And with Captain America (who was also the First Avenger) in the mix, we are all prepped up for The Avengers gracing our screens next summer. While we have no idea who will be responsible for scoring one of the most anticipated blockbusters next year, we are hoping it will be Alan Silvestri (Beowulf, A Christmas Carol), because he has done a mighty good job of composing the music for this Joe Johnston directed production.
If you miss the good old days where film music was about grand orchestrations and rousing thematic motifs, then this soundtrack album is a must own. Everyone knows that Captain America is a patriotic Marvel superhero and there is something charmingly retro about this spirit. Silvestri has managed to infuse an old school appeal into his work here.
Containing 72 very generous minutes of music, the disc sets the mood right from the beginning, kicking off with “Captain America Main Theme”. The main theme is heroic, with a strong sense of stoicism which resonates with passion and enthusiasm. This theme will be later heard again in “Captain America ‘We Did It’”, “Triumphant Return” and “Captain America”. As the titles would indicate, these cues would rouse you to feel a sense of pride and honour, even if you are not a fan of the superhero genre.
Elsewhere, Silvestri has us reminded of his action score in GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) and The A Team (2010) in tracks like “Kryger Chase” and “Hydra Train”. These shamelessly action cues are so full of bravado, they will effortlessly pump up your adrenaline level. Silvestri also tries his hand at something more emotional, most evidently in “Farewell to Bucky”, where things get a little sad and heartrending.
The album ends with a very entertaining song composed by Alan Menken and written by David Zippel. Entitled Star Spangled Man and performed by The Star Spangled Sisters, this is one tune you’d either love or hate. If you have seen the movie, you’d understand what music like that does for soldiers at war.
The album is a respectable representation of what music for superhero movies should be like. And with its energized and bold themes, it is difficult not to fall in love with this one.
ALBUM RATING:
Recommended Track: (9) Captain America "We Did It"
Review by John Li
