Back to the Future II
Alan Silvestri
" half of the sound of the first returns in the second "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
It is weird that one of the biggest blockbusters of the eighties received such little attention score wise. Back to the Future or Alan Silvestri’s benchmark effort received a song release with just several tracks to ease the public’s demand. However, when talking of a classic score this is not enough. And so people had to turn their eyes upon the 2 sequels that did receive a proper soundtrack release. In the case of Back to the Future II they’re in luck considering basically half of the sound of the first returns in the second.
It is understandable that the themes return and the subthemes for that matter, but there is also the way it connects to the story overall, having the basic demand that it must continue the story where the first one left off. The main theme of the movies will always remain the biggest attraction the saga has to offer. And honestly I don’t know if there is anyone who doesn’t like the theme or what it does for the movies. The theme itself doesn't return as much as it did in the first which is good and bad in some ways. Considering sequel movies need to repeat the main material alongside new material this is of course all for the better.
The movie itself is darker in tone (as most movies appear to be in sequels). Examples like "My Father!" and "Alternate 1985" are covering the typical Silvestri string sounds. But don’t let this fool you because Back to the Future II is still heroic and cool enough. "Main Title" explodes after mere seconds with the theme and "Hoverboard Chase" replicates the skateboard’s chase music of the first, but adding some nice new moves to it.
The sneaky music during "The Book" shows a different path, this when Marty tries to steal the book in Strickland's office while "Tunnel Chase" delivers his usual run of the mil suspension music.
However, all this is history when my favourite moment of the whole album arrives. In the movie it happens when Marty mentions the following line: 'There is only one man who can help me'. And boom, the main theme explodes in true fanfare measurements onto the screen, this in the track "Western Union". This remains a kick ass moment in the movie as on disc.The last track as usual sums up the thematic ideas this whole album was presenting from the first second.
Of course when you think back and realize how wonderful the original BTTF album is, it comes at no surprise that the sequel Back to the Future II is an equally fun listen. And while the majority of the score presents us ideas and the Silvestri sound we know and love, at least in flashes does the score sound different from the first. Back to the Future II for now is your best bet to recreate the magic of that wonderful first album.
It is understandable that the themes return and the subthemes for that matter, but there is also the way it connects to the story overall, having the basic demand that it must continue the story where the first one left off. The main theme of the movies will always remain the biggest attraction the saga has to offer. And honestly I don’t know if there is anyone who doesn’t like the theme or what it does for the movies. The theme itself doesn't return as much as it did in the first which is good and bad in some ways. Considering sequel movies need to repeat the main material alongside new material this is of course all for the better.
The movie itself is darker in tone (as most movies appear to be in sequels). Examples like "My Father!" and "Alternate 1985" are covering the typical Silvestri string sounds. But don’t let this fool you because Back to the Future II is still heroic and cool enough. "Main Title" explodes after mere seconds with the theme and "Hoverboard Chase" replicates the skateboard’s chase music of the first, but adding some nice new moves to it.
The sneaky music during "The Book" shows a different path, this when Marty tries to steal the book in Strickland's office while "Tunnel Chase" delivers his usual run of the mil suspension music.
However, all this is history when my favourite moment of the whole album arrives. In the movie it happens when Marty mentions the following line: 'There is only one man who can help me'. And boom, the main theme explodes in true fanfare measurements onto the screen, this in the track "Western Union". This remains a kick ass moment in the movie as on disc.The last track as usual sums up the thematic ideas this whole album was presenting from the first second.
Of course when you think back and realize how wonderful the original BTTF album is, it comes at no surprise that the sequel Back to the Future II is an equally fun listen. And while the majority of the score presents us ideas and the Silvestri sound we know and love, at least in flashes does the score sound different from the first. Back to the Future II for now is your best bet to recreate the magic of that wonderful first album.