Chain Reaction
Jerry Goldsmith
" Basic action / tension score "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
When Goldsmith composed Chain Reaction, it's initial album wasn't that all well received. And 30 minutes seemed more than enough. Now in 2015, due to poor new filmmusic, Varèse decided to take the risk and release a double amount of Chain Reaction upon us. Don't know if the risk was worth it, considering it's still not sold out, something that usually doesn't happen when Goldsmith albums get expanded treatments. The fact of the matter is, it still is a solid action / tension score. It's just now twice as long to get to the good pieces. The action pieces ("Be Safe", "Ice Chase", "The Museum") are still exciting due to their pace, they were just never so original. The action music has a lot in common with Executive Decision and US Marshals, 2 scores that weren't already that amazing in their action music. And the tension music is pretty basic as well. Again, highly effective and perfect for the picture. But there's too much of it now and it isn't that enjoyable after a while anymore. Luckily we have some strong moments ahead near the end, with "Open Door (Extended)" and "Out of the Hole", delivering some fine fresh sounding relief. All in all, it was already on the original album and it already felt like a necessity there. So here it's vital for the final verdict. And the verdict is, I prefer Chain Reaction in its original format. Surely the music sounds better now, but the album's long feeling doesn't invite me back to it whatsoever. A short presentation is all I need. So, for completists and sound buffs, but everyone else, stick to the original (already) long release.
Action music is still thrilling enough. It has got power and it has got pace.
2 Nice tracks at the end, making us forget the long road that got us here.
Score feels very unoriginal. Simply the "Eddy theme" and the final 2 tracks are what's keeping this score afloat.
Album was already a test at 30 minutes, 76 minutes is killing me.
Chain Reaction (1996 release) ***
Chain Reaction "Expanded Edition" (2015 release) **12
Track Listing
1. Meet Eddie (4.53)
2. Open Minds (2.46)
3. Invaders (1.01)
4. Too Late (2.25)
5. Aftermath (1.11)
6. Questions (1.41)
7. Can't Stay (1.41)
8. Visitors / The Meeting (4.52)
9. Be Safe (5.52)
10. A Song / The Observatory (2.40)
11. Getting There / C Systems (4.15)
12. Ice Chase (5.50) Excellent track
13. The Old House (2.50)
14. Assassins (5.44)
15. The Museum (4.00)
16. Sardines and Crackers (1.05)
17. Lily and Chen / Eddie (1.29)
18. The Number / Deeper In (2.19)
19. No Solution (2.48)
20. My Job / The Deal (1.42)
21. Well Done (2.02)
22. System Down (2.28)
23. On Your Way (1.50)
24. Inside the Plant (2.01)
25. Open Door (Extended) (3.18)
26. Out of the Hole (3.35)
Total Length: 76.18
Action music is still thrilling enough. It has got power and it has got pace.
2 Nice tracks at the end, making us forget the long road that got us here.
Score feels very unoriginal. Simply the "Eddy theme" and the final 2 tracks are what's keeping this score afloat.
Album was already a test at 30 minutes, 76 minutes is killing me.
Chain Reaction (1996 release) ***
Chain Reaction "Expanded Edition" (2015 release) **12
Track Listing
1. Meet Eddie (4.53)
2. Open Minds (2.46)
3. Invaders (1.01)
4. Too Late (2.25)
5. Aftermath (1.11)
6. Questions (1.41)
7. Can't Stay (1.41)
8. Visitors / The Meeting (4.52)
9. Be Safe (5.52)
10. A Song / The Observatory (2.40)
11. Getting There / C Systems (4.15)
12. Ice Chase (5.50) Excellent track
13. The Old House (2.50)
14. Assassins (5.44)
15. The Museum (4.00)
16. Sardines and Crackers (1.05)
17. Lily and Chen / Eddie (1.29)
18. The Number / Deeper In (2.19)
19. No Solution (2.48)
20. My Job / The Deal (1.42)
21. Well Done (2.02)
22. System Down (2.28)
23. On Your Way (1.50)
24. Inside the Plant (2.01)
25. Open Door (Extended) (3.18)
26. Out of the Hole (3.35)
Total Length: 76.18