Robots

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

I can't deny that many people looked forward to Robots, not directly the movie but especially John Powell's role in the making of the musical score. He's that kind of composer which is considered by many to be the best composer of the comedic genre. David Newman was that earlier but his style became too much the same and too much frantic to really get any good vibe around it. Powell is that now and for good reason since Evolution or Rat Race proved what he could do with it. Now, I don't call Robots a comedic movie but it will as Ice Age contain those slapstick moments and those more serious ones as well, so a David Newman and now a John Powell will feel just at good here. And the ticket of the score's success is that Powell returns to greet all his fans with a combination of his entire career. From Face/Off snippets to brief Paycheck tones, to the Evolution energy and from Pluto Nash comedy to Rat Race funkiness and why not some Antz and Chicken Run feeling. Even the organ of Gigli and Two Weeks Notice is back. Meaning a completist of Powell material will surely feel at home here, and especially adore that once again John Powell is one of the most brilliant inventive composers there is, since his main theme is so much variated in every track, you will miss even the slightest change if you don't pay attention carefully. But especially his fun-o-meter is back with lots of ideas that might feel out of tone by anyone else, but not with John Powell. A good culmination of ideas is found already in the start, with 'Robots Overture', the drama theme moves to a big band feel, where Rat Race and a cartoonic speed greet us, then the main theme is brought forward by flutes and trumpets and the drama theme returns softly. Even at one track there is so much to find out.

A drum and brass parade is found in 'Rivet Town Parade' while some jazz, organ and a brief drama theme is for 'Bigweld TV / Creating Wonderbot'. The main theme is everywhere in the score, but perhaps the version that completes it the most in its effect is when chimes, bells, trumpets, organ, you name it perform it most playfully in 'Wonderbot Wash', where I adore it the most of course. Its nice to have some diversion too and 'Train Station' comes just at the right time, with the drama theme growing wonderfully to almost a love theme finale, then flawlessly it moves forward with the theme and basically animation music but then so much smoother and better to appreciate then the Carl Stalling method. 'Crosstown Express' by then brings another variation of the main theme and suddenly choir jumps out to greet us, we surprised listener, with some Hawaiian blues after it for the ultimate effect. Luckily some wonderful heroic moments are present as well, and 'Wild Ride' has that Evolution and Paycheck more heroic manner in its tone, and mixes jazz tunes with flutes ala Agent Cody Banks, its all there. But the ultimate heroic track that does everything right is found later one, namely 'Escape'. We know Powell can create those excellent crazy but equally thematic roller coaster rides, and this track represents again the best of that gift, its hard to describe every detail, but it receives heroic music ala Evolution and Paycheck, main theme versions mixed in the dazzling rhythm, dark choir and everything's molded together in almost 5 minutes of total fun. Its the best this score has to offer and you'll be out of breath after it. Of course we have to return with what precedes it, and 'Madam Gasket' creates first a brief theme for the villain with a dark brooding choir over accordion, and this in the villain style of Antz.

This keeps going in 'Chop Shop', and this on a more comedic rhythm almost, but equally over a constant beat and even some Face/Off like effects. 'Bigweld Workshop' brings some mystery forward while the choir creates some wonder with it later on, and at the end of some more inventive brainstorming we have some gangster music ala Pulp Fiction with its guitar. Meaning you can't keep up with the constant various tones Powell throws at you second after second. A soft main theme in track 12, flutes ala Agent Cody Banks in 15 but actually 'Gathering Forces' is better to love, its especially pleasing after a minute with cool ideas, heroic moments returning in a flash and more crazy music to boot. 'Attack of the Sweepers' deserves again a better fate, because to bring all that in one minute deserves more praise then it receives, main theme heroically with choir, then an Irish version of the main theme and choir returning with a vengeance in the end, if it was longer it would be heralded more. Same for 'Butt Whoopin', heroic main theme and electric guitars, cool flutes, trumpet fanfares, its all good but the wildness that follows it is just a bit too much. A relieving main theme version with choir is for 'Homecoming' and the drama theme again a bit growing is 'Dad's Dream' in a nutshell. Why Robots doesn't receive more has to do with the fact that after all the fun, I still miss an ultimate feel. Maybe that's just me, but Paycheck and Rat Race gave me that feel more after the end. Or perhaps its just the fact that the short tracks are just too brief to make a longer effect more possible, because the longest tracks are basically the highlights so I guess its that. But what Robots especially delivers is another fun roller coaster ride with lots of twists and surprises, and Powell again shows he can deliver any style and get away with it. So Powell fans will treasure the score as any other in their collection.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Robots Overture (4.02)

2. Rivet Town Parade (0.54)

3. Bigweld TV / Creating Wonderbot (2.45)

4. Wonderbot Wash (2.08)

5. Train Station (3.50) Excellent Track

6. Crosstown Express (1.19)

7. Wild Ride (1.36)

8. Madam Gasket (1.00)

9. Chop Shop (1.50)

10. Meet The Rusties (2.06)

11. Bigweld Workshop (3.13)

12. Phone Booth (1.29)

13. Gathering Forces (3.28) Excellent Track

14. Escape (4.42) Excellent Track

15. Deciding To Fight Back (1.13)

16. Attack Of The Sweepers (1.26)

17. Butt Whoopin' (3.42)

18. Homecoming (1.33)

19. Dad's Dream (1.25)

Total Length: 43.51

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=== Link to Composer Site: John Powell ===