Coneheads (Bootleg)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

I know that we all make mistakes, or in the case of composers create a piece of music for a film that is absolutely stupid. But sadly Coneheads tops it off in the case of David Newman's career. Put a pointy cone on their heads and give them a vacuum hose to literally suck the intelligence of the screen and you've got a dumb ass movie that was only made for having a ball (on the set). Unfortunately it was a waste of money for the people and a waste of time for David Newman. Of course, he must've had fun making a spin off galaxy adventure on earth but Galaxy Quest has twice the adventure and fifteen times the charm. It is difficult for a composer to make the music count and with all respect, the score is average at its best, considered superior for its accompanying movie. Yet, a bootleg isn't the right way to give this score the outcome, especially if it hasn't got track titles (no way of knowing of what you are listening to and no way I'm gonna rent the movie to find out why) and for the short running time it is an inconsistent listen that does little except irritate me. David Newman gave the score a science fiction tone with choir but I'm afraid that few people will find something worthy of interest. Perhaps if you glue tracks together to make them longer, it might become better but 25 minutes like these are simply there for one reason, to pass the time, and little else musically speaking.

First of all, I like how the score starts. With a female chorus giving it a spacey feel (a la Galaxy Quest and fitting the best with Muppets from Space). Later in the track, Newman's main theme is introduced. It is a theme that works with the movie but is still one of the least satisfying themes of David's career (as I consider him a theme maniac with some excellent examples). The theme shows up quite a lot and it is always welcome. The score itself listens rushed (literally) because 70% of the score features this rushed pace like if the Coneheads are running away from trouble. I can best compare it with the music heard during the chase sequence of Operation Dumbo Drop (when the elephant is running through the market and the soldiers are trying to stop it). But this keeps showing itself way too much that it becomes tiresome at the end of the score. Also, little of the fanfares are witnessed, the most in 'Track 4' but especially is missing when we encounter the end of the score. The last track is nothing of a finale and I'm wondering if this track is actually the finale of the score / movie. This is sad and makes the music somewhat unsatisfying to listen to. There are no great musical moments and nothing much really sticks out. Perhaps the only thing that is noticeable is the Danny Elfman feel (choral and tone) of Beetlejuice and I think this score was temp tracked with certain tracks of that score, one I'm having difficulties to enjoy on CD.

And last, there is little difference in the thematic material. Mostly we are hearing the quick energy of the chase music and occasionally there is a different piece, like the love theme for the daughter 'Track 7' (with piano) or even a tango like moment 'Track 15'. But all doesn't matter at the end because the tracks by then are short and the music not interesting enough to remember. Musically and thematically the score is not bad. But interesting it is not and a 25 minute score that has little to capture your attention by isn't something I keep listening to. Sad, because the effort of David Newman surely surpasses the movie and will most likely give it a bit of decency left to grade it by. Coneheads as a score is not good and I don't know what to think of it, because these are the scores that don't warrant release, simply because they are insufficient in interest. Yet, mixing, adding material and giving it a name is sometimes all what you need to give it more substance and perhaps who knows then? Again, I would not advice you go and get it because Coneheads surely sucked the intellect right out of the theater, and sadly it picked David Newman's score with it.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Track 1 (1.26)

2. Track 2 (1.22)

3. Track 3 (1.21)

4. Track 4 (3.21)

5. Track 5 (1.44)

6. Track 6 (2.40)

7. Track 7 (1.21)

8. Track 8 (1.11)

9. Track 9 (1.25)

10. Track 10 (1.16)

11. Track 11 (1.06)

12. Track 12 (1.24)

13. Track 13 (0.41)

14. Track 14 (0.32)

15. Track 15 (0.29)

16. Track 16 (2.23)

17. Track 17 (2.12)

Total Length: 25.55

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

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