1 |
Graduation |
2 |
Honex |
3 |
The Pollen Jocks |
4 |
Barry
Flies Out |
5 |
Vanessa
Intervenes |
6 |
Sugar Sugar - The Archies |
| 7 |
Assault
On Honey Farms |
8 |
Ken
|
9 |
Barry
Turns the Screws |
10 |
Monty
Slanders And Adam Stings |
11 |
Hearts,
Flowers And Hive Closures |
12 |
Honey
Round Up Listen |
13 |
Rooftop
Consequences |
14 |
Land That Plane |
15 |
Here
Comes the Sun - Sheryl Crow |
ALBUM REVIEW:
The last time we heard English composer Rupert Gregson-Williams’
work was on the soundtrack album of Over
the Hedge - and alas, his compositions were somewhat overshadowed
by American composer-singer Ben Folds’ song contributions.
Thankfully, his latest high-profile project is scoring this
Dreamworks’ animated feature, and the Emmy Award nominee
finally gets the limelight he deserves.
The
soundtrack album features finely-orchestrated and memorable
cues spread over its 44-minute duration. Like a busy bee,
the disc wastes no time in introducing a frenzied and high-energy
main theme in its first track “Graduation”. The
buoyant tempo of this track features some jazzily orchestrations
of brasses, percussion and electric guitars to some fun effect.
Before you can say: “busy as a bee”, the next
fast-tempo track “Honex” sprinkles you with even
more entertaining and lively melodies.
The highlight
of the disc is undoubtedly “Barry Flies Out”,
where the five-odd-minute cue gradually builds up a steady
rhythm to heighten the listening experience with its eventual
soaring brasses, glorious strings and a magnificently well-blended
choral accompaniment. The quieter and more lyrical moments
can be found in “Vanessa Intervenes” and “Hearts,
Flowers And Hive Closures”, while tracks like “Ken”
and “Honey Round Up” play out the comedic instances
with their snazzy instrumental orchestrations.
The two
songs included on this album are fun to listen to as well.
The Archies’ “Sugar Sugar” is psychedelically
enjoyable with its old-school feel (if you have watched the
movie, this song is played when Barry is having a sweet dream
sequence with Vanessa), while Sheryl Crow’s end title
song “Here Comes the Sun” is bright and cheery
(this is the part where Barry buzzes around in triumph with
his newfound status as a cool jock).
The
composer’s elder brother Harry is renowned for his colorfully
hyperactive and entertaining compositions on other animated
movies like Chicken Run (2000) and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven
Seas (2003). We say it’s high time the younger brother
joins his league and enjoys similar critical acclaim for his
talents – he has probably worked as hard as a bee on
this score.
ALBUM RATING:
Recommended Track: (4) Barry Flies Out
Review
by John Li
|
