Impressions of America by Patrick Doyle - Review

Doyle’d Landscapes
Review by Edmund Meinerts

In 2012, the Scotsman PATRICK DOYLE voyaged back to the land of his ancestors, musically speaking, with his Gaelic-flavored score for Pixar’s BRAVE. Simultaneously, it turns out, he was working on a tribute to the land to which many of his ancestors migrated – not in a film score, but rather in a concept album of sorts containing fifteen different IMPRESSIONS OF AMERICA. This piece was originally written to be performed by the National Schools Symphony Orchestra and has now been released a year later by Varese Sarabande to coincide with the composer’s 60th birthday. Of course, when it comes to film composers writing concert pieces celebrating America, JOHN WILLIAMS is the first name that comes to mind, but don’t expect to hear much resembling the maestro’s bright and brassy fanfares here; DOYLE’s perspective is that of an outsider looking in on America, restrained and respectful rather than proud and patriotic. For an album about America, there isn’t a whole lot of Americana on display here.

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The Karate Kid (2010) (Soundtrack) by James Horner - Review

Everything is Kung Fu

Review by Marius Masalar

There is magic at work here. The magic is called good filmmaking and it becomes evident when you consider that all the individual parts of THE KARATE KID are essentially formulaic re-hashes of stuff we’ve seen and heard before. If you were to analyze it coldly, you would see a typical inspirational movie, the likes of which would barely be worthy of a second glance. And yet…when you watch the film, everything comes together so effortlessly that no amount of analysis seems able to distract from the inherent spirit of the picture. It’s fun, it’s motivational, it’s moving. That’s magic.

Initially, the project was to be scored by Icelandic composer, Atli Örvarsson, whose work has recently reached mainstream notice after several successful films done for Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions. Fairly late in the production process, however, he was replaced by none other than JAMES HORNER, fresh from his work on AVATAR. Perhaps it’s appropriate that HORNER, who is known for being self-referential, offers a very fresh sounding score for THE KARATE KID, even if the rushed schedule is evident.

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Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (Game Soundtrack) by Greg Edmonson - Review

“A Shiny Sequel”
By: Marius Masalar

The rain is pouring down outside my window, which seems appropriate since I feel like I ought to be in some tropical jungle climbing improbably large ancient monuments and pillaging treasures instead of sitting here and reviewing GREG EDMONSON’s score for the multi-award-winning video game sequel, UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES. Good music will do that to you: it will move you, inspire you, and conjure up vivid images in your mind. In the case of UNCHARTED 2, the images are probably of a dashing adventurer performing various acts of extreme archeology with significantly less concern for the laws (of the country, of physics…) than, say, Lara Croft. All while trying to get his true love and true lust to get along as they accompany him for the ride. I’m sure we can all sympathize. Especially with such a rousing musical score to represent the journey.

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