Alex Rider: Stormbreaker

Alan Parker

 
" Doesn't storm new ground but it's one hell of an icebreaker "

Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release

Composer Alan Parker is not a known name in Hollywood. Because apart from the stupid Jaws 3-D (which was a fine enough score) and the lovely What's Eating Gilbert Grape, he hasn't had the chance to warm up the audiences as much as he'd probably hoped. That could change for the new generation, because through Alex Rider: Stormbreaker he jumped on the wagon of teenage spy flicks, meaning the James Bond for kids. The first of I bet many movies to come, Alex Rider: Stormbreaker wasn't that badly accepted when it was released. Now, with that small success, Alan Parker really wanted to make sure the music got stuck in the minds long after the movie ended.

And that he has! With a beat to keep things going, and with brass to make it count. So it was how Alex Rider: Stormbreaker was born and it became a score I really liked from the very first moment. It was released during the same time Casino Royale played in the theaters. And the word fun didn't directly fall when thinking of that James Bond score. So considering how both scores eventually turned out, I find it no shame to admit I like listening to Alex Rider a whole lot more.

It takes about half an hour to warm up, and then it should be clear whether you like it or not. The songs themselves are normal to pleasant entries, which are scattered throughout the score. "Blame" is the best, considering it has that spy tone in its sound. "On the Road" and "Good to be Here" is rock music while "Hey Kid" could've been from Avril Lavigne, only it is by some male artist. The only problem lies with "Chinese Burn (Lunatic Calm Mix)". If this is the calm mix I don't want to find out what the loud mix sounds like, because it is 7 minutes of nothing but beat beat beat.

The score by Alan Parker is placed through all these songs, and in a way it refreshes the mood from time to time. We start with "Uncle Ian", and immediately we discover how fun the score really is. Be ready to discover the beats surrounding the suspense, while partly heroic in its drive. Uncle Ian's part returns in "When the Doorbell Rings", through strings and piano. We do have some underscore. "Breakers Yard Fight" displays this through electronic bounces, "Over London" through a cool solo vocal over electronics, in "Kill Him" during a moody underscore and during "Into the Lion's Den" when we go sinister and moody.

Luckily Parker stretches his mighty heroic wings in "Bicycle Chase". It is the first time we hear that heroic main theme around layers of enjoyable suspense before "Get Me Out of Here" lets the theme explode in its heroic nuttiness. Even some choral effects are added to its blazing performance, making sure you'll definitely remember it. "At Sayle Tower" displays some exotic percussion while "You Don't Belong to my World" is covering partly the heroic subtheme on strings and piano.

Combined, song and score do mesh well but it is Alan Parker's bouncy, teenage attitude that steals the show at the end. It's always nice when you get an easy flowing album, and apart from some dead underscore cues, the beats are what drives the score's enthusiasm. Plus it is important that the main theme is a catchy ditty that you will whistle for days to come. In the line of Agent Cody Banks, Alex Rider: Stormbreaker is extremely successful in the heroic parts. I always say, if you compose adventure music, make sure it's centered around a theme you'll love instantly. Like Sahara for instance, Alan Parker created just that.

Score: ***1/2
Songs: ***

Tracklisting

1. Blame: Transluzent (4.17)
2. Uncle Ian (1.35)
3. On the Road: Rooster (3.40)
4. When the Doorbell Rings (1.55)
5. Bicylce Chase (2.50) Excellent track
6. Chinese Burn (Lunatic Calm Mix): Curve (7.24)
7. Breakers Yard Fight (1.19)
8. Over London (1.54)
9. Into the Lion's Den (6.41)
10. Alright Alright: Sahara Hotnights (2.06)
11. Kill Him (4.34)
12. Get me Out of Here (4.48) Excellent track
13. Science Museum (4.30)
14. Hey Kid: Matt Willis (3.37)
15. At Sayle Tower (3.13)
16. You Don't Belong to my World (2.03)
17. Good to be Here: Rooster (3.40)
18. Be My Saviour: Colin MacIntyre (4.08)

Total Length: 64.37
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(total of 9 votes - average 2.89/5)

Released by

Milan Records M2-36186 (regular release 2006)

Orchestrations by

Alan Parker

Performed by

The London Metropolitan Orchestra