'Tis the season for Sweeney Todd. With the Tim Burton-directed film in theaters across the country now and the national tour of the John Doyle-directed stage version making its way through the States, Broadway World's Beau Higgins writes: "I have come to the conclusion that Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, is certainly one of the greatest musicals ever created."

The San Francisco Chronicle gives "Wild Applause" to Jonny Greenwood's score for There Will Be Blood, with writer David Wiegand saying the album fully stands up on its own, apart from the film for which it was written. "A richly haunting series of symphonic and chamber poems that show their influences (Britten, Stravinsky) and cut their own paths as well," Wiegand says of Greenwood's score. Exquisite performances by the BBC Concert Orchestra, Empire Quartet, Dale and pianist Michael Dussek," writes Wiegand, "showcase the dark brilliance of Greenwood's music."