Mad Men: Original Score, Vol. 1

iTunes Review

The dramatic television series Mad Men, which premiered in 2007, has been lauded for its depiction of the advertising world at the dawn of the ‘60s. David Carbonara, who has scored a number of projects including David O. Russell’s Spanking the Monkey and the British comedy, The Guru, wrote the successful TV show’s music. “The New Girl” and “A Beautiful Mine” feature a lush ensemble sound that evokes Gil Evans’ famous arrangements. (The latter track, with its zigzagging flute and sweet horn chart, is one of the soundtrack’s standouts.) “How Many Get Sable” playfully incorporates Latin elements, while “Betty’s Ride” draws from the music of Spain. “Song of India” is a slice of light classical, the sort of sound that filled many a suburban living room back in the day. Four short tracks —“Don’s Meeting with Adam,” “Betty’s Mechanic,” “The Snows of Yesteryear,” and “I’m Not Going to Fight”— display an effectively somber touch. The delightfully frothy “A Girl Can Dream” sports a loungey sound decked out with brief, tasteful solos. And it’s nice to hear Carbonara stretch out on one of the longest cuts, the finely orchestrated “The Carousel.”