Cutthroat Island

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Unbef**kinlievable. Sorry to start this review like this but any person that heard this score before will say straight through: "you are absolutely right about that." Cutthroat Island is one of the most mind-blowing scores I have ever heard. The more the bombastic epic (orchestral and choral) one the better and this all is witnessed in one of the best scores of all sizes. Jesus, how could Debney score this yet at this time around do things like Cats & Dogs and The Princess Diaries? Haven't they been listening to this epic masterpiece? Luckily The Scorpion King promises to be another treat, at least orchestrally speaking. Now a bit of information about the release itself. I was desperately seeking this score and when I saw it I immediately purchased it online. When I knew that my brother purchased the score also online we kinda felt like dimwits. But stupid as it may seem, we never received the exact same CD. My cover for instance is half white and is from Silva Screen (meaning you are the lucky ones with insert notes by Renny Harlin and John Debney). The other release from Millennia Records didn't contain this, and I also read somewhere that the two discs differ from actual sound quality, but I believe both show the size of the power perfectly nonetheless.

One slight remark is there still about the score, the middle portion is somewhat uninteresting and this I say somewhat. Because you basically hear the bombast for more then 70 minutes straight through. But nothing can stop you from begin and end. 'Main Title / Morgan's Ride' and 'Carriage Chase' are awesome epic pieces, combining orchestral rush with mind-blowing themes and captivating energy. The second is more energy and the first a lot of power. These are truly f**king brilliant. "Damn, I'm rude today." Anyway track 3 is a lighter piece but fanfares rain for the next 3 tracks with 'Setting Sail' (a short bombastic fanfare), 'To the Bottom of the Sea' (choral volume unleashed at your side) and 'Morgan Takes the Ship' (another dash of sublime action music). While tracks 7 through 11 offer their choral accompaniment and most importantly their orchestral bombast, things do seem to lose me but from the second minute of 'Morgan Captured / Sword Fight' we are back on track and this basically all the way to the end. The combination of 'The Battle' and 'Dawg's Demise / The Triumph' puts you back in heaven with another bombast of immense complex epic film music. The London Voices are impressive and the brass never seems to stop from the Orchestra's side. Just the way we like it!

The final track 'It's Only Gold / End Credits' recapitulates first of all the begin track and this makes the circle complete. I for one am glad that the budget allowed such a grand and pompous sound. And simply for the record my favorite threesome is 'Main Title / Morgan's Ride', 'Morgan Takes The Ship' and 'The Battle'. In the end it is fair and easy to say that all what epic soundtracks need is ready to be enjoyed on the Cutthroat Island CD. A choral and orchestral wash of complex themes and mind-blowing fury (The London Symphony Orchestra got a good work out with this one). How Renny Harlin's movie failed at the box office is beyond me. It wasn't brilliant but this is simply entertainment of a genre we haven't seen much and at least it gave us this score in grand scope. Never forget that. John Debney at least made the impact of a life time and it was all what David Arnold needed with Independence Day. Now sadly, it hasn't gotten Debney on better things but we all hope for more of this no nonsense fury and then we will witness why this is super film music.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Title / Morgan's Ride (4.38) Excellent Track

2. Carriage Chase (7.20) Excellent Track

3. The Language Of Romance (2.39)

4. Setting Sail (1.02)

5. To The Bottom Of The Sea (2.43) Excellent Track

6. Morgan Takes The Ship (4.29) Excellent Track

7. The Funeral (1.30)

8. The Rescue (3.41)

9. Discovery Of The Treasure (2.19)

10. The Big Jump (2.37)

11. The Storm Begins (2.33)

12. Morgan Captured / Sword Fight (5.22) Excellent Track

13. Shaw Steals The Map (3.30)

14. Escape From Mordechai's (2.07)

15. Charting The Course (2.19)

16. First Kiss (1.54)

17. The Battle (6.09) Excellent Track

18. Dawg's Demise / The Triumph (3.31) Excellent Track

19. It's Only Gold / End Credits (9.47) Excellent Track

Total Length: 70.31

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

=== Link to Composer Site: John Debney ===