Lakeshore Records release Andrew Feltenstein and John Nau's quirky score to Better Living Through Chemistry. A small town pharmacist's uneventful life is turned inside out when a chance encounter with a lonely trophy wife turns into a walk on the wild side in this murderously funny dark comedy. Doug Varney is the model of suburban respectability-until the night he delivers a prescription to the home of Elizabeth Roberts. Gorgeous, seductive and multiply addicted, Elizabeth eagerly introduces Doug to extra-large martinis, uninhibited bedroom behaviour and the illicit pleasures of the pharmacopoeia he has access to in his store...

Andrew Feltenstein and John Nau's score for Better Living Through Chemistry is a bit of an acquired taste. The first couple of times I listened to it I didn't really rate it very highly as a score to be heard outside of the movie. It's a little too quirky, which obviously works well for the film, but is a bit strange to listen to on its own merits.

But the more I listened to the 22 tracks (31 min), the more it grew on me. While it's not a score that you'll dig out very often, there are still some standout moments.

'Biking' is incredibly retro - bringing to mind cinema comedies of the '60s; 'Pill Mill' has a funky Indian vibe to it; and 'Downtown' houses probably this score's most beautiful theme.

While it won't be to everyone's taste, there are enough interesting tracks here to make it worthy of your time.

6

Darren Rea