In this episode of Score THIS, we take a journey to Trash Island for Wes Anderson’s stop-motion adventure, Isle of Dogs. After the dogs of Megasaki City are banished following an outbreak of canine illness, twelve-year-old Atari Kobayashi steals a small aircraft and embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue his beloved companion, Spots. With help from Chief, Rex, King, Boss, and Duke, Atari uncovers a conspiracy that threatens every dog in Megasaki.

We explore Alexandre Desplat’s Oscar-nominated score and his fourth collaboration with Anderson. Rather than relying on a traditional symphonic sound, Desplat creates a distinctive musical palette built around thunderous taiko drums, saxophones, recorders, jazz bass, piano, percussion, and male voices. The score’s persistent rhythms capture the dogs’ movement and survival instincts, while its sparse melodies and unusual instrumental combinations complement the film’s precise stop-motion animation.

We break down how cues such as “Shinto Shrine,” “The Municipal Dome,” “Six Months Later + Dog Fight,” “The Hero Pack,” “Sushi Scene,” and “End Titles” shape the story. We also discuss the soundtrack’s use of silence and its musical references to classic Japanese cinema, including selections connected to Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai and Drunken Angel.

From the pounding drums that drive the adventure to the quieter musical moments behind Atari and Chief’s growing friendship, Desplat’s score balances suspense, humor, melancholy, and hope. The result is a carefully constructed musical world that feels every bit as handcrafted as the animation itself.

Grab your spots and follow the pack as we explore the rhythmic world of Isle of Dogs on Score THIS.

Questions? Comments about our episodes? Email us at Scorethispod@gmail.com! We welcome all listeners to offer films, games, and TV shows for us to cover, but please keep the emails on topic! It makes reading them easier and we can respond quicker that way! Also, follow us on Instagram.

And please follow and subscribe to our newly launched YouTube page, Score THIS! - YouTube

Available on all streaming platforms.

Editor's Note: This episode was recorded on 9/24/26

Score THIS Scale explanation voiced by: Mia Shilling

In this episode of Score THIS, we step into the TARDIS to revisit Doctor Who Series 1 and the unforgettable journey of the Ninth Doctor. We explore how composer Murray Gold revitalized the sound of Doctor Who, blending sweeping orchestral themes, electronic textures, haunting vocals, and emotional character motifs. From the wonder of “Rose” and the terror of “Dalek” to the heartbreaking finale of “The Parting of the Ways,” we examine how Gold’s music gave the revived series its energy, humanity, and sense of adventure. Absolutely fantastic!

Note:

Doctor Who (Series 1) episodes discussed were:

Episode #1 “Rose”

Episode #6 “Dalek”

Episode #9 “The Empty Child”

Episode #10 “The Doctor Dances”

Episode #12 “Bad Wolf”

Episode #13 “The Parting of the Ways”

Questions? Comments about our episodes? Email us at Scorethispod@gmail.com! We welcome all listeners to offer films, games, and TV shows for us to cover, but please keep the emails on topic! It makes reading them easier and we can respond quicker that way! Also, follow us on Instagram.

And please follow and subscribe to our newly launched YouTube page, Score THIS! - YouTube

Available on all streaming platforms.

Editor's Note: This episode was recorded on 9/3/26

Score THIS Scale explanation voiced by: Mia Shilling

What happens when technology doesn’t just change the way we live—but takes control of who we are?

In this episode of Score THIS, we dive into Upgrade (2018), Leigh Whannell’s stylish and brutal sci-fi thriller, and the pulse-pounding score by Jed Palmer. From Grey Trace’s transformation after a devastating attack to STEM’s increasingly dominant presence, we explore how the music drives the film’s shifting balance between humanity and machine.

With special guest, Marcus Pinn, we break down Palmer’s electronic textures, aggressive rhythms, unsettling sound design, and recurring musical ideas, examining how the score mirrors Grey’s physical transformation and the growing conflict between man and technology.

It’s Upgrade—a film where the body is the battlefield, the machine is the weapon, and the score keeps the system running.

For more information on Marcus Pinn, check out these links:

PINNLAND EMPIRE

Instagram

Questions? Comments about our episodes? Email us at Scorethispod@gmail.com! We welcome all listeners to offer films, games, and TV shows for us to cover, but please keep the emails on topic! It makes reading them easier and we can respond quicker that way! Also, follow us on Instagram.

Available on all streaming platforms.

Editor's Note: This episode was recorded on 6/27/26

Score THIS Scale explanation voiced by: Mia Shilling