Scooby Doo (Promo)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

When is David Newman not composing for comedies? Even the loosely anticipated film version of Scooby Doo and his gang of friends was briefly applauded for its comic appeal, but soon fell through because of the dumb witted teenage like humor and above all poor script. And even then David Newman is on board to support it. Fact is, the man deserves more of a challenge and Scooby Doo might not bring that, he at least tries to make the most of it. This long promo lasts strangely too long, but at least barely faces the energetic music out of control that now function in most of his movies. A 40 min maximum listen could make it even better, but it will never raise in rating because after all, its not really different from what we heard before. Still, Scooby keeps the line a bit closer to the cohesiveness and for that alone, I'm glad to have received the score still. As said, the promo is long, and with 40 tracks its hard to really pay attention to most of the tracks, but the continuation is still reserved enough for an occasion and of course, it are the longer tracks that do the most. It opens with 'The Luna Ghost', cooing choir, the theme song of the series making a brief appearance, some demonic choir and the first brief energy is noticed but it all stays cohesive. Its however the theme he presents in piano which shows again the true art of David Newman as composer. He can compose music for piano as the best and the emotion is never far away, but when he shows the theme song so purely loving in 'Mr. Smithers / I Quit' is when you think there is still a difference between for instance Daddy Day Care and Scooby Doo. Same with the piano as for 'The Airport (Alternate)' and 'Meeting Mary Jane'. Of course the moment the gang arrives on the island, the score receives a more demonic color and easily results in organ, or darker choir, in 'Spooky Island' the first time noticeable.

And tracks will easily repeat that sound in what to come, 'Ritual Exposed' has exotic percussion along with fanfares, light choir is there for 'A Ronster, A Ronster' but the problem with this track is the energetic non likeable race music, too frustrating for my liking. Then 'Spooky Castle' is better, with energy abound music but more cohesive and choir above all to show its more demonic qualities. Occasionally of course piano music can sooth the soul, and 'Some Kinda School' and 'Mary Jane in a Mask' makes it happen, for just brief moments. 'Bodily Function Challenge' has a tango to present, while darker male choir is heard over a serious rhythm in 'Castle Escape', and works. Lounge music to be expected arrives in 'Piano Bar' while theme action moments are heard in 'Monsters Brawl' and 'Chased', and the last presents a cool heroic version of the theme song, which fits finally better in the whole part then the racing energy. Sadly the longest track is not up to much good and 'Protoplasm Potpourri & Mix-up' kinda shows his micky mouse scoring without showing something interesting. Then 'A Pure Sacrifice' with theme variations and 'Let's get Jinky with It' with the lovely piano song theme is better to hear. As to be expected 'Messed up Plan' and the rest that follows carry the more crazy style of David Newman, and it are the moments that make up the rest, like the piano music so lovely in 'End of the World Party' along with the fanfares that sound still good (with the themes racing through each other), or 'Darkopalypse Over' which got cool whirling strings over gothic almost growing techno music, you have to hear it to believe what I'm saying. Of course it features the theme songs in abundance. 'Happy Ending / Back Together' luckily finishes off with the best moments of all, the lovely piano music, the cool fanfares of the themes (even with choir) and sounds really good. All together, give Scooby Doo the length of Ice Age and release it, it will more or less receive the same rating as commentary, just because its more cohesive in general then most of his recent comedy affairs and packs the same good as bad points. So, I believe its a normal listen, with good moments and pack it all in a 35 or 40 minute pack, and Scooby Doo will speak to the fans of the composer with positive response.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Luna Ghost (2.47)

2. Everything OK? (0.34)

3. Mr. Smithers / I Quit (3.11)

4. You're Invited (0.57)

5. The Airport (Alternate) (1.12)

6. Mystery Inc. Reunites? (1.03)

7. Meeting Mary Jane (1.21)

8. A Flick On The Nose (0.45)

9. Spooky Island (1.36)

10. Mr. Mondavarious (0.17)

11. Ritual Exposed (1.31)

12. Scooby's Phone Call (0.25)

13. Voodoo Man (0.38)

14. Don't Go To Spooky Castle (0.49)

15. A Ronster, A Ronster (1.28)

16. Ah Uh, A Way! (0.28)

17. Uber Creepy (1.28)

18. Spooky Castle (3.48)

19. Some Kinda School (1.00)

20. Lights, Camera, Action (0.19)

21. Daphne's Discovery (1.35)

22. Bodily Function Challenge (0.42)

23. Castle Escape (0.44)

24. List Of Suspects (0.31)

25. Damon Ritus (1.49)

26. Scrappy Doo Flashback (1.15)

27. Piano Bar (0.40)

28. Monsters Brawl (2.42)

29. Follow The Monsters (1.10)

30. Something's Wrong (1.27)

31. Chased (2.06)

32. Mary Jane In A Mask (0.44)

33. Protoplasm Potpourri & Mix-up (7.05)

34. A Pure Sacrifice (2.50)

35. Let's Get Jinky With It (1.09)

36. Messed Up Plan (1.30)

37. The Ritual Begins (0.57)

38. End Of The World Party (4.56)

39. Darkopalypse Over (2.22)

40. Unused Cue (0.17)

41. Happy Ending / Back Together (3.59)

Total Length: 66.26

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

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