Ryall here. Danny Elfman's former band holds the distinction of being the only one I've seen three times in the span of four days. This wasn't even as big a feat as it sounds, since back in the mid-to-late 1980s, that band, OINGO BOINGO, was a concert mainstay in Southern California. They'd play colleges, they'd play typical concert venues, and they'd play amusement parks, all with the same wacky sense of fun that made 'em so much fun to see. It's odd to talk to people outside of Southern California and realize that Elfman is only known to most people for his post-BOINGO work as a composer.

Either way, the thing that typified Elfman's work in either case has always been, clever, off-center arrangements aside, the sense of the macabre that pervades his best work. You can hear it in most every OINGO BOINGO song (their Halloween-night shows were always their best and most inspired) and through his work on films like BATMAN, BEETLEJUICE, and THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

It was that film that finally got Danny back singing again, after too long an absence for us fans. And he's done so a bit again recently, in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (albeit mostly unrecognizably, since he sang every Oompa Loompa song in multiple voices and then layered them on top of one another), and now in TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE, Burton and Elfman's return to NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS form.

And we've got five copies of the original soundtrack for you ton win. But first, let's pay the bills, with this official press release about the soundtrack:

"Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" Soundtrack Rises to the Occasion with New Music from Danny Elfman

BURBANK, CA -- 08/25/05 -- Three-time Oscar®-nominated composer Danny Elfman has once again joined forces with director Tim Burton to create the evocative and atmospheric original score for "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride," the eagerly awaited new stop-motion animation film starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Emily Watson.

Set for release September 20th on Warner Sunset Records/Warner Bros. Records, "The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" highlights an original score by Elfman, who has previously collaborated with Burton on such acclaimed films as "Beetlejuice," "Batman," "Big Fish" and the recent "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Elfman relates, "Like 'The Nightmare Before Christmas,' writing songs for 'Corpse Bride' was a real treat. Tim's visuals make the perfect complement for the kind of stuff I love doing most. These wonderfully fun, dark, offbeat tales are the perfect platform for me to write odd, slightly twisted, obscure styles such as my favorite musical era... 1930s jazz. I only hope we get to do more in the future." The soundtrack also features four new songs written by Elfman, three of which include lyrics co-written by John August, including "According To Plan" (performed by Albert Finney, Joanna Lumley, Tracey Ullman and Paul Whitehouse); "Tears To Shed" (performed by Helena Bonham Carter, Jane Horrocks and Enn Reitel), "Remains Of The Day" (performed by Danny Elfman) and "The Wedding Song," written by Danny Elfman (performed by Danny Elfman, Jane Horrocks, Paul Baker, Alison Jiear and Gary Martin).

Continuing in the dark, romantic tradition of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Edward Scissorhands," "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" tells the story of Victor (Johnny Depp), who is whisked away to the underworld to marry the mysterious Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter) while his real bride, Victoria (Emily Watson), waits bereft in the Land of the Living.

To hear four tracks from the soundtrack, go here: http://www.warnerbrosrecords.com/corpsebride

And for information on the movie itself, which opened on September 16 in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto (it opens wide for everyone else this Friday), check out the CORPSE BRIDE Web site.

So just how do you win these various prizes? Read on...

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