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Tracksounds Rating = 3 /10
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Composed by
Shirley Walker, Lolita Ritmanis, Michael McCuistion, Kristopher Carter |
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| Track | Title | Time | Rating | Rockin'
Robi...Err Batman by Christopher Coleman When I was a kid, I remember playing Spiderman outside with
my friends and singing “Spiderman.
Spiderman. Does
whatever a spider can. Spins
a web, any size. Catches
thieves just like flies. Look
out! There goes a
Spiderman!” My how superhero music has changed.
The cool, jazzy, big band sound for superheroes is long gone. Go for a walk on the Saturday- Morning- Cartoon- wild- side with the music from Batman Beyond. This CD compilation from Rhino Records has some pretty edgy stuff and if you aren’t in just the right mood, you’ll be popping this CD right back out. On the other hand, if you are preparing for some extreme-sports activity, kick boxing, or maybe rugby, this CD is chalk full of audio-steroids. Kristopher Carter, Shirley Walker, Michael McCuistion, Lolita Ritmanis combine to deliver a grungy, electronica smorgy. It is hard to imagine Shirley Walker and company producing such rough stuff after hearing their work for the Batman and Superman animated series, yet here it is. If you liked the high adrenaline soundtrack compilation to The
Matrix, then some of this music is right up your alley.
(See track 9, Batman’s First Fight). The majority of the tracks are of the heavy metal
variety. The main title by
Carter sets the tone for the CD with its driving rhythms and flailing
guitars. These traits mark all of the tracks by Carter (Bat-Slapped in
Store, Batman Beats Chappel, Batman Chases Inque, Inque Escapes).
Somewhere among all of the electronic mayhem are, I think, traces
of the theme from immediate predecessor to this animated series.
By far the best, most listenable tracks, for those of
us who aren’t playing this CD while running around the house play-acting
as Batman, are the mellower. Farewells
(Track 4) is actually pretty nice. It
contains a palette of strings, piano, synth-voices, a bit softer guitar
accents, and subtle e-percussions. Track 10, The Legacy Continues is also
an oasis with its soft guitar and synths and mellow rhythms. Only at the
very end of the of this track does it turn a bit more suspenseful, if not
sinister. The last of the
truly listenable tracks is track 29, Move to the Groove.
This piece is more of the Indie-dance variety than anything else.
It does contain the ever present guitars, but the lead instruments
are really the sitar and mandolin. Given the cartoon this music was composed for and the audience, I have to say the music fits. However, I don’t see too many kids outside on a Saturday afternoon head banging as they play superheroes. Maybe the big band will make a comeback for our favorite comic book heroes sometime soon!
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| 1 | Batman Beyond- Main Title |
1:00 |
* | ||
| 2 | Cold VS Hot |
3:12 |
* | ||
| 3 | Terrific Trio VS Rocketeers |
1:50 |
* | ||
| 4 | Bat-Slapped in Store | 1:16 | * | ||
| 5 | Farewells |
2:44 |
*** | ||
| 6 | Batman Defeats Chappel |
2:14 |
none | ||
| 7 | Batman Chases Inque |
2:43 |
none | ||
| 8 | Yachting with the Card Gang |
2:09 |
* | ||
| 9 | Batman's First Fight |
2:57 |
** | ||
| 10 | The Legacy Continues |
1:24 |
**** | ||
| 11 | Hotel Scuffle | 1:57 | * | ||
| 12 | Trouble in the Museum | 1:46 | * | ||
| 13 | Inque Escapes | 1:22 | * | ||
| 14 | Nuclear Lab Destruction | 1:54 | * | ||
| 15 | Golem Chases Shoppers | 2:00 | none | ||
| 16 | Willie Defeated | 2:37 | none | ||
| 17 | Genetic Theft | 1:29 | * | ||
| 18 | Joker Chase | 3:08 | * | ||
| 19 | Move to the Groove | 1:16 | *** | ||
| 20 | Batman Beyond- End Credits | 1:00 | * | ||
| Total PlayingTime | 39:58 | ||||
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Category |
Score |
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| Film Continuity | 3 | ||||
| Originality | 5 | ||||
| CD Length | 4 | ||||
| Track Order | 3 | ||||
| Performance | 1 | ||||
| Final Score | 3 | ||||
| Other reviews: | |||||
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Goth and heavy metal may not be
everyone's cup of tea, and this soundtrack would harsh and demanding on
unaccustomed ears. But for those who like this genre, this album would
make an easy listen. I happen to like melodic heavy metal, but the
Goth aspect is a bit too depressing for me. Emotionally, this album
carries the same weight as the Elfman/Burton scores, and one has to be in
the mood to bear it. If nothing else, Batman Beyond makes for
a novel, if not intriguing, listening experience. ***1/2
Helen San - Cinemusic |
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It is because of soundtracks
like this that orchestral film score enthusiasts wake up in cold sweats in
the middle of the night, fearing the future existence of a decent scoring
genre of music...I admire the talents of Shirley Walker and her adventurous
group of musicians, but how can they be proud of producing such demonic crap
as this? No strong themes, no consistency between the four composers, no
stirring of genuine emotion, no guitar that doesn't crash, no drum sample
that doesn't pound, no percussive mix that doesn't tear... There are no redeeming
qualities to this music at all. FRISBEE
Christian Clemmensen - Filmtracks |
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| All artwork from Batman Beyond is exclusive property of Rhino Records (c) 1999. Its appearance is for imformational purposes only. | |||||
