The Replacements

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

For what its worth, I really enjoyed the movie The Replacements. Sure, this will never happen, is virtually impossible but its a nice stab to all those million dollar sportsman out there, earning too much and bringing sometimes so little in return. And this movie shows what sport is still all about, having fun and enjoying the game. John Debney scored this film and many people ignored it because it was not the kind of orchestral bombast they wanted. So, this soundtrack with songs mixed between the score didn't sell well and only loyal fans wanted a taste of it, fans of the movie that is. Now, as said I'm a big fan of the movie but even I have to say The Replacements is not that fluid in its listening experience. In the movie you get several tastes of the score, but not everything is picked up, and that you receive here, meaning the ones you want and the ones you wished you missed eventually. Now, we examine the songs first who are mixed between the score at times (especially those of Font 48), and most fall in the ordinary collection but also a bit in the forgettable corner because most don't stick in the mind for long, except for of course the classic and long version of 'I Will Survive' by Gloria Gaynor and most people will also have heard 'Rock and Roll Part II' by Gary Glitter. Now, about the score, as said even the die hard fans of the film will at times glance a couple of times when they hear the entire score. It starts with 'The Replacement Mix', carrying dialogue and an electronic beat (at times Falco's theme through it), and even if it could fail, it works still all the same. And the next score tracks, including the track I noticed big time in the film 'Dallas Game' with its pounding rock rhythm and fanfares and 'Falco' with its softer tones of Falco's theme and added piano do make the experience worth it.

But then the music starts to be heard that effectively was heard over the scenes, but not over your speakers, starting with 'Strikebreakers', hard rocking beats, wailing voices, beats and some rock and this continues for a bit too much I presume. 'Wild Yam / The Look in your Eyes' is still to be appreciated, with soft scoring at first of Debney but this changes in a song of Font 48 and its a nice song, better then the rest we heard before it. But Font 48 doesn't continue to bring those suitable songs or moments because 'R.O.W.D.I.E. / Sample Play' is not anymore that suitable, it starts with the song for the cheerleaders (noted for a second) and then basically someone screaming and that's it. Not nice at all! 'Chicks Dig Scars' is more techno with beat but somewhat appreciative but 'Training Camp' is harder again, with its funky music none the same. 'Football: Replacement Style' is rock music, beats, no structure since that's lost in the tactics and just at the end the orchestra joins in to perform Falco's theme, like heard in the opening mix. 'Falco Changes the Play' returns with the Cheerleaders song and 'Martel Crossed' has soft music with a hidden bonus song at the end. At times is acceptable and at times too much, and that too much factor should have stayed in the movie, where it worked perfectly. On CD this music isn't always to be appreciated and even if the rock at times sounds good, you don't hum or sing with it. So, as background music it would be more suited but background should stay background, here it forces itself more to the forefront. I will keep returning to The Replacements, but then only for the moments I want to hear again, and considering this must be rated for a full experience, I guess its not enough to battle with the big boys.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Replacement Remix *+ (5.48)

2. I Don't Want To Be Your Girlfriend: Kelli Owens (3.29)

3. Second Chance: Bret Domrose (4.10)

4. Bust A Move: Young MC (4.25)

5. I Will Survive: Gloria Gaynor (7.54)

6. The Dallas Game * (2.00)

7. Falco * (2.50)

8. Strikebreakers (6.12)

a) The Bus Arrives *

b) Armed Guards *

c) Let's Play Football: Font 48

d) Field Tactics *

e) Bateman Rocks *

9. Wild Yam * / The Look In Your Eyes: Font 48 (4.19)

10. R.O.W.D.I.E. * / Sample Play: Font 48 (1.38)

11. Chicks Dig Scars * (2.11)

12. Training Camp (1.35)

a) Falco Drops The Balll: Font 48

b) He's Wiry *

c) Clifford Franklin *

13. Football: Replacement Style (3.50)

a) Get Me The Ball *

b) Cochran Scores *

c) We're In Business *

14. Rock And Roll Part II: Gary Glitter (3.00)

15. Falco Changes The Play * (2.31)

16. Martel Crossed * (4.02)

* Soundtrack composed by John Debney

+ Dialogue spoken by Gene Hackman and Keanu Reeves

Total Length: 60.05

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

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