VA - The Aviator - Music From The Motion Picture (2004)

The soundtrack to Martin Scorsese's 2004 Howard Hughes biopic The Aviator doesn't contain any of Howard Shore's original score, concentrating instead on the hot jazz, swing, and pop tunes that appear in the movie. This is fairly evenly divided between original recordings from the '20s, '30s, and '40s and new recordings designed to sound like the time. While the vocals on the newer material can be slightly mannered -- particularly from the ever-showy Rufus Wainwright -- the new recordings fit comfortably alongside the vintage material, making the soundtrack a lively, enjoyable listen in its own right.~ Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine