Freedomland: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
From AwardAnnals
| Album: | Freedomland: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
|---|---|
| Artist: | James Newton Howard |
| Genres: | |
| Label: | Varese Records |
| Find it: |
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Reviews
Amazon.com
In this soundtrack to the thriller starring Julianne Moore and Samuel L. Jackson, James Newton Howard takes a departure from his usual neo-traditional scores. Oh sure, there are atmospheric pianos and lush orchestrations here (“Brenda’s Apartment,” “Inside Freedomland”), but Howard also ventures out a bit closer to the edge (which still isn’t that far-out, but should make his fans jerk to attention). “Main Title,” for instance, deploys harsh guitar riffing against discreet synth whooshes reminiscent of the 1980s soundtracks of Giorgio Moroder (a feeling that also creeps up on “Burning”). “Unrest” features striking electronics ricocheting around and creating a percussive, bumping wall that can sound like a game of Pong on steroid. And sometimes, those electronics and the melancholy atmospherics meet on the same track, as in “Did They Arrest Anyone?” and “You’re in the Wrong Park,” and the result is intriguing enough to let one wish Howard would drop the big orchestras more often. —Elisabeth Vincentelli
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