The Lego Batman Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Review

Composer: Various
Distributor: WaterTower Music
Original Year of Release: 2017
Run Time: 1 Hour 35 Minutes (28 Tracks)

Much to my surprise The Lego Batman Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is a rare combination of pop songs and orchestrated pieces which work extremely well. I think, in part, it has to do with the “no holds barred”, anything goes mentality of the film. Reference Adam West’s 1966 Batman, certainly. Throw in a few cheesy eighties love songs (cool), insert Cutting Crew’s “(I Just) Died In Your Arms” here. How about something original with this Batman (voiced by Will Artnett) singing “Friends are Family” (see video below), awesome! Finally, what’s cheesier than cheese? Well, Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine supplying not one, but two tracks. Yes, The Lego Batman Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is a rare thing indeed.

Friends Are Family – Oh, Hush! feat. Will Arnett & Jeff Lewis (Track #8)

With many of my reviews on soundtracks for motion pictures and television shows, I avoid the pop song soundtrack releases like the plague. Being a fan of movie scores and having worked in three music stores, those pop soundtracks were always one really good track and 15 forgettable ones. Here, as I mentioned before, I found myself enjoying it all.

The score by Lorne Balfe, which encompasses 15 different tracks, is one of the best I have heard in a long time. Balfe is clearly in his element as he has worked in the Music Department for the likes of The Dark Knight, Sherlock Holmes, and Iron Man. Clearly a student of Hans Zimmer, Balfe uses several music cues from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in “Your Greatest Enemy” (Track #14). Balfe must have also been a fan of Junkie XL’s Mad Max: Fury Road as “Joker Crashes the Party” (Track #16) has similar tempos. Yet I found his “The Phantom Zone” (Track #19) to be a great sampling of his range. It’s both classic eerie, sweet, and completely zany. I even heard a trace of a Jerry Goldsmith piano cue in there.


Chaos In Gotham – Lorne Balfe (Track #21)

Certainly, the classic pop songs are fun, but there are new renditions of a few others here too. Alex Aiono’s “Man In The Mirror” (Track #7) is just as good as, if not better than, Michael Jackson’s original. Richard Cheese’s rendition (track #11) of the same song is the version you wish all elevator versions of songs would sound like. However’s Richard Cheese’s version of “Everything is Awesome” (Track #12), from the original Lego Movie, will easily make it into your party playlist.

I was hesitant when I first saw this album on WaterTower Music. Upon seeing the movie, as I know you all have by this point, it should be a no-brainer to pick it up. It’s one of those rare occasions where pop songs and a movie score compliment each other. It is also fun for both you and the kids. Again, everything is awesome.

Track Listing:

1. Who’s The (Bat)Man – Patrick Stump
2. Forever – DNCE
3. (I Just) Died In Your Arms – Cutting Crew
4. Invincible – Kirsten Arian
5. One – Harry Nilsson
6. Heroes (We Could Be) [Hard Rock Sofa and Skidka Remix] – Alesso feat. Tove Lo
7. Man In The Mirror – Alex Aiono
8. Friends Are Family – Oh, Hush! feat. Will Arnett and Jeff Lewis
9. I Found You Fraser Murray
10. Forever – Justin Tranter
11. Man In The Mirror – Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine
12. Everything Is Awesome – Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine
13. Black – Lorne Balfe
14. Your Greatest Enemy – Lorne Balfe
15. The Arrival of Robin – Lorne Balfe
16. Joker Crashes the Party – Lorne Balfe
17. No Seat Belts Required – Lorne Balfe
18. To Cage the Joker – Lorne Balfe
19. The Phantom Zone – Lorne Balfe
20. Open for Business – Lorne Balfe
21. Chaos in Gotham – Lorne Balfe
22. Lava Attack – Lorne Balfe
23. For Your Own Good – Lorne Balfe
24. Joker Manor – Lorne Balfe
25. Batman’s in The Zone – Lorne Balfe
26. The Babs Signal – Lorne Balfe
27. Battle Royale – Lorne Balfe
28. A Long Farewell – Lorne Balfe [review]