Racing Stripes
Mark Isham
" Racing Stripes can be seen as Isham's mark on society "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
How silly it all may seem, Racing Stripes is better than expected. Perhaps I'm defending my fellow countryman Frederic Du Chau or perhaps I'm just a kid, but Racing Stripes does have something that entertains me. And besides the lovable story and characters, there's the simply rousing Mark Isham score that will surely steal many hearts.
Isham especially makes sure that what he did wrong for fans with Miracle, he corrects with Racing Stripes, a wonderful to listen to score with lots of heroic blasts and many adoring themes. The songs are equally eligible for an occasion. Bryan Adams' one is typically him, meaning we heard the style before. But Sting's one is based around a theme of Isham, and works on its subdued side well enough for an occasional spin.
Now onto the score. Isham immediately surprises you with "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night". First there's some Texan guitar, but it moves soon to an action based brass festivity, occasionally crossing the path of Miracle's style. "At Home on Walsh Farm" introduces us to the song theme as the emotional theme, and gets near the end even downright Texan jiggy!
But what's good about Racing Stripes is the ability to present us various themes, in more than pleasing orchestral order. "I'm A Racehorse" shows us the good heroic theme alongside the emotional theme, only to be followed by African vocals, the song theme and heroic theme in a nice pleaser namely "The Blue Moon Races".
There's room for comedic music too, but I have to say the lively rhythm and saxophone with violin surely gives "A Pelican Named Goose" some feel. "Tucker Lays it Out!" brings back the emotional theme, already heavier on the orchestral side, while even sirtaki is noticed in "Goose Makes A Hit on the Iron Horse".
Then "Upstaged By a Zebra" suddenly blows you away when a true fanfare knocks you silly through its orchestral rousing power. The emotional theme around 13, African vocal and style in 15 and another rousing heroic theme version in "Spring Training", Isham's score keeps flowing pleasantly forward. Yet, as with most Disney scores, there's always a big happy rousing finale. And "The Big Race" doesn't disappoint! Once again Isham's themes take notice. We have the heroic theme, the rousing fanfares of track 13, the African song and the emotional theme, all combining forces to create one whopper of some magnitude.
This not only makes Racing Stripes in all parts better than Miracle, it also shows you that Isham can truly be interesting and rousing. Of course, a Disney film is just that in a nutshell, but still you have to deliver music that's equal on that part. So Racing Stripes will become a favorite for many, meaning those that found Miracle to lack spunk. Because that's Racing Stripes in a nutshell.
Tracklisting
1. Taking the Inside Rail: Sting (4.16)
2. It Was a Dark and Stormy Night (4.05)
3. At Home on Walsh Farm (5.01)
4. I'm a Racehorse (2.51)
5. The Blue Moon Races (3.39) Excellent track
6. A Pelican Named Goose (1.19)
7. Tucker Lays It Out! (2.25)
8. Goose Makes A Hit on the Iron Horse (2.10)
9. Run Like the Wind (2.04)
10. Twilight Run (2.27)
11. Upstaged by a Zebra (2.46) Excellent track
12. A Brave Decision (1.48)
13. Glory Days (3.18)
14. If You Build It, They Will Come (2.21)
15. Out of Africa (1.06)
16. Spring Training (2.31) Excellent track
17. Ambushed! (4.48)
18. Filly in Distress (1.05)
19. Race Day (1.03)
20. They're All In (1.12)
21. The Big Race (7.19) Excellent track
22. In the Winner's Circle (1.54)
23. It Ain't Over Yet: Bryan Adams (3.18)
Total Length: 64.47
Isham especially makes sure that what he did wrong for fans with Miracle, he corrects with Racing Stripes, a wonderful to listen to score with lots of heroic blasts and many adoring themes. The songs are equally eligible for an occasion. Bryan Adams' one is typically him, meaning we heard the style before. But Sting's one is based around a theme of Isham, and works on its subdued side well enough for an occasional spin.
Now onto the score. Isham immediately surprises you with "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night". First there's some Texan guitar, but it moves soon to an action based brass festivity, occasionally crossing the path of Miracle's style. "At Home on Walsh Farm" introduces us to the song theme as the emotional theme, and gets near the end even downright Texan jiggy!
But what's good about Racing Stripes is the ability to present us various themes, in more than pleasing orchestral order. "I'm A Racehorse" shows us the good heroic theme alongside the emotional theme, only to be followed by African vocals, the song theme and heroic theme in a nice pleaser namely "The Blue Moon Races".
There's room for comedic music too, but I have to say the lively rhythm and saxophone with violin surely gives "A Pelican Named Goose" some feel. "Tucker Lays it Out!" brings back the emotional theme, already heavier on the orchestral side, while even sirtaki is noticed in "Goose Makes A Hit on the Iron Horse".
Then "Upstaged By a Zebra" suddenly blows you away when a true fanfare knocks you silly through its orchestral rousing power. The emotional theme around 13, African vocal and style in 15 and another rousing heroic theme version in "Spring Training", Isham's score keeps flowing pleasantly forward. Yet, as with most Disney scores, there's always a big happy rousing finale. And "The Big Race" doesn't disappoint! Once again Isham's themes take notice. We have the heroic theme, the rousing fanfares of track 13, the African song and the emotional theme, all combining forces to create one whopper of some magnitude.
This not only makes Racing Stripes in all parts better than Miracle, it also shows you that Isham can truly be interesting and rousing. Of course, a Disney film is just that in a nutshell, but still you have to deliver music that's equal on that part. So Racing Stripes will become a favorite for many, meaning those that found Miracle to lack spunk. Because that's Racing Stripes in a nutshell.
Tracklisting
1. Taking the Inside Rail: Sting (4.16)
2. It Was a Dark and Stormy Night (4.05)
3. At Home on Walsh Farm (5.01)
4. I'm a Racehorse (2.51)
5. The Blue Moon Races (3.39) Excellent track
6. A Pelican Named Goose (1.19)
7. Tucker Lays It Out! (2.25)
8. Goose Makes A Hit on the Iron Horse (2.10)
9. Run Like the Wind (2.04)
10. Twilight Run (2.27)
11. Upstaged by a Zebra (2.46) Excellent track
12. A Brave Decision (1.48)
13. Glory Days (3.18)
14. If You Build It, They Will Come (2.21)
15. Out of Africa (1.06)
16. Spring Training (2.31) Excellent track
17. Ambushed! (4.48)
18. Filly in Distress (1.05)
19. Race Day (1.03)
20. They're All In (1.12)
21. The Big Race (7.19) Excellent track
22. In the Winner's Circle (1.54)
23. It Ain't Over Yet: Bryan Adams (3.18)
Total Length: 64.47