Composer Christopher Lennertz Assembles An All-Star Band for Score of "Horrible Bosses"

June 29, 2011 - PRLog -- LOS ANGELES – Award-winning composer Christopher Lennertz scores the highly-anticipated black comedy, New Line/Warner Bros’ Horrible Bosses, directed by Seth Gordon and starring Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Jason Sudeikis, and Kevin Spacey.  To create the music, Lennertz brought together members of Beastie Boys, Beck, Pearl Jam, Jane's Addiction, and The Dave Matthews Band to deliver a score that would  reflect Jennifer Aniston as a sex-crazed psycho, Colin Farrell as a balding coke-head, and Kevin Spacey as a master manipulator. The Horrible Bosses soundtrack will be released by Watertower Music digitally and on Amazon.com “CD on demand” July 5th, the film opens July 8th.

Lennertz’ musical mission was for the score to play as “authentic” as possible against the characters as Bateman, Sudeikis, and Charlie Day try to go from everyday working stiffs to calculated killers. Instead of recording digitally, all the tracks were recorded “old school” on 2 inch analog tape at the Village and Capital Records to make every cue feel as if was coming straight off the Vinyl and into the film.

According to Lennertz, “The idea was to put together a band that would record the score together the same way that they would make an album.  It isn't over-produced or shiny and digital in any way. It's brash, noisy, and full of bravado and swagger. I knew that if we could harness some of this sonic magic in the score, then the toughness and confidence of the music would play against Bateman, Sudeikis, and Charlie Day to really emphasize and elevate the humor in the situations that transpire.”

The key musicians included Money Mark (Beastie Boys) on keyboards, Mick McCready (Pearl Jam) and Dave Levita (Eminem) on guitar, Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction) and Stefan Lessard (Dave Matthews Band) on bass, Victor Indrizzo (Beck) on drums and DJ Cheapshot (Fort Minor, Linkin Park) on turntables.

The Village is the legendary West L.A. recording studio that has recorded legends from The Doors and Elton John to The Foo Fighters and Lady Gaga. Capitol Records has recorded some of the greatest artists of all time from Frank Sinatra to The Beastie Boys. The building itself is an emblematic fixture of the Hollywood skyline.

Lennertz explains, “We tracked through tape before Pro Tools to get that fat sound, and made every choice based on feel rather than perfection. We even used the same Wurlitzer that Money Mark played on Beck's classic ‘Where It's At’. At the end of the day, Seth [Gordon] and I wanted to produce a score that is as irreverent and full of attitude as the movie itself. I think we did it...and most of all, everyone had a blast in the process.”  

Lennertz’ film credits span from major family films Hop, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, to character-driven dramas like the award-winning Adam from FOX Searchlight. He has collaborated with musical icons, from co-scoring with Academy-Award winner Dave Grusin for the breathtaking Harmony, to recording with diverse artists including Ozomatli and RZA of Wu-Tang Clan. His successes on the small screen include the CW fan favorite Supernatural. Additionally, Lennertz’s powerful, full orchestral scores for three of the Steven Spielberg-created videogame series Medal of Honor led to a multitude of blockbuster game scores such as Gun, Warhawk, Godfather II, The Simpsons, SIMS and the James Bond: 007 series.

Awards and nominations include an Emmy nod, numerous Film & TV Music Awards, BMI Film Music Awards, and the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Award. In addition to his busy scoring career, Christopher Lennertz is spearheading a Haiti fundraiser. His Concert for Haiti, brought together 25 of the leading composers to all contribute to a concert piece.  The symphony was recorded with a 90 piece orchestra and 50 voice choir.   The CD and DVD will be available late summer with 100% of the proceeds benefitting Hands Together, an established organization that has been helping Haiti's poor for nearly decade. Lennertz is currently recording at George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch for the videogame Starhawk. Next up is new orchestral score for Looney Tunes 3D short; this marks his fourth short for Warner Bros. Lennertz is the only composer to score the newest inception of the classic characters.

Interviews, music and photos available – contact Costa Communications (323) 650-3588