|
First
Impressions
June 1999
|
|
June 27, 1999 |
 |
Big Trouble in Little
China
by
John Carpenter
and Alan Howarth
FIR - 3/10
|
(Super Tracks)
Long before the
days of the cheesy Mortal Kombat flicks and Street Fighter came Big
Trouble in Little China. As a teen I saw this cult favorite
film...not paying much attention to the score. Both Carpenter and
Howarth work to blend the sounds of the Far East with the 80's sound of
the West. At times sounding like the band Devo (or like dozens of
other rock/punk bands of the 80s) and other times strangely reminding one
of some of Goldsmith's work of the eighties (but not nearly as good), Big
Trouble is a peculiar score...albeit for a peculiar film. Also
contained on this promo cd are cuts from the films, Backstabbed and Escape
from New York. Backstabbed provides the most enjoyable
music. Tracks 12 and 13 are more subtle, at times sinister, but are
the easiest to listen here in 1999. The lone track from Escape from
New York, is a horrid reminder of what much of the music of the late
seventies and eighties sounded like! Be this as it may. The
liner notes are quite insightful regarding Big Trouble in Little China and
the recording seems to be top-notch.
|
|
June 21, 1999
|
 |
Heaven's Gate by David Mansfield
FIR - 8/10
|
(Ryko)
Mansfield's score for this film of the
early 1980's is largely folk and driven by the fiddle, guitar and mandolin
and mandocello. There is a obvious European folk influence in nearly
every track, making this a perfect score reflecting the turn of the
century-American setting. Even a folk version of the Blue Danube and
the Battle Hymn of the Republic are included! Other familiar
classical themes wind their way in and out of the score as well.
While this isn't my favorite style of music, the brilliance of the
composer/ performer is impossible to overlook, especially in the softer
cues. In addition, Ryko continues in their series a deluxe soundtrack
editions with great flare and attention to detail. The recording is
remarkably clear and the packaging second to none. For
Mansfield's simple brilliance and Rkyo's hard work, the disc is worthy of
a high First Impression Rating.
|
 |
The Missouri Breaks
by
John Williams
FIR - 5/10
|
(Ryko)
By no means is this a typical
Williams score. This crisply recorded disc showcases Williams
versatility wonderfully. Despite this score being produced in what
one could consider Williams' "break" out season with scores like
Jaws, Black Sunday, Star Wars, Close Encounters and Superman, it shares
little in common with them. This makes sense considering the film
shares little in common with these others. One does hear elements of
The Sugarland Express (harmonica and all) and The Cowboys. Also,
Williams' music for the guitar at brief instances resemble his recent
score for Stepmom. While Williams is the master of many categories
of film music, the Western is not one of them and his score for The
Missouri Breaks, lacks the sort of feel one wants to continually connect
to by listening to it. In any case, Ryko, once again, impresses with
their ability to produce all around great releases: impressive packaging
and pristine recording.
|
 |
City of Angels by Gabriel Yared
FIR - 7/10
|
(Reprise)
Generally combo
soundtracks including mostly pop tracks and a few token score tracks,
don't give a good listening experience. While more score would be
nice, this release does not suffer as much as one might expect.
Along with decent performances by some top musicians and singers of today,
Gabriel produces an acceptable score. It seems his goal was to
musically portray the inner-turmoil of "the angel."
Yared's music is almost as weepy as Nicolas Cages' face was in the
movie! Still, it is a good effort. Yes, far superior to The
English Patient. It is a close musical cousin to Yared's Message in
a Bottle.
|
|
June 13, 1999
|
 |
Entrapment
by
Christopher Young
FIR - 4/10
|
(Restless)
This
spy-thief-double-cross-flick earned a score to match its patchwork
style. Young's score worked in the marginal film well, but as a
stand alone listen, it suffers. An individual track can go from
smooth, contemporary rhythms to horrific orchestral bursts without warning
or apology. There are times when it is straight suspense and then a bit of
Far-East flavor and the next second the smooth and focused rhythms
return. While other scores entail such elements successfully, this
one fails to. This may be due to the lack of a strong main
theme. The soft, romantic themes are the most enjoyable tracks as
they are the most consistent from start to finish. The final track
is the best of the lot, flowing from one style to the next fairly cleanly
and with some enjoyable themes.
|
 |
The Snow Files by Mark Snow
FIR - 8/10
|
(Sonic Images)
This is one of the best
compilations that this label has put out. The compact disc is neatly
divided into four categories that group Mark Snows wide range of styles
accordingly. At the same time, a great sampling of this composers
work is provided. High quality music, recording, layout and liner
notes equals a must buy!
|
 |
Lonesome Dove
by
Basil Poledouris
FIR - 7/10
|
(Sonic Images)
In some respects, a close
cousin to Legends of the Fall and maybe a second cousin to The Magnificent
Seven, this wonderfully thematic score by Poledouris is one of his
best. He evokes images of the West and the struggles and joys
therein in nearly every note. It's simple flute themes are
peacefully brilliant. The main theme is one of Poledouris' best
ever, but the excellence doesn't end there. The majority of the
tracks are very beautiful as well.
|
 |
Watch the Skies
by
Various
FIR - 5/10
|
(Sonic Images)
This compilation takes the
listener on a romp through Hollywood's history of the unknown of
space. It includes classic sci-fi themes as well as
contemporary. The stand out track though is track 4, a piano solo of
a medley from E.T.. It is a wonderful piece that far outclasses the
piano solo of The Portrait from the Horner compilation, Heart of the
Ocean. While this is a must have for sci-fi fanatics, the great
degree of variety makes it difficult to listen to straight through since
there is little style in common from one track to the next.
|
 |
Wing Commander
by
David Arnold & Kevin Kiner
FIR - 7/10
|
(Sonic Images)
This film received quite a
score! Not from critics or the box office or from me (I fell asleep
in a movie theatre for the first time!), but from co-composers David
Arnold and Kevin Kiner. The main theme is memorable but not quite
reaching the "corny" level that Arnold's main theme for ID4
did. The score is not all bombast either, but is set off by some
nice softer melodies and ethereal motifs. This score certainly pays
homage to the likes of Horner's Star Trek II score on occasion, but not to
the degree of earning the dreaded "rip off" designation.
While not as memorable as the previously mentioned Wrath of Kahn score, it
is a decent effort by the score-duo and a good 17 track release from Sonic
Images. |
