Alex G has once again collaborated with director Jane Schoenbrun on their new film “I Saw the TV Glow”.
Having previously created the score for Schoenbrun’s previous film, “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair”, Alex G re-uses some similar elements from this films’ score, but leans completely into instrumentals this time.
Combining his usual ominous guitar work with wild synthesizers, Alex G is able to build a soundscape more varied than ever before.
The score is also a companion piece to the soundtrack that features big names like Phoebe Bridgers and Snail Mail.
The Pink Opaque
Opening Theme from The Pink Opaque is a great start to the score. Setting up a comforting atmosphere whilst the droning in the back hints at something darker.
Election Night brings in a piano, repeating the same line over and over before drums and synthesizers come in to bolster the sound. The song furthers the established tone that the opener sets.
High School Hallway is a surreal track, featuring a continuous drone and distorted voices. It’s creepy but it’s very gentle.
Ice Cream Transformation brings in a string section. It’s a haunting track, the violins falling in and out as the double bass carries the rhythm.
Suburban Drift is very similar to High School Hallway, it’s equally as distorted, but it trades the voices for a repeating synth.
Marco Polo sounds like it’s ripped right out of a 70’s slasher. The synth drops in key as it plays and a siren-like sound is blaring – Brings back the spooky mood.
Love Theme from The Pink Opaque is gorgeous, composed entirely of synths and drum pads. It is calming and soothes the tension set up prior.
Saturday Night in Maddy’s Basement sounds the most like an Alex G song. The guitar takes centre stage and the droning is snuffed out by a gentle bass line.
Blue Glow is another gentle track. It’s an easy listen with the strings returning and the synth coming in and out of the sound.
TV Burn is a mix of all of the previously discussed songs. Every instrument and theme comes together to create a beautiful soundscape that ebbs and flows gracefully, whilst still delivering a punch.
TV Glow
Downed Power Line brings up the back half of the score. One of the longer tracks in “I saw the TV Glow” at almost four minutes, there’s a beat change in the middle that sets up a new theme and elevates the music further than before.
The Double Lunch is a straight forward horror track with an Alex G twist. Static and spooky sounds are prevalent, under cut by Alex’s impeccable synth work.
The Final Episode is wild, it’s a complete mess of sounds. Arcade-like sound effects are mixed with a screaming synth. It’s the hardest listen of the score and the scariest by far.
Buried Alive is another great track. The strings accompany a slightly out of key piano, building a sense of acceptance and calmness.
Planetarium (Outside) takes a step back, a far-off guitar plays gently as the droning synth remains understated. Percussion is weaved back in building to a static-filled final 30 seconds.
Planetarium (Inside) uses similar elements to (Outside) but brings back the piano and string section. Both songs reflect one anther perfectly, embodying the two different styles used for the score.
No One Will Find Us There brings the mood back down. Just Synths and strings, it’s got a very ominous sound to it that helps it fall in line with many of the other tracks.
Money Machine is another mess. Clashing instruments and a laugh fight each other. It’s more of a headache than a track you’d willingly put on.
Box Cutter is the culmination of the droning synth used throughout the score. The synth and strings find rest and fade out for the final time on this track.
The Fun Center is a bizarre final track. Mixing in a load of instruments and themes used previously in a very light hearted way. It’s a fun song, but a strange final song.
Synths and Strings
Alex G continues to prove he’s more than just a lo-fi-indie musician. Evolving leaps and bounds from his first few albums.
It’s been great to see Alex G evolve effectively into a composer, and I’m all here for it.
I Saw the TV Glow‘s score is on par with Alex G’s work on World’s Fair. It’s incredible and is one of the best scores I’ve heard in a long time.
Featured image credit: stereogum.com
Fourth year Film and Journalism student
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