The Departed (Music from the Motion Picture)

iTunes Review

As he did with his previous mob-centered films Goodfellas and Casino, director Martin Scorsese seasons this remake of the Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs with a well-chosen slate of rock 'n' pop that gracefully underpins the story's era and settings. It’s a collection whose key selections center on the classic rock of The Stones, Beach Boys, Allmans and Badfinger for their instant familiarity, yet one with enough shrewd sense of adventure to include a live version of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" by Roger Waters, Van Morrison and The Band, plus Patsy Cline's original "Sweet Dreams" and a lyrical cover by guitarist Roy Buchanan, as well as the boozy Irish swagger of the Dropkick Murphy's "I'm Shipping Out to Boston" and the loopy '60s proto-garage-punk of the Human Beinz' "Nobody But Me." Rounding out the collection are two tracks showcasing Howard Shore's unusual, guitar-centered instrumental underscore (the complete recording is available separately) via its evocative main theme tango and the contrasting solo classical piece, "Beacon Hill."