Hard Rain
Christopher Young
" Starts refreshingly, drowns a bit later on "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Christopher Young isn't known for his action style, more for the gothic horror music of classics like Hellraiser, Species and Urban Legend. The man is obviously talented but I always wondered if he had different things up his sleeve than just the spooky horror style. Was he merely typecast as a horror composer or did he not have the perks for composing in a different genre?
Of course he was merely typecast, and as soon as people heard the sublime Murder in the First, all things changed for the better. Hard Rain, while being not brilliantly exciting is another example that he can also write one mean action score. The movie is probably one of the finest in the original category of action story telling and presented Christopher Young with a task, make the score sound as big as the size of the water. And so for about 7 minutes this score sounds fresh and exciting, but then it just drowns into the deep pool of water that the movie shows you over and over again.
Fans of Christopher Young will find Hard Rain especially pleasing and interesting, and most importantly containing that orchestral blast which underscores the countless action sequences. It is perfect for the movie but albeit the same after a while. The good main theme, heard "Hard Rain (Main Title)" and briefly in several tracks is interesting. The dominant urgent mood of the theme most likely gives it pace and style, while the sudden harmonica sound of Toots Thielemans adds more country feeling to the entire scope. The harmonica isn't heard much, but when it appears it is welcome and well chosen. Finally you guys will hear what some Belgian veterans can accomplish in this world of music, ha.
In the end it becomes the better part of the score, because 75 to 80% gives us action and suspense all the way. For some this will be good, for others like me it is too much to handle, and mostly it takes the interesting fresh approach away. Sad because the good moments still afloat.
While the track titles aren't very original (Young didn't went kooky with this one, mainly because he wasn't allowed to), it at least offers a welcome help of which music was heard during what scene. With the many action moments and continuing chases it is important to know what goes where. Of all the action music, track 2 "The Jet Ski Chase (Part 1)" comes highly recommended, mainly because it is the first action piece of the score, but also because it consist of some excellent suspension moves.
But is Hard Rain worth the money, the attention and the applause? Yes, but in small ways and not in the grotesque way in which some were placing it as the best of the best. I like the good stuff as much as you do, but diversity could have made the score better, and a change in tone would have even made a big difference. Hard Rain is a good and solid action score by Christopher Young and it deserves the attention, but the own lack of fresh material after a while can not hold the score afloat.
Tracklisting
1. Hard Rain (Main Title) (3.19)
2. The Jet Ski Chase (Part 1) (4.26)
3. The Jail Cell (Part 1) (4.31)
4. Wayne Kidnaps Karen (1.51)
5. The Jail Cell (Part 2) (4.35)
6. The Church Attack (3.11)
7. The Truck Heist (2.10)
8. The Cemetery (2.26)
9. The Cow (1.53)
10. Kenny Dies (2.35)
11. The Rain (2.30)
12. The Jet Ski Chase (Part 2) (2.00)
13. Karen (0.56)
14. The Church Chase (Part 1) (3.29)
15. Locked Up (2.07)
16. The Roof (1.00)
17. The Church Chase (Part 2) (1.25)
18. Jim Saves the Day (1.10)
19. Over the Rooftop (1.54)
Total Length: 48.12
Of course he was merely typecast, and as soon as people heard the sublime Murder in the First, all things changed for the better. Hard Rain, while being not brilliantly exciting is another example that he can also write one mean action score. The movie is probably one of the finest in the original category of action story telling and presented Christopher Young with a task, make the score sound as big as the size of the water. And so for about 7 minutes this score sounds fresh and exciting, but then it just drowns into the deep pool of water that the movie shows you over and over again.
Fans of Christopher Young will find Hard Rain especially pleasing and interesting, and most importantly containing that orchestral blast which underscores the countless action sequences. It is perfect for the movie but albeit the same after a while. The good main theme, heard "Hard Rain (Main Title)" and briefly in several tracks is interesting. The dominant urgent mood of the theme most likely gives it pace and style, while the sudden harmonica sound of Toots Thielemans adds more country feeling to the entire scope. The harmonica isn't heard much, but when it appears it is welcome and well chosen. Finally you guys will hear what some Belgian veterans can accomplish in this world of music, ha.
In the end it becomes the better part of the score, because 75 to 80% gives us action and suspense all the way. For some this will be good, for others like me it is too much to handle, and mostly it takes the interesting fresh approach away. Sad because the good moments still afloat.
While the track titles aren't very original (Young didn't went kooky with this one, mainly because he wasn't allowed to), it at least offers a welcome help of which music was heard during what scene. With the many action moments and continuing chases it is important to know what goes where. Of all the action music, track 2 "The Jet Ski Chase (Part 1)" comes highly recommended, mainly because it is the first action piece of the score, but also because it consist of some excellent suspension moves.
But is Hard Rain worth the money, the attention and the applause? Yes, but in small ways and not in the grotesque way in which some were placing it as the best of the best. I like the good stuff as much as you do, but diversity could have made the score better, and a change in tone would have even made a big difference. Hard Rain is a good and solid action score by Christopher Young and it deserves the attention, but the own lack of fresh material after a while can not hold the score afloat.
Tracklisting
1. Hard Rain (Main Title) (3.19)
2. The Jet Ski Chase (Part 1) (4.26)
3. The Jail Cell (Part 1) (4.31)
4. Wayne Kidnaps Karen (1.51)
5. The Jail Cell (Part 2) (4.35)
6. The Church Attack (3.11)
7. The Truck Heist (2.10)
8. The Cemetery (2.26)
9. The Cow (1.53)
10. Kenny Dies (2.35)
11. The Rain (2.30)
12. The Jet Ski Chase (Part 2) (2.00)
13. Karen (0.56)
14. The Church Chase (Part 1) (3.29)
15. Locked Up (2.07)
16. The Roof (1.00)
17. The Church Chase (Part 2) (1.25)
18. Jim Saves the Day (1.10)
19. Over the Rooftop (1.54)
Total Length: 48.12