The Brave Little Toaster

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

It was his first stab at animation, and David Newman was still a rookie in his own regard. But despite all that, The Brave Little Toaster made it to a deluxe treatment (DVD as soundtrack) years after its airing on video. This deluxe edition came because the bootleg featured horrible sound and wasn't a joke to listen to, because the moments the score really came alive were horribly mutilated because of its sound quality, or should I say quantity. Still it arrived and Newman fans receive the typical (then new David Newman style), and listens still after all this time like it could be from today, so common his own voice was already then. Now The Brave Little Toaster is also no walk in the park, its not an easy soundtrack and I would rather advice other scores to get if you're not a David Newman fanatic, because the wild frenetic touches are here as well. But despite his small experience, also the wonderful moments are there, and that is why this score is kinda special to hear now. When you hear 'Main Title' with its tumbling piano, you hear nothing special yet effective anyway. When you hear 'They all Wake Up' its a different matter because that one's special, growing and exploding into something Fantasia like grand. Not super great but one of the better tracks of the score. For whatever reason, there are 3 tracks with full dialogue and SFX, meaning they inserted it I guess for a full score release, and these 3 couldn't be found in a proper manner, anyway 'Blanket's Dream' and 'They Look for Transportation' aren't that intrusive, but you could do without them. Its like hearing the film on disc. And I kinda wished the frenetic orchestral score was sometimes absent as well, like in 'The Air Conditioner Blows', already then he had it.

While Newman's score is fully presented on the disc, there are also some songs, and kinda having that disco '80 sound of the era. 'City of Lights' is ok, 'It's a B-Movie' kinda fun with its overachieving dark sound with organ and cool choir, and 'Cutting Edge' and 'Worthless' with its disco outing were just right for the period then. One track that successfully mixed audio with dialogue is 'The Pond / Busby Berkley / The Meadow' and listens stronger because some orchestral color is achieved just like The Secret of Nimh, and the piano tumbling of the opening track returns. Sadly during the middle louder, frenetic and less smooth score is heard and 'Toaster's Dream', 'The Storm' and 'Blender's Motor is Sold' are becoming tiresome after a while. But as said, after the good song of 19, it gets together again, with a good little Newman fanfare in 'Into the City' and especially a good ending. 'Finale' is a 7 minute good collection of ideas, the main piano sound, Secret of Nimh string tones, the mysterious strings out of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and even the Battlestar Galactica main theme alike versions which was also easily spotted on the bootleg. It even grows wonderfully but briefly to a finale, as the name suggest it correctly. And 'End Title' is equally wonderful, with surging string themes reminding you of more recent outings as Return to Neverland, and finally the fanfares so known with David Newman are beginning to grow strong and likeable, and not just loudly. These final 2 tracks, good moments in between and some fitting songs is why there was so much fuss with the release of The Brave Little Toaster, and truth be told its not enough for a trained ear by now. But considering that it was one of Newman's earliest, kinda makes it special nonetheless. And perhaps that is why the score received right now its deluxe form. Not your biggest buy but a nice bonus for struggling Newman addictives that want it all.

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Tracks

Single Disc

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

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

=== Link to Composer Site: David Newman ===