Shaft (Promo)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

There was a significant change in the sound of David Arnold after the new Millennium, namely after Godzilla and Tomorrow Never Dies to be exact. Arnold started to work on lesser blockbusters (alure Independence Day) and maintained a more urban, gritty affair with flicks as Baby Boy, Changing Lanes and Shaft, stating however the diversity enough in tone alone. Shaft remained unreleased but surfaced as a promo quickly on the market, and it remains to be seen if it ever needed to cost as much as it was sold for. I mean for about 30 dollars interested buyers could get it at a specific moment, and this score isn't worth that prize. Its however a funky affair with some nice moments that make it a normal listen once and a while, but nothing special considering what we heard before and after of Arnold alone. Of course Shaft is known alone for its theme of Isaac Hayes, and he adapted it for the new version of the famous character, and its heard in 'Theme from Shaft (Isaac Hayes)', its funky and cool like we knew it, and the string sound did wonders for the teaser of the film. Basically it never loses the touch of the original version and so it had to be. What Arnold throws in after that is a funky rhythmic affair that works around the theme and on the basic structures of the famous theme song, funky tones in 'Scene of the Crime', a string sound heard after it in 'Boy's Got Justice' but its the first orchestral growing of trumpets in the tone of Shaft that make 'Rough Justice' one of the better tracks, the variation on the theme and noble presentations of the orchestra are worthwhile for a minute of your time. The funky underscore with drums in 'Peoples Hernandez, Come on Down' and the cool trumpets in 'Remember Me?' are more stock affair, being rather cool however the last one.

Another noticed moment is found in 'Courtroom Drama' where the growing orchestra creates a dramatic effect like Die Another Day would do it with demonic choir, followed by Shaft's theme. But also noticeable is the more urban tones of his score Changing Lanes at times, like in 'A Rare Harlem'. And what's surprising is the inclusion of the SWAT theme in a string version in 'Schoolyard Split', or perhaps I missed something in the film to be sure of. Anyway, its heard another time in 'Tailing Walter Wade', along with organ to be exact. 'Peoples Gets Played' is a funky affair with brass ala Bond setting the chase feel good, snippets of SWAT's theme and Shaft ever present, growing danger from Die Another Day, techno mixes from Changing Lanes, it sums up quite effectively the entire sound of the score. But it works quite nicely too. 'Shoot Out 1' must be an error since its just soft moody music with some piano, and nothing action based or faster in rhythm. Then 'No more Running' changes this a bit with a funky rhythm based on Shaft's theme, and 'Safe House (Shout Out 2)' completely when Die Another Day moments are noticed, and funky rhythms in a different setting, because the theme makes way for new structures and the action bounces quite nicely around, a bit too late perhaps but welcome nonetheless. Altogether, Shaft isn't that special, strong nor truly interesting and will make a consideration only for the fans of Arnold or the movie, but still the funky business reveals more Bond structures then his techno affairs of The World is not Enough and Die Another Day, and the string or orchestral moves at times are typical Arnold material so fans will easily sniff it up. But as said, Shaft is a normal release and a purchase that will not raise too many eyebrows, when you consider what David Arnold delivered us in the past alone.

\ЕЕЕ/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Theme From Shaft (Isaac Hayes) (4.39)

2. Scene Of The Crime (2.54)

3. Boy's Got Justice (1.39)

4. Rough Justice (2.45)

5. Peoples Hernandez, Come On Down (1.07)

6. Remember Me? (4.05)

7. Gimme Your Shoes (1.17)

8. Courtroom Drama (2.46)

9. Looking For A Witness (2.13)

10. A Rare Harlem (1.09)

11. Schoolyard Split (2.38)

12. Tailing Walter Wade (2.41)

13. Shaft's Big Switch (2.04)

14. Peoples Gets Played (3.40)

15. Shoot Out 1 (3.38)

16. No More Running (3.51)

17. Safe House (Shout Out 2) (3.21)

Total Length: 47.01

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

=== Link to Composer Site: David Arnold ===