Title - 'House Of Cards - Season 2' (Varese Sarabande)
Artist - Jeff Beal
The show itself, as I truly hope you know by now (for it’s an incredible TV show) follows House Majority Whip Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), a bombastic, power-hungry politician (aren’t they all though?!) from South Carolina set on conquering Washington D.C. alongside his wife, Claire (Robin Wright). When the President decides to pass over Frank for a presumed appointment to Secretary of State, Underwood take smatters into his own hands b using Congress, the media, and corporate boosters as pawns in exacting revenge on those who betrayed him.
As for the accompanying music of Jeff Beal, a lauded Emmy award-winning composer, he has taken a cinematic, sweeping approach to each and every track here on the soundtrack CD. Heavily involved in each track musically himself, this is especially brought to the fore on the show’s main title track. Beal’s trumpet and piano playing is perfection itself and once you see the show open up with this track behind you’ll fully understand why for yourself.
What Beal (Monk, Blackfish, Pollock, Appaloosa, Ugly Betty, etc.) has done on this 2-CD collection is bring us a set of tracks that link seamlessly to one another. Indeed, if you listen to this wonderful double CD and then undertake a viewing of the actual show you will instantly recall most all of his musical works - whether they be background or foreground . That’s just how good, how memorable this ‘House Of Cards - Season 2’ musical set from Jeff Beal is.
Reviewed by: Russell A. Trunk
www.VareseSarabande.com