Back to the Future III

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

The third installment of the successful saga, coming one year after the second turns the whole concept back in time, way back. The wild wild west is the place to be and Silvestri can do his versatility honor, with creating some wild western themes that would make an ode to those that invented them. Of course composing Young Guns II in the same year is a lucky thing but I never doubted Silvestri to fail. It was his saga, it was the sound of the Back to the Future films that made him a legend, it was the third that gave him a chance to do something different. No more hearing the main theme during each heroic moment but western and Indian based motifs to transport the listener back to that fun cowboy and Indian time. The third soundtrack at least delivers a total new path to work on. The same ideas but different musical possibilities.

The album starts with 'Main Title', a soft version is discovered of what would become the love theme for Doc and Clara. Directly after it the first full blown piece of the trio of action pieces starts to pump up steam. Still, those that want the order of the movie can see the correct one listed below. It isn't fun to start the second track with an action adventure piece found way deep at the end of the movie, and the saga. Silvestri's western sound is great, nothing disturbingly huge but just the right kind for an adventure movie. The better tracks to confront our cowboy mood are 'Indians' and the heroic cowboy theme briefly in 'We're Out of Gas'. The 'Hill Valley' moment isn't any different in creating the right atmosphere of drunken sheriffs with a pack of too much gunpowder to prove it. The album's order might give you a satisfying listening experience, it is the speed and pace of Silvestri's final action tracks that give the score an overall blast at the end. Those like me that want it in order will feel the vibrations and the smell of the trains' steam. The song by ZZ Top isn't bad and will mean something for those that saw the movie and always a happy moment are the 'End Credits' with all the themes you are dying to hear again.

It isn't my kind of place to tell this but it seems that not a lot of people have enjoyed the likes of Back to the Future III. Though it seems that everyone thought the cowboy / Indian insertion to be a welcome one. Still the response was that the score never took flight and seemed to drag more then to boost. I personally feel that all three scores remain the highlights of Silvestri's career. The second was equally fun as the others but didn't have the original approach. The third has that part in abundance, making the final movie and score a better joy then probably first imagined. Back to the Future III is as any fan of the movies a classic score to have and it especially delivers the almighty fun of an Alan Silvestri cutting the grass short, or was that manure? Anyway, Back to the Future III is a recommendation for the fans of western based music. Why? Because it sounds good and mainly for the diversity in Silvestri's tone. It remains one saga not to miss.

\도도/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title (3.07)

2. It's Clara (The Train Part II) (4.35) Excellent Track

3. Hill Valley (2.20)

4. The Hanging (1.43)

5. At First Sight (3.17)

6. Indians (1.11)

7. Goodbye Clara (3.01)

8. Doc Returns (2.54)

9. Point Of No Return (The Train Part III) (3.48) Excellent Track

10. The Future Isn't Written (3.36)

11. The Showdown (1.29)

12. Doc To The Rescue (0.56)

13. The Kiss (1.54)

14. We're Out Of Gas (1.17)

15. Wake Up Juice (1.11)

16. A Science Experiment? (The Train Part I) (3.10) Excellent Track

17. Doubleback: Performed by ZZ Top (1.19)

18. End Credits (4.00) Excellent Track

Correct Order: (1 - 6 - 3 - 4 - 12 - 5 - 14 - 17 - 13 - 10 - 7 - 15 - 11 - 16 - 2 - 9 - 8 - 18)

Total Length: 44.58

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Alan Silvestri ===