The Brave Little Toaster
David Newman
" Deluxe Edition justified because the bootleg was just awful "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release
It was David Newman’s first stab at animation, being a rookie at film composition. But despite all that, The Brave Little Toaster made it to a deluxe treatment (DVD and soundtrack) years after its airing on video. This deluxe edition came at the right time, considering a previous bootleg featured horrible sound. Now it comes in good sound quality to deliver you the typical expected Newman style. Frankly his voice was then what it is now, and if people complain composers don’t have their own voice, then David is never one to be attacked for this reason.
Now The Brave Little Toaster is no walk in the park, and it isn’t a score for a rookie in the David Newman repertoire. This because the wild frenetic touches are not what most people call soothing music. But despite his small experience, the talent survived and The Brave Little Toaster has the moments that make the difference.
When you hear "Main Title" with its tumbling piano, you hear nothing special. When you hear "They all Wake Up" it is special. Because then you spot the growing, exploding wonder of Fantasia.
For whatever reason, there are 3 tracks with dialogue and SFX, meaning they inserted it I guess for a full score release. "Blanket's Dream" and "They Look for Transportation" aren't intrusive but not necessary as well. Plus I’m not too fond of the frenetic orchestral music in "The Air Conditioner Blows" as well.
While Newman's score is fully presented on disc, songs appear as well. "City of Lights" is ok, "It's a B-Movie" kind of fun with its overachieving dark organ sound, while "Cutting Edge" and "Worthless" have that lasting disco effect of the period.
One track that successfully mixes audio with dialogue is "The Pond / Busby Berkley / The Meadow". It listens stronger because the orchestral colour is much more present, while the piano tumbling of the opening track returns. Sadly the middle holds the louder, frenetic score of all. They make "Toaster's Dream", "The Storm" and "Blender's Motor is Sold" tiresome through that as well.
Luckily this score is not without its Newman moments. A good little fanfare and ending in "Into the City" is followed in "Finale", a 7 minute collection of good ideas. The main piano sound, Secret of Nimh like strings, the mysterious strings out of Star Trek: The Motion Picture and even the Battlestar Galactica main theme. And in "End Title" the surging string themes remind you of more recent outings as Return to Neverland.
These 2 tracks, those good moments in the middle and some fitting song material is why The Brave Little Toaster deserved a proper release. It is not enough for the trained ear, but considering it was one of Newman's earliest it doesn’t make it unmemorable as well. Considering the still absent material of other Newman soundtracks, this is a small step in the right direction.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (2.24)
2. They All Wake Up (2.44)
3. Blanket's Dream * (2.29)
4. The Air Conditioner Blows (1.21)
5. They Decide to Go (0.54)
6. They Look for Transportation * (0.51)
7. Out Into the World (1.41)
8. City of Lights ** (3.01)
9. Blanket Looks for a Space to Sleep (1.05)
10. The Pond * / Busby Berkley / The Meadow (5.36)
11. Toaster's Dream (1.17)
12. The Storm (1.38)
13. Blanket is Blown Away (1.39)
14. The Waterfall (0.59)
15. Vacuum Rescues the Group (1.31)
16. They Sink in the Mud (1.27)
17. In the Shop (0.58)
18. Blender's Motor is Sold (1.31)
19. It's A B-Movie ** (3.05)
20. Radio is Stalked (1.05)
21. Happy Travel (1.13)
22. Into the City (1.31)
23. Cutting Edge ** (2.30)
24. Junkyard Montage (1.25)
25. Worthless ** (4.28)
26. Finale (7.03)
27. End Title (3.36)
* Contains SFX and dialogue
** Composed by Van Dyke Parks
Total Length: 59.19
Now The Brave Little Toaster is no walk in the park, and it isn’t a score for a rookie in the David Newman repertoire. This because the wild frenetic touches are not what most people call soothing music. But despite his small experience, the talent survived and The Brave Little Toaster has the moments that make the difference.
When you hear "Main Title" with its tumbling piano, you hear nothing special. When you hear "They all Wake Up" it is special. Because then you spot the growing, exploding wonder of Fantasia.
For whatever reason, there are 3 tracks with dialogue and SFX, meaning they inserted it I guess for a full score release. "Blanket's Dream" and "They Look for Transportation" aren't intrusive but not necessary as well. Plus I’m not too fond of the frenetic orchestral music in "The Air Conditioner Blows" as well.
While Newman's score is fully presented on disc, songs appear as well. "City of Lights" is ok, "It's a B-Movie" kind of fun with its overachieving dark organ sound, while "Cutting Edge" and "Worthless" have that lasting disco effect of the period.
One track that successfully mixes audio with dialogue is "The Pond / Busby Berkley / The Meadow". It listens stronger because the orchestral colour is much more present, while the piano tumbling of the opening track returns. Sadly the middle holds the louder, frenetic score of all. They make "Toaster's Dream", "The Storm" and "Blender's Motor is Sold" tiresome through that as well.
Luckily this score is not without its Newman moments. A good little fanfare and ending in "Into the City" is followed in "Finale", a 7 minute collection of good ideas. The main piano sound, Secret of Nimh like strings, the mysterious strings out of Star Trek: The Motion Picture and even the Battlestar Galactica main theme. And in "End Title" the surging string themes remind you of more recent outings as Return to Neverland.
These 2 tracks, those good moments in the middle and some fitting song material is why The Brave Little Toaster deserved a proper release. It is not enough for the trained ear, but considering it was one of Newman's earliest it doesn’t make it unmemorable as well. Considering the still absent material of other Newman soundtracks, this is a small step in the right direction.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (2.24)
2. They All Wake Up (2.44)
3. Blanket's Dream * (2.29)
4. The Air Conditioner Blows (1.21)
5. They Decide to Go (0.54)
6. They Look for Transportation * (0.51)
7. Out Into the World (1.41)
8. City of Lights ** (3.01)
9. Blanket Looks for a Space to Sleep (1.05)
10. The Pond * / Busby Berkley / The Meadow (5.36)
11. Toaster's Dream (1.17)
12. The Storm (1.38)
13. Blanket is Blown Away (1.39)
14. The Waterfall (0.59)
15. Vacuum Rescues the Group (1.31)
16. They Sink in the Mud (1.27)
17. In the Shop (0.58)
18. Blender's Motor is Sold (1.31)
19. It's A B-Movie ** (3.05)
20. Radio is Stalked (1.05)
21. Happy Travel (1.13)
22. Into the City (1.31)
23. Cutting Edge ** (2.30)
24. Junkyard Montage (1.25)
25. Worthless ** (4.28)
26. Finale (7.03)
27. End Title (3.36)
* Contains SFX and dialogue
** Composed by Van Dyke Parks
Total Length: 59.19