FILMTRACKS.COM
This two-CD promotional set offers a wide and
comprehensive sampling of Richard Band's musical repertoire.
His career has crossed between the realms of film, television,
special presentations, CD-ROM games, and commercials, with genres
that include drama, horror, and comedy. Perhaps best known for
his works in the horror film genre, the material presented on
this album set represents mostly his drama and comedy efforts,
with just a hint of his horror works. Since Band is a versatile
artist, especially making the best of a moderate orchestra and
array of electronics, it is likely that the majority of the
works on this set are for projects you are not familiar with.
Never the less, Band's capabilities, when presented with adequate
time and a decent orchestra, would suit a major motion picture
project quite well.
The first CD is primarily devoted to drama, and with 80 minutes
of material on the CD, there is plenty to enjoy. From the lush
electronics of Hyperion Bay to quirky choral snippets of Buffy,
The Vampire Slayer, the selections offer a consistent and very
listenable collection of cues. The tracks from Walker: Texas
Ranger and Stargate SG-1 are, at times, too electronically under-budget,
but they represent only a small portion of the album.
The second CD, with a seemingly endless parade of colorful and
creative comedy cues (many only 10 seconds in length), is not
as easy to grasp. Then again, I can't listen to Warner Bros
tunes for extended lengths of times, and the jarring cues function
better exclusively from each other than in mass. Together, their
circus atmosphere can be overwhelming after only a dozen minutes.
As a cross between the crazy styles of Danny Elfman and the
wickedly intense themes of John Debney, the comedy cues are
certainly more than functional. Therefore, on the whole, the
album works very well in promoting Band and his talents. As
a listening experience, Band's previous single CD promo, Film
Music Over the Years, is perhaps more enticing for the average
soundtrack fan. Much of Band's best horror material is missing
from this album; and although Up and Down may not be entirely
complete, it still provides a stunning variety of cues from
every possible musical corner of the entertainment media. Packaged
in an awkwardly sized DVD package, the set does include extensive
insert notes. Band's knack for combining the best of a smaller
orchestral ensemble (or even the occasional full one) with his
vast electronics will most certainly keep him employed for years
to come. ***
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