Nothing New for the ‘Toons

Soundtracks for animated series are typically a joke, with very little time devoted to the typical sets of bangs and whistles of which they are comprised. With JG Thirlwell, however, the man behind Foetus on board for Adult Swim’s “The Venture Bros.,” this was never going to be the case.

Thirlwell has in effect written a score that would be typically suited for a big U.S. drama for the animated series, with its roots in jazz and fast-paced drum rhythms that wouldn’t be out of place on a drum and bass record. Though this may sound promising, it is not.

This is little more than a collection of generic tracks that, far from being exclusive and unique to “The Venture Bros.,” could appear in any mediocre show on television. It is possible that if taken in context, set alongside the animated show, the album is a real work of art. But when separated, the soundtrack becomes banal and dull; the only entertainment to be had is guessing the type of scene suited to each track.

The soundtrack is a far reach from JG Thirlwell’s other work, which was far from being insipid or tedious, and set him out as a pioneer of contemporary experimental music. It seems he has stifled his own creativity with this project, settling for the typical and obvious rather than the explosive and groundbreaking. There must be very little room for exploration when you are tied to a collection of portrayed sentiment. With a new Foetus release expected this year, it can be expected that Thirlwell will be back to his usual form in no time.