Secondhand Lions

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Patrick Doyle is a master of all genres. Its not often that a composer can swell grand from the Shakespearean play to childlike innocence. But that's what Henry V and A Little Princess have shown us. So Patrick Doyle was a perfect match for the movie Secondhand Lions, in witch a young boy spends the vacation with his 2 eccentric uncles and learns that there is more about adventure and that's it often found in the most unlikely places. Doyle made it not only a memorable score but also one that introduced various styles together in ways they normally wouldn't match. Yet Doyle did it and with style, making from sweet childlike innocence the path to bold swashbuckling adventure. Its all here and presented in just the right kind of detail. Its not easy to mix styles together and make them work, but present them in such a short timeframe isn't the best choice at all. Sadly, this score suffers the most from its often short track time of the various cues. Especially in the begin this can make you not at home with the music and more, you have trouble enjoying it. This is also a problem that plagues various Thomas Newman albums. In a short amount of time to present either the ideas or the styles and while here it works, it just doesn't leave enough time to make the impression, because of its poor length. This is especially noticeable in the first part of the score, the second is much better however and makes the end at least thrillingly beautiful.

The soundtrack opens at least boldly and it is one of those tracks that would have made much better sense at the end then in the begin, since we are not ready for this style. Anyway, 'Main Titles' states the at times swashbuckling main theme making impressions, but too soon since we are not ready for it. By then, the styles begin to shift in various ways like, 'The Trunk' with its slight ethnic touches and Henry V classical tones, 'Walter Runs Away' with its ever growing string melodrama while stating short variations on the main theme and 'Secondhand Arrival' with its African voices and percussion. They basically state the need for approval but its all mixed in too short times. In the first 13 tracks there are just 2 tracks clocking in at 2.39 and 2.50, others remain below the 2 minute marker, some of them even under 1. This is sad since the statements of material are often well, with its 'Fireside Chat' ever growing magical quality in stating a hell of a story. 'Hub Rescues Jasmine' is 50 seconds of impressive Cutthroat Island swashbuckling music, expanding itself in 'The Assassins' and the best in 'Sheik Swordfight', this is basically Korngold returning from the grave and Doyle's intentions are clear, make it as bold as it can be for the movie. And as said, the second part of the score, namely from track 13 does improve a lot in the listening experience. With touches of the utmost emotional music does it strike you more and more, in better track times and just in better fashion.

The other emotional theme, which I call the childlike theme is first truly discovered in 'Be my Uncle', and this is basically a better theme then the main theme, more to like and in the end also more found on the score. 'Stan Lies to Walter' has this theme with a heavy emotional burden and here classical loops from Henry V return. But we have more emotional music that feels burdensome if not heavy at all. 'She Was a Real Lion' is a beautiful melodramatic track that states truly emotional music with the voice of Patrick Doyle Jr., indeed the son of the composer. But Jr. does it extremely well in capturing the heartfelt sorrow of losing someone dearly and alone this combination makes it a real tear jerker. 'Walter Comes Home' is by then the larger finale in which both the main theme as childlike theme appear with their best performance, ending the score as it supposed to do, with big lush orchestral versions. 'Nice to Meet You' states the main theme even a bit better while the emotional theme returns in beautiful piano mode for the last track. Proving that Patrick Doyle has a heart for making both the emotional music count as the swashbuckling one. Secondhand Lions fails at a certain spectrum, it just doesn't flow too well but this only in the first part because its the winning second part which makes the entire album work, and which makes the score so wonderfully charming, beautiful and thrilling at times. For its hard to direct at beginning, Secondhand Lions fails a bit in balance but for its wonderful ending, the score does sour like the best of its kind. And luckily I like more a score that ends well then begins it. And fortunately we have just that.

\도도/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Titles (1.33)

2. The Trunk (1.36)

3. The Plunger (1.05)

4. Walter Runs Away (1.23)

5. Fireside Chat (2.50)

6. Foreign Legion (0.45)

7. Secondhand Arrival ** (1.05)

8. I Must Meet This Man (0.27)

9. Hub Meets Jasmine (1.56)

10. Hub Rescues Jasmine (0.49)

11. Lion Hunt (1.10)

12. Cornfield Jungle ** (1.02)

13. The Assassins (2.39)

14. Sheik Swordfight (2.39) Excellent Track

15. Goodnight Kid (1.02)

16. Waking Hub (0.56)

17. Died In Childbirth (1.07)

18. Be My Uncle (1.09)

19. Finding The Money (2.40)

20. Stan Lies To Walter (2.48)

21. She Was A Real Lion * (3.21) Excellent Track

22. Walter Leaves (1.56)

23. Maybe You Don't (1.01)

24. Walter Comes Home (3.41) Excellent Track

25. Nice To Meet You (1.23) Excellent Track

26. Piano Suite (2.54)

* Performed by Patrick Doyle Junior

** Performed by Ola Onabule

Total Length: 45.52

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Patrick Doyle ===