Gremlins 2: The New Batch

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Ever since they terrorized your TV screen the Gremlins were popular. More then popular because they were not only cute and deviant but fun and out of control. For the persons who don't remember these creatures let's go back a little bit in time: think of cute little pups, they can not stand the light, they multiply when they get in contact with water and they change in horrible little monsters when they eat after midnight. I think you know now what the Gremlins were and instead of a little town place them in a gigantic building. You will soon realize that this is where Gremlins 2: The New Batch takes place. The man who introduced us to the excellent Gremlins themes does the sequel and his name needs no introduction anymore, Jerry Goldsmith. Let's directly fall with the door in the house: all who haven't seen the picture or basically didn't enjoy the brats will not find something that mesmerizes you in Gremlins 2. You will not see the power of it that Goldsmith creates. Of course for Goldsmith fans this is suitable and especially a listen of fun. The best thing of this score is that it enjoys so much better than Gremlins. You had some highlights in the first but the second has more then twice the load of tricks. The fans will know the theme of Gremlins but here we get two other Gremlin themes, one for the boss (Stripe, well not entirely true, Stripe is the boss from the first picture, here the boss has also some punkhair, so this one is Stripe 2) and one for the mayhem they create.

Of course some other themes occur like the love themes (one for humans and one for Gremlins and no, I'm not kidding). Also this score has some unique palette of sound effects, they bring a certain flair and magic to the score. It's just the power that combines everything that makes Gremlins 2 so great. There are some wild tracks like 'Pot Luck' and 'Gremlin Pudding' and these especially show why Jerry Goldsmith is a master in creating a typical effect for a film. It doesn't matter whether a Gremlin or an action figure steal the show, they all get the same powerful sound. One little thing I have to mention, in the score we don't here it but in the film we get a fragment, a track that we can find in The 'Burbs. 'Runaway Ambulance' gets a complete fanfare in the film (the scene with the flying gremlin). It's very appropriate and fits the style of this score but it's not from Gremlins 2. So remember that. I think Jerry put it in the score just because it was so perfect for the scene. And trust me, it is. If you don't enjoy this score look at the film, because there Goldsmith creates an atmosphere like in his best days. Gremlins 2: The New Batch is better than the first (because we seem to miss those scary attacks) and more available especially. For me there is just one composer with so much fantasy and ideas. The ultimate result is a very entertaining and wild score, meaning It's Goldsmith doing the Gremlins march.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Just You Wait (2.15)

2. Gizmo Escapes (3.51)

3. Leaky Faucet (3.47)

4. Cute ... (2.02)

5. Pot Luck (3.06) Excellent Track

6. The Visitors (3.32)

7. Teenage Mutant Gremlins (3.30)

8. Keep It Quiet (3.16) Excellent Track

9. No Rats (2.26)

10. Gremlin Pudding (2.19) Excellent Track

11. New Trends (3.49) Excellent Track

12. Gremlin Credits (4.55) Excellent Track

Total Length: 39.28

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Jerry Goldsmith ===