Grindhouse: Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

The Robert Rodriguez written/directed half of Grindhouse features a more traditional underscore than his partner Quentin Tarantino's manic stew of pop and soundtrack oddities. Continuing to take his cue from influential horror director John Carpenter, Rodriguez again conjures his own instrumental score here, anchored by a venomous, guitar-driven theme that crystallizes the dank, over-the-top essence of the entire project. Aided by previous collaborator Graeme Revell (along with additional contributions from Carl Thiel, George Oldziey and Rick Del Castillo), the director/scorer conjures a metallic aura of sex-charged danger that often recalls the grittier moments of the Rodriguez/Revell score for Sin City, particularly on cues like the sax-fueled "The Grindhouse Blues." Star Rose McGowan expands the mood with a trio of hazily detached vocal performances that includes an irony-seeped cover of "You Belong to Me," while Chingon's savory Latin/metal fusion take on Rodriguez' own "Cherry's Dance of Death" further expands upon the score's dark sonic intrigues.