Big Wednesday

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

When it was announced that Basil Poledouris' score for Big Wednesday was about to be released by Film Score Monthly, many people cheered because Basil still remains a favorite of many, and because it was a film that offered opportunities for a composer like Poledouris. And so Film Score released a piece of material that nearly matched the 80 minute marker, with their film score lasting for 57 minutes with about 21 minutes of extra bonus material attached. So, all was set for the bonus. Yet people have to directly say that Big Wednesday is still a more relaxing subdued listen then the ever so cheered on big orchestral music. Frankly, there aren't many moments that this score can offer the big symphonic moments we would like to hear more off, and only the end can offer several minutes of that great music. So, its a more subdued listen then we frankly first realized, starting to show that after minutes. 'The South Swell / Main Title / 3 Friends Theme' performs the noble main theme growing a bit (but never blasting through) before the 3 friends theme appears with guitar, softly and melodic. Its lovely but misses that spark to push it higher. And then you start to realize how relaxed this album really is, 'Matt Surfs / Kaliponi Slack Key / Bear's Shack' starts briefly with fanfares before the tinkling version of the 3 friends theme reappears, 'Bear's Story' is rather somber and dark, 'You oughta Know what I Mean, Bear' has a noble version of the main theme and 'Bear's Wedding' has the 3 friends theme and Bear's theme played by guitar, all lovely but softer then we perhaps expected. There is also some alternate material on board, a song in track 8 and war like drums in 9, so you get something for everyone. 'Jack Surfs Alone' is a better sign of things, starting somewhat sad but puts a kind of angry touch in it that gives it that emotional feeling, soft naturally in the end.

We have some of those passing shots of years gone by and occasionally these offer some larger material but never long enough to mention them as being the symphonic score we wanted. Track 5 and 12 offer something as also a horn solo for a fallen soldier. 'Aloha, Jack' has a nice string version of the 3 friends theme while some electric guitar cheesiness turns surprising faces in 'Liquid Dreams', though it sounds still good in the end. 'Jack's Back' has the 2 themes making way for a brief but good upbeat main theme version, which shows promise of things to come. Basically, this score keeps returning to the themes, always soft and lovely but perhaps a bit too much is heard of them after a while. 'Cemetery' offers versions of the main theme as the 3 friends theme. 'Matt Morning and Ominosity' has some more pumping music but its actually 'The Challenge / Big Wednesday Montage' that offers what we wanted to hear all along, with the main theme growing into a fanfare that never stops, its heroic and fully blasting for 4 minutes and more, leading further the sign of music in 'Matt's Rite of Passage', which gives track 3's (the somber one) a surprising epic version. 'Passing of the Mantle / Song of Three Friends' ends softly after that with lovely versions of the main theme before a vocal version of the 3 friends theme shows well its qualities also as theme song for the movie. As bonus material most is forgettable, Mexican tunes, extended pieces of drums or songs, and even a strange Indian like boring mess. But its also got a fantastic heroic track of epic proportions namely 'Big Wednesday Montage (alternate)' which sounds stunning as 'Trailer (Big Waves)' which directly sets the fanfares of track 21 in motion. Together it falls a bit too soft and relaxed for my liking but its especially good that at least those epic surfing tracks end the score like it supposed to do. Many people will probably forget that this is one of the earliest Poledouris scores he composed and it remains a sweet one, but if fans want more of the pumping water heroism then Wind is more your wave to catch.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The South Swell / Main Title / 3 Friends Theme (4.12)

2. Matt Surfs / Kaliponi Slack Key / Bear's Shack (4.19)

3. Bear's Story (2.05)

4. La Golondrina (traditional) (0.59)

5. Passing Of The Years II (1.00)

6. You Oughta Know What I Mean, Bear (1.16)

7. Bear's Wedding (3.03)

8. Crumple Car (1.00)

9. Preparation March (1.37)

10. Jack Surfs Alone (2.39)

11. Aloha, Jack (2.49)

12. Passing Of The Years III (1.40)

13. Summerset (1.06)

14. Liquid Dreams (2.20)

15. Jack's Back (3.28)

16. Jack's Back, Part 2 (0.44)

17. Cemetery (3.51)

18. Passing Of The Years IV (1.20)

19. Bear's Wharf (1.40)

20. Matt Morning And Ominosity (2.15)

21. The Challenge / Big Wednesday Montage (5.39) Excellent Track

22. Matt's Rite Of Passage (2.25) Excellent Track

23. Passing Of The Mantle / Song Of Three Friends (5.13)

Bonus Tracks

24. Big Wednesday Montage (alternate) (3.09) Excellent Track

25. Three Friends Theme (instrumental) (2.00)

26. Mexican Montage (2.18)

27. Green Opinions (2.38)

28. Crumple Car (extended version) (1.59)

29. Drums Montage (1.11)

30. Cosmic Indifference (1.40)

31. Cemetery (film version) (3.38)

32. The Challenge (alternate) (1.42)

33. Trailer (Big Waves) (0.59)

Total Length: 78.34

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Basil Poledouris ===