John Carpenter, Director/Composer for 'Halloween' and More, Releasing First Solo Album 'Lost Themes'

One would think that early October would be the best time for John Carpenter to market anything he's done, what with the Halloween season in tow and all. The composer himself apparently had other ideas, opting to announce the release of his first solo album on Monday at the beginning of preparations for Thanksgiving.

Lost Themes is notable for begin the first album that Carpenter has released by himself during his more than 40 years in the film industry. Okay, yes, we suppose that the average director isn't expected to release music albums as well but this is John Carpenter we're talking about here:

It only takes one hit song to earn at least three albums in the current music industry and the director's simple, creeping piano theme for the Halloween franchise is classic.

Starting with Halloween in 1978, Carpenter had a run of cult favorite horror films that he both directed and composed scores for, including The Fog, Escape From New York and Big Trouble in Little China (clip at the bottom...great movie if you haven't seen it).

Carpenter says his new album will be a collection of ideas he's had for soundtracks that never saw the light of day.

"The best way I can describe what we've done is that it's a 'soundtrack sampler,'" he said. "They're little moments of score from movies made in our imaginations. Now I hope it inspires people to create films that could be scored with this music."

Sacred Bones Records released "Vortex," the opening track from the record for our consideration. It's definitely got that '80s horror feel, with keyboards both acoustic and electric.