Southpaw
James Horner
" Southpaw is a modern Horner score "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Antoine Fuqua's Southpaw was getting all the attention when it was released (courtesy of Jake Gyllenhaal's performance and his equally impressive six-pack). But for the music, the fans' attention was drawn specifically to James Horner's contribution. After all it was the first of 2 final releases we would get after his surprising death that tragic 22th of June. And considering he didn't do sport dramas that often, it was an even more anticipated release. Because who knows we would get another The Karate Kid on our hands. Well, surprising Southpaw is, simply because it's not a typical James Horner score. The eerie strings in "A Fatal Tragedy", the subtle rhythm during it and the piano might be a signature, but you already have to be a connaisseur to spot those. The score is a combination of light dramatic music and more electronic soundscape, more than ever Horner brought a non traditional score, one that would sadly turn out to be one of his final ones.
"Suicidal Rampage" is a dark descent into cold and harsh soundscape, the stuff you usually put in other composer's repertoire, and even though it's from the capable hands of James Horner, somehow you want to look past the incredible effective tone and want ... MORE of it. The piano music however in this cue (and of course the other ones) are spot on. The first real sign of drama (and because of that the signature strings of Horner) comes in "Dream Crusher" and it's a sound you were longing for to hear more than ever. Same for "A Long Road Back".
But it's the fight music people were perhaps most curious about. And "Hope vs Escobar" is a rough combination of a modern first part (the cold modern and rhythmic soundscape) vs a second emotional determent fight. Again, do NOT expect Karate Kid finales here. The music remains to deliver the same modern style, but there's more or less a promising resolution here. One that's fitting for this kind of score. Somehow I can't shake this feeling, that despite the obvious effective score Horner wrote for Southpaw, it could have been more. And I'm not gonna upgrade this score simply because it has become one of Horner's final entries. This is a modern score for Horner, and a fresh experience. But despite all this effectiveness, I wished it would have been ...
Track Listing
1. The Preparations (2.36)
2. A More Normal Life (1.42)
3. A Fatal Tragedy (2.33)
4. The Funeral, Alone… (5.16)
5. Suicidal Rampage (8.28)
6. Empty Showers (3.39)
7. Dream Crusher (2.30)
8. A Cry for Help (4.16)
9. House Auction (2.39)
10. A Long Road Back (2.26)
11. Training (3.53)
12. How Much They Miss Her (2.15)
13. Hope vs Escobar (8.26)
14. A Quiet Moment… (1.25)
Total Length: 52.04
"Suicidal Rampage" is a dark descent into cold and harsh soundscape, the stuff you usually put in other composer's repertoire, and even though it's from the capable hands of James Horner, somehow you want to look past the incredible effective tone and want ... MORE of it. The piano music however in this cue (and of course the other ones) are spot on. The first real sign of drama (and because of that the signature strings of Horner) comes in "Dream Crusher" and it's a sound you were longing for to hear more than ever. Same for "A Long Road Back".
But it's the fight music people were perhaps most curious about. And "Hope vs Escobar" is a rough combination of a modern first part (the cold modern and rhythmic soundscape) vs a second emotional determent fight. Again, do NOT expect Karate Kid finales here. The music remains to deliver the same modern style, but there's more or less a promising resolution here. One that's fitting for this kind of score. Somehow I can't shake this feeling, that despite the obvious effective score Horner wrote for Southpaw, it could have been more. And I'm not gonna upgrade this score simply because it has become one of Horner's final entries. This is a modern score for Horner, and a fresh experience. But despite all this effectiveness, I wished it would have been ...
Track Listing
1. The Preparations (2.36)
2. A More Normal Life (1.42)
3. A Fatal Tragedy (2.33)
4. The Funeral, Alone… (5.16)
5. Suicidal Rampage (8.28)
6. Empty Showers (3.39)
7. Dream Crusher (2.30)
8. A Cry for Help (4.16)
9. House Auction (2.39)
10. A Long Road Back (2.26)
11. Training (3.53)
12. How Much They Miss Her (2.15)
13. Hope vs Escobar (8.26)
14. A Quiet Moment… (1.25)
Total Length: 52.04