Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer
Ryan Shore
" Over the top, but fun experience that should be investigated in multiple listening experiences. "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release
A straight to video release, Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer is the type of movie you don't have to take seriously. Gory campy fun where monsters make for a bloody festivity. Composer Ryan Shore stepped in to deliver the blow and MovieScore Media came in to make sure it was heard. I can understand why Mikael finds this his best release ever. It is brassy, both atonal and tonal fun, where a whirl isn't far away from a Williams move from time to time. If Shore had found the right balance between thematic and thrill, Jack Brooks would have sizzled beyond words. Now it sizzles enough to splash your head in a good enough way.
It all starts with "Battle with the Cyclops". An opening four note motif, whirling strings, heroic moves and brassy rising material, it gives a taste of the material that will dominate this album. "Professor Crowley" receives a light mischievous tone but this is totally gone when Jack battles him later on in "Battle with the Professor".
The mysterious usage of music in "Mysterious Hole" and "Steam from the Yard" (Christopher Young anyone?) with magical strings create a really nice alienating environment while "Tentacles" is about having effective fun. There is some nice action build up in this piece, shrills of the brass and the creeping effect of the tentacles crawling away. This is basically ballsy and brassy orchestral horror music.
With "Reawakening" you do just that after the somewhat moody "The Black Heart" and just in time for the awesome "Kicking Ass. This is kicking your ass, percussion leading to a staggering use of brass, thereby leading into the whopping short but superb Williams-esque brass. This is powerful and enjoyable action music.
The sinister "Counselling Session" and "Many Years Ago", the lightly comical "The Classroom", they all lead up to some powerful if sometimes influenced action music. "Jack is Ready" is the eerie Aliens opening (which is of course influenced by something else of course) while "Eve's Situation" is basically "Bishop's Countdown" in places (especially when it concerns the opening with the Queen). Nonetheless, Shore keeps it tight and powerful with the bells, while the finish of the Aliens track gives away the heroic ending. It remains a sad fact that temp music needs to sink through, yet at its own advantage it gives the track a whooping good feel.
The pompous build up in "Battle with the Mutant" is extended in the aforementioned "Battle with the Professor" and together both pack some powerful stuff. This is all heard for the last time in "Final Showdown" where Shore reinstates all these ideas in a longer, more rollicking track. The heroic send-off in "Jack's New Calling" and the compilation of various killer moments in "Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer" give this album a happy musical ending.
I can totally see this score making the movie a more fun experience than it would have been without it. It is over the top musical carnage like this that often enhances the movie so grand that it benefits both its listening experience as the movie it needs to support. Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer is anything but subtle, and in return it whips up whatever orchestral blast you demand. Together with an amazing final track, Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer is a total over the top but fun experience that should be investigated in multiple listening experiences.
Tracklisting
1. Battle with the Cyclops (2.41)
2. 12 Watson Road (0.59)
3. Professor Crowley (1.51)
4. Steam from the Yard (1.38)
5. Mysterious Hole (2.12)
6. Tentacles (2.39)
7. The Black Heart (2.12)
8. Reawakening (0.46)
9. Kicking Ass (3.00) Excellent track
10. Counseling Session (1.29)
11. Many Years Ago (0.52)
12. The Classroom (1.30)
13. Jack is Ready (1.37)
14. The Legend of the Heart (4.06)
15. Eve's Situation (2.05)
16. Battle with the Mutant (1.47)
17. Battle with the Professor (1.33)
18. The Final Showdown (3.23) Excellent track
19. Jack's New Calling (1.17)
20. Jack Brooks Monster Slayer (4.15) Excellent track
Total Length: 41.59
It all starts with "Battle with the Cyclops". An opening four note motif, whirling strings, heroic moves and brassy rising material, it gives a taste of the material that will dominate this album. "Professor Crowley" receives a light mischievous tone but this is totally gone when Jack battles him later on in "Battle with the Professor".
The mysterious usage of music in "Mysterious Hole" and "Steam from the Yard" (Christopher Young anyone?) with magical strings create a really nice alienating environment while "Tentacles" is about having effective fun. There is some nice action build up in this piece, shrills of the brass and the creeping effect of the tentacles crawling away. This is basically ballsy and brassy orchestral horror music.
With "Reawakening" you do just that after the somewhat moody "The Black Heart" and just in time for the awesome "Kicking Ass. This is kicking your ass, percussion leading to a staggering use of brass, thereby leading into the whopping short but superb Williams-esque brass. This is powerful and enjoyable action music.
The sinister "Counselling Session" and "Many Years Ago", the lightly comical "The Classroom", they all lead up to some powerful if sometimes influenced action music. "Jack is Ready" is the eerie Aliens opening (which is of course influenced by something else of course) while "Eve's Situation" is basically "Bishop's Countdown" in places (especially when it concerns the opening with the Queen). Nonetheless, Shore keeps it tight and powerful with the bells, while the finish of the Aliens track gives away the heroic ending. It remains a sad fact that temp music needs to sink through, yet at its own advantage it gives the track a whooping good feel.
The pompous build up in "Battle with the Mutant" is extended in the aforementioned "Battle with the Professor" and together both pack some powerful stuff. This is all heard for the last time in "Final Showdown" where Shore reinstates all these ideas in a longer, more rollicking track. The heroic send-off in "Jack's New Calling" and the compilation of various killer moments in "Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer" give this album a happy musical ending.
I can totally see this score making the movie a more fun experience than it would have been without it. It is over the top musical carnage like this that often enhances the movie so grand that it benefits both its listening experience as the movie it needs to support. Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer is anything but subtle, and in return it whips up whatever orchestral blast you demand. Together with an amazing final track, Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer is a total over the top but fun experience that should be investigated in multiple listening experiences.
Tracklisting
1. Battle with the Cyclops (2.41)
2. 12 Watson Road (0.59)
3. Professor Crowley (1.51)
4. Steam from the Yard (1.38)
5. Mysterious Hole (2.12)
6. Tentacles (2.39)
7. The Black Heart (2.12)
8. Reawakening (0.46)
9. Kicking Ass (3.00) Excellent track
10. Counseling Session (1.29)
11. Many Years Ago (0.52)
12. The Classroom (1.30)
13. Jack is Ready (1.37)
14. The Legend of the Heart (4.06)
15. Eve's Situation (2.05)
16. Battle with the Mutant (1.47)
17. Battle with the Professor (1.33)
18. The Final Showdown (3.23) Excellent track
19. Jack's New Calling (1.17)
20. Jack Brooks Monster Slayer (4.15) Excellent track
Total Length: 41.59