Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Mayhem of the Music Meister
by Michael McCuistion, Lolita Ritmanis, Kristopher Carter
Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Mayhem of the Music Meister
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Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Mayhem of the Music Meister Composed by Michael McCuistion,
Lolita Ritmanis, Kristopher Carter
New Line Records (2009)
Rating:
7/10
Sound samples below from AmazonMP3
“ 'Mayhem of the
Music Meister' is a little gem of an episode that doesn't just add
in a handful of distinctive musical numbers for kicks, but the music
is an integral part of the plot, giving composers: MICHAEL MCCUISTION, LOLITA RITMANIS, and KRISTOPHER CARTER (who comprise Dynamic Music
Partners) and lyricists: JAMES TUCKER and MICHAEL JELENIC, a great opportunity to do something
unique and fresh in the realm of the animated superhero.”
Batman - The Musical
Review by Christopher Coleman
I have to admit. The first time I had even heard of the series: BATMAN: THE
BRAVE AND THE BOLD was when I received this advance CD of music from the show.
I was surprised to find that the music contained therein is from just one episode of the newest of the
Batman animated series: "Mayhem of the Music Meister" was the 25th episode from
the series' first season and first aired in July of 2009. I reluctantly popped
the disc in, fully expecting to hear as many Elfman-Walker-Zimmerisms as their
tv-budget would allow for, but was surprised once again. Truthfully, I was dumbfounded at what I heard. Batman, but
Broadway-style!
After my initial shock and even displeasure wore off (afterall, how could they
forget just how utterly dark and menacing the caped-crusader is?), I became intrigued
with how a superhero cartoon could possibly warrant this sort of music. I was finally able to view the episode,
and my feeling about this soundtrack did a full 180. The visual
and episodic-style of BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD is certainly less serious
than it's animated-predecessors and frankly, much more fun. It hearkens back to
the Silver Age style of comics, but with a distinct measure of contemporary
freshness. The concept of the original comic series from the 1950s teamed two or more heroes
together to defeat the villain du jour and that format is continued in this new
Cartoon Network series. "Mayhem of the Music Meister" is a little gem of an
episode that doesn't just add in a handful of distinctive musical numbers for kicks,
but the music is an integral part of the plot, giving composers: MICHAEL
MCCUISTION, LOLITA RITMANIS, and KRISTOPHER CARTER (who comprise Dynamic Music
Partners) and lyricists: JAMES TUCKER and MICHAEL JELENIC, a great opportunity to do something
unique and fresh in the realm of the animated superhero.
In "Mayhem of the Music Meister" a handful of baddies like: Black Manta and
Gorilla Grodd, are about their normal villainous business while a handful of heroic friends: Green Arrow, Aquaman,
and Black Canary intervene to stop them. All are suddenly derailed from
their tasks as they begin to spontaneously break out
in song. The Music Meister enters the scene. "I'm the Music Meister" (2) is the entry song for
a new villain and
we quickly learn that his super-power is control over others via his vocal
talents. This Music Meister, vocalized perfectly by Neil Patrick Harris (Dr. Horrible's
Sing-a-Long), controls others by making them both sing
and dance at his whim and he's out to control the entire world. It appears
that all is lost as both hero and villain are powerless against his siren
song; however, there is one hope. Batman.
Equipped with his Bat-ear-plugs, Batman seeks to chase down and put a stop to the Music
Meister's melodic mischief, bringing on the episodes next big number, "Drives Us
Bats." (3) The song is full of swingy vim, vigor, and 80s flair. It
could hardly be likened to a Broadway musical
without a number of thematic reprises. Right? Well, in keeping with this
traditional structure,
"Drives Us Bats" is reprised over the episode's end credits (8). So what else might you
need for a full Broadway-like experience? That's right; a borderline-campy, romantic theme and
"Mayhem of the Music Meister" doesn't fail here either. A humorous
multisided love ballad is found in "If Only" (4). It's a brief
but comical song of unrequited love (of sorts); sung by Music Meister to Black
Canary and Black Canary to Batman and later with Green Arrow. As much as
they may feel for one or the other, in the song we learn of all of their true
loves: villainy and fighting villainy. As the episode reaches it's
climax, we find Batman and Black Canary in the vile clutches of the Music
Meister, but along with it comes the least likable song, "Death Trap" (5).
Thankfully, we get one final large-scale vocal piece in "The World is Mine" (6)
which is a Barry-esque, hypnotic counterpoint to "I'm the Music Meister."
It's quite the rarity for me to review a release that is essentially a Broadway
musical. In fact, the only other review of this type you will find at
Tracksounds was for JANE EYRE: THE MUSICAL. But like that release, "Mayhem of
the Music Meister" is something special and warrants coverage here. I'll go a step further and
openly praise the efforts of all the creative talents involved for delivering a fun, albeit brief, romp
with some of DC Comics beloved superheros and supervillains through Broadwayland.
My guess is that those who love the darker, more serious iterations of Batman,
are not going to be too fond of this series and even less of this particular
episode; however, those who believe that superhero properties can be "fun," will
likely find this episode quite enjoyable. And believe me, once you've seen the
episode and these songs get in your head, you'll want to have the soundtrack.
