But those only familiar with his scores miss another side of the artist: the clever lyricism that often positions Brion as his own unreliable narrator as he navigates relationships and life. Meaningless deepens the connection between Brion and the films he would work on by establishing relationship neuroses as a pre-existing musical condition for the composer.
Take “Ruin My Day,” the fourth track on the album. Here Brion captures a unique-but-relatable period in post-breakup psychology. The song adopts the perspective of someone who has mostly moved on from their previous partner but is still susceptible to moments of pure agony when their ex appears unannounced. “Love,” Brion sings over the bridge, “it was nothing. It hardly hurt a bit.” The tension between melody and lyrics is undeniable, and Brion’s gift for upbeat waltzes obscures the sadness lurking around every corner.
Many of these songs have been and will continue to be high-concept songs of separation. Still, it’s important to note that Brion’s lyrics never let their protagonists off the hook. Even tracks like “I Believe She’s Lying”—which moves with the urgency and anger of a classic break-up anthem—position the singer as incapable of advocating for themselves. “I trust her to undermine my faith in her, in time,” the artist sings. “I have every confidence that she’ll dismantle mine.” Again, the song may be positioned as an act of betrayal, but there is a clear act of projection here. Brion writes smart music for people who aren’t being honest with themselves.
And these musical contradictions—upbeat sadness, empathetic selfishness—should make it clear why Brion was chosen for his projects. Movies like “Punch-Drunk Love” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”—or even more recent films like “Lady Bird”—reflect the emotional intelligence that can be found in Brion’s music from the very beginning. Even if the album is 20 years old, the music will help inform new generations of movie lovers and enrich their experience with the scores that Brion orchestrated.