopated rhythms to life in each of the films he's worked on. I have become such a Martinez fan that I'm often motivated to see a film I otherwise might not have, simply because Martinez is doing the score. Some of his earlier film work I admittedly am not that impressed with, but since around 2000, his style changed noticeably. His scores for Traffic, Solaris, Wicker Park, and First Snow are some of my favorites. They are distinctly Martinez, and the music is so evocative they not only aid in recalling very specific details about the films, the scenes, and the emotional impact, because they were so deeply integral to the film itself, but are also such great stand alone albums that I find myself listening to them just to relax and meditate to. I have yet to see The Lincoln Lawyer, but after hearing this score, I have no doubt it will be much the same experience. Great ambient music that flows through you as you listen to it. Highly recommended!