Album Art Exclusive: ‘Frankenweenie Unleashed’
The glow-in-the-dark cover art for Frankenweenie Unleashed! from Tim Burton‘s latest project, Frankenweenie, has been unveiled, and it’s as quirky as the movie’s plot. The story centers around a boy who, after struggling with the pain of losing his dog, tries (and succeeds) in bringing him back from the dead.
The album of music from and inspired by the film will feature a song by Yeah Yeah Yeahs vocalist Karen O. The singer tells Rolling Stone that her song, “Strange Love,” featured during the end credits of the film, reflects the same charming eccentricities that Tim Burton is famous for. “There’s a magic and nostalgia in this film that reminded me of being raised on Tim Burton’s catalog,” she says. “I was thinking, ‘Oh yeah, this man shaped my artistic sensibility over the past 20 years alongside thousands of other impressionable offbeat youths.’ Tim wanted an unconventional unconditional love song.”
Though the definitition of an “unconventional love song” may not be immediately obvious (an ode to a pet rock? A Marilyn Manson or vial-of-blood-around-the-neck kind of thing?), Karen O knew just where to look. “My music inspiration came out of the same era of B-movie fright film references sprinkled throughout the film,” she says. “I went in the direction of exotica and calypso stylistically because it’s quirky, good vibes music of that era, and when you throw in a Theremin solo, it’s a marriage made in heaven. I remember Beetlejuice introducing me to the genius of Harry Belafonte’s calypso record, so I wanted to give a nod to that, too.”
Frankenweenie Unleashed! will be released on September 25th, as well as Frankenweenie: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, which was scored by composer Danny Elfman. Frankenweenie will premiere in theaters on October 5th.