Sony Music releases Jeff Russo's score for critically acclaimed, 10-part TV series Fargo. An original adaptation of the Academy Award -winning feature film, Fargo features an all-new “true crime” story and follows a new case and new characters, all entrenched in the trademark humour, murder and “Minnesota nice” that made the film an enduring classic. Billy Bob Thornton stars as Lorne Malvo, a ruthless, manipulative man who meets and forever changes the life of small town insurance salesman Lester Nygaard, played by Martin Freeman. Colin Hanks plays Duluth Police Deputy Gus Grimly, a single dad who must choose between his own personal safety and his duty as a policeman when he comes face-to-face with a killer. Allison Tolman also stars as Molly Solverson, an ambitious Bemidji deputy...

Jeff Russo's score for the TV series Fargo includes a theme that pays homage to the main titles in the original 1996 movie. It's not a reworking, as such, and if you're not paying close attention you probably won't even notice, but it's an impressive nod to Carter Burwell's original theme.

The album contains 28 tracks (52 min, 17 sec). It's an interesting enough score, but there's not a great deal to get excited about. It's functional but delivers little in the way of memorable themes. This is a score that's designed to sit in the background of the show rather than be listened to on its own merits.

I did enjoy this score though, but it's one that I could put on in the background and forget about, one that adds a bit of background sound. It's certainly not a soundtrack that demands your full attention.

6

Darren Rea