The Blob
Michael Hoenig
" It's rather suffocating stuff I'm afraid "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release
The Blob, Chuck Russell's deliciously entertaining remake of the movie starring Steve McQueen has a sentimental value with most people who got the chance to see this in the 80's. Sure the effects are dated now, but they carry so much passion and understanding of the art that they still bring an old fashioned smile to the face. Plus it had a nice cast of young hottie Shawnee Smith and young star in progress Kevin Dillon. The composer's name is not directly a known one. Michael Hoenig, a German composer who followed in the footsteps of Brad Fiedel, Harold Faltermeyer and Giorgio Moroder. The Blob is surely one of those electronic examples.
I'm not calling The Blob high art. In fact I'm calling this music that does exactly what most composers are doing today. Effectivelly setting the mood of the film down, making sure that melody is often replaced by mood. The stuff most of us hate of today's music. But back then it was sort of an art, a nostalgic art that still does something in return.
I'm not going to lie, The Blob is full of these moments. Difficult stuff like "The Axe", uneasy assaults like in "They'll Fix you Up" and "Blob Grabs George", or a heightened chase tune that's used to create some sense of urgency in "Blob in Theatre", "Command Post and "Escape to Townhall". The cheesy ending "Snowfall" brings you the easiest music I'm afraid. Furthermore Hoenig continuously adds alienating sounds to the score, often underscoring the Blob's numerous attacks on the population. Even though these are effective, they hardly make for memorable music. But at times, Hoenig still tries to bring a melodic approach. "Sleeping Pill" is one of the few, though it honestly reminds me of Raiders of the Ark' love theme.
The Blob received a soundtrack release in 1988 by the label Filmtrax, consisting of some 38 minutes of music. I'm pretty sure that's a better time representation of Hoenig's score, because no matter the nostalgic vibe (or slime) you're getting of this score, 55 minutes is way too much. This is effective music, with an occasional decent moment here and there, but no way is this stuff must people will want to return to. In fact I wonder how many copies of the 2.000 they actually sold.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (3.17)
2. Brian Jumps Bridge (0.59)
3. Arrival (2.42)
4. The Axe (2.46)
5. They'll Fix You Up (3.39)
6. Taylor Was a Good Kid (2.54)
7. Sleeping Pill (2.22)
8. Dinner Chat (1.33)
9. Blob Grabs George (3.52)
10. Killing the Jam (2.32)
11. Elkins Grove (1.58)
12. Killing Projectionist (1.52)
13. Blob in Theatre (7.14)
14. Standoff (2.35)
15. Command Post (5.26)
16. Close the Manhole (1.46)
17. Escape to Town Hall (6.16)
18. Snowfall (1.50)
Total Length: 55.33
I'm not calling The Blob high art. In fact I'm calling this music that does exactly what most composers are doing today. Effectivelly setting the mood of the film down, making sure that melody is often replaced by mood. The stuff most of us hate of today's music. But back then it was sort of an art, a nostalgic art that still does something in return.
I'm not going to lie, The Blob is full of these moments. Difficult stuff like "The Axe", uneasy assaults like in "They'll Fix you Up" and "Blob Grabs George", or a heightened chase tune that's used to create some sense of urgency in "Blob in Theatre", "Command Post and "Escape to Townhall". The cheesy ending "Snowfall" brings you the easiest music I'm afraid. Furthermore Hoenig continuously adds alienating sounds to the score, often underscoring the Blob's numerous attacks on the population. Even though these are effective, they hardly make for memorable music. But at times, Hoenig still tries to bring a melodic approach. "Sleeping Pill" is one of the few, though it honestly reminds me of Raiders of the Ark' love theme.
The Blob received a soundtrack release in 1988 by the label Filmtrax, consisting of some 38 minutes of music. I'm pretty sure that's a better time representation of Hoenig's score, because no matter the nostalgic vibe (or slime) you're getting of this score, 55 minutes is way too much. This is effective music, with an occasional decent moment here and there, but no way is this stuff must people will want to return to. In fact I wonder how many copies of the 2.000 they actually sold.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (3.17)
2. Brian Jumps Bridge (0.59)
3. Arrival (2.42)
4. The Axe (2.46)
5. They'll Fix You Up (3.39)
6. Taylor Was a Good Kid (2.54)
7. Sleeping Pill (2.22)
8. Dinner Chat (1.33)
9. Blob Grabs George (3.52)
10. Killing the Jam (2.32)
11. Elkins Grove (1.58)
12. Killing Projectionist (1.52)
13. Blob in Theatre (7.14)
14. Standoff (2.35)
15. Command Post (5.26)
16. Close the Manhole (1.46)
17. Escape to Town Hall (6.16)
18. Snowfall (1.50)
Total Length: 55.33