Search - Richard Band :: Mutant: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

A soundtrack worthy of Goldsmith

01/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was a blind buy for me. I purchased last year's copy of the Intrada-released Band scores for "Troll" and "The Alchemist/Zone Troopers", and fell in love with all three scores. I've seen none of those films, and I can add Mutant to that list--however, Band's orchestral score is a brilliant stand-alone work. His style in scoring the horror components of the score are undeniably similar to John Corigliano's work on "Altered States", but the more action-adventure oriented music - which is thankfully abundant on album - is astounding. There's a melodic five-note motif that first appears early on in tracks like "Main Title" and "The Canister Content" in the form of a prettily eerie piano theme, which is given a heartbreaking rendition for strings, harp and piano in the final moments of "Mike's Death". The theme is further explored throughout in the form of elegiac passages for oboe, harp, aforementioned piano, and strings. The theme is given another beautiful performance in "Billy Gets It", in which it makes a full, lush orchestral statement before segueing into an excellent action-horror motif (VAGUELY similar to the Bee theme in Goldsmith's "The Swarm"). The theme is explored with a lyrical scope in "Josh Walks Through Town" with soaring strings and noble brass statements. How a wonderful piece of music may fit into a (monster?) movie is a mystery for me, but this track stands as one of the best on the album. My favorite track on the CD is "Josh and Holly", where the theme is given a goosebumps-inspiring orchestral statement, this time as a love theme I presume and treated in the most noble of ways (John Barry would be proud). It's just lovely, and easily the best love theme featured in a horror film this side of Goldsmith's "The Omen". The final cue on the album (the end title track) is the second best, bringing the theme to epic heights with a full, colorful, brilliant concert performance of the theme, and rounds the album off in a most noble fashion.

Looking at the direct-to-video crap that plagues most of Richard's resume, and then listening to this, "the Alchemist" and "Troll", I can't help but wonder why this composer doesn't share the fan base of Goldsmith or the like. He's a talented composer to say the least, and I'll be listening keenly for future releases of his work.



Go Richard!





By the way, I'm not really a "kid", I just don't normally write reviews, nor order products, through Amazon.com."

How could anyone write such FANTASTIC music for such a crapp

Julie B. Thompson | Pembroke, MA United States | 05/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The movie was grade-z, but Richard Bnad's score was, simply put, brilliant. Track 9, 12, and 16 are some of the most beautiful film music I've ever heard...how can anyone have written such touching, poignant music for an uninspiring film like "Mutant"!? It's frigging gorgeous! The action cues are also fantastic, especially 8, 13, and 15. This music is brilliant. Just download the samples Amazon.com provides and see for yourself. If only it had been used in a better movie!"