In this track from the score of Sin City (2005), composer John Debney employs solo saxophone and trumpet over orchestral strings, evoking a classic noir sound.[4]
Because the film is based on different comic book stories (written by Frank Miller), each composer was assigned to score a different story. Revell scored the music to The Hard Goodbye (Rodriguez co-scored for tracks four, six and eight); Debney scored The Big Fat Kill (Rodriguez co-scored tracks eleven and twelve); Rodriguez scored That Yellow Bastard as well as the opening credits sequence and the first track in the end credits.
Miscellaneous music
The song featured in the trailers and television spots was an instrumental version of the song "Cells" by The Servant and briefly appeared in the movie as a sample.
Jerry McCulley of Amazon.com says, "While their largely synth-driven cues tend naturally towards brooding atmospheric soundscapes, their tense electro-rhythms are seasoned with bracing doses of sinewy, sensual sax and dotted with the occasional bongo flourish, details that musically evoke both a shadowy humanity and the film's genre-savvy roots."[5]
Mike Brennan of SoundtrackNet gives it four stars saying, "While each composer brings a different style and feel to the film, the rough saxophone and sorrowful trumpet and vocal solos maintain a soundscape that keeps the film one entity rather than three separate stories. Behind a groundbreaking visual piece is also a unique musical journey that truly takes the listener into the world of Sin City."[3]
Christian Clemmensen of Filmtracks.com said, "Sin City is a decent score with an excellent rendering. No single element will blow you away (other than that final Debney cue), but its whole is surprisingly organic and pulpy."[2]