Angels in America

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

With Thomas Newman you just never know, you think he will strike gold with one project, he comes of with another texture and quirky entry. He scores a TV movie you don't expect much from, he unleashes heaven and hell upon you. Of course, no doubt about it that the context of the story tells a tale too about its glory as darkness but Thomas Newman is most applauded when he goes big, and Angels in America is big with everything we know of Thomas Newman and that's why we love him so much. Of course a shame to him that he wrote this for television, since his quirky scores are effective yet boring and his occasional drama entries (including his nominated Road to Perdition) doesn't reach the heights this Television score sets. I surely know that the Oscar members equally respect Thomas Newman as the next man, even if Thomas doesn't show the mutual respect with his grim face each time he loses. Anyway, enough about that and back onto this fantastic score. Everything is here, from the quirky entries to occasional harsh but effective dissonance to glorifying choral use to mesmerizing orchestral beauty, Angels in America has it all. I guess its unfair to point out that there are still things wrong with this CD, but personally I feel there are several. While for once it has nothing to do with Thomas Newman's short usual tracks, it has to do with the songs that personally listen boring and for me out of tone with the rest. While they will surely fit in with the series and everything, its not what I love to listen to and that these 3 tracks are scattered in between Newman's score is a detraction. They are as boring as the ones heard of the same era in The Legend of Bagger Vance. But this has nothing to do with Newman's score but the next is, I still don't click with everything that Newman presents here.

Mostly 80% is lovely to listen to, there are still examples that are effective but not that mesmerizing. These parts are somewhat presented in the first part of this album and as said, they are fitting and typically Newman, but not everything clicks, even though they grow with each listen you hear them. Several tracks like 'Quartet', which is the longest track repeats the same mood over and over again, and its easy to get lost in it for minutes. And without doubt, 'Her Fabulous Incipience' will blow you away with its first reprehensive sign of the disturbing use of the electric guitar and crashing orchestra. But when you hear it the second time with full orchestra and choir in 'Submit!', you accept it easily and you remember back at the Elliot Goldenthal we have come to appreciate. The rest is as good as it can be and some are the best that Thomas Newman wrote in his career. Many people will get a kick out of Newman's use of choir in the second part of the score, but they still don't equal the scope of Oscar and Lucinda's pieces and so they are not the true highlights of this album, how staggering they may be. It are the begin and end pieces with the orchestral true voice of Thomas, 'Angels in America' with its poetic main title full of beauty and growing light choir is mesmerizing the more you hear it and especially 'The Great Work Begins (End Title)' could simply give Thomas Newman Oscar fame and glory. This track alone equals the scope of Meet Joe Black, with another wonderful theme (used in track 4) growing and growing with orchestra and light choir at the end, and its the pinnacle of Thomas Newman's talent, a track that stops the heart with its beauty and lets you cry of joy. Easily these tracks are the favorites of any person listening to this album. But of course the rest doesn't come of being just lazy in its tone.

The choir that appears a lot in the second part of this score is equally spot on the money, and 'Plasma Orgasmata' with its exploding choral magic is truly grand while the dark 'Black Angel' presents not only true action music (Finding Nemo sounding in parts, with large aggressive percussion) but also a complex mix of bells, electric guitar, orchestra and choir joining forces and this is basically too impressive for the ears. The main theme appearing on solo violin in 'The Mormons' is lovely while the flutes set the beat and the mystery in 'Mauve Antarctica' equally pleasant as fascinating. But of course you have the meandering stuff like 'Prophet Birds' which doesn't do much and steals again a couple of minutes of your memory, these are somewhat the examples that take away bits of this top rating's potential. The bells and true tone in 'More Life' is the closest this score comes to sounding like Meet Joe Black while the quirky 'The Ramble' is true to Newman's writing. The second part outclasses the first because it brings more spectacular music but not everything sticks with me and that is for me the real letdown. I expected this score to blow me away, and it has but not everything and once more the expectation of every signal five star review of this score is responsible for that. If I was the first to get this score and listen to it with the knowledge I was expecting another Erin Brokovich, then I'm sure I would have liked it more. As said again, this score has supreme highlights in abundance but for a listening experience I feel lost as specific times and that is something that several people will get in contact with. Of course true Newman fans will easily see this as a complaint that doesn't make sense but I just describe my personal feelings, not yours. Angels in America has moving and high quality Television music that belongs in movies I'm sure, is along with Meet Joe Black and parts of Oscar and Lucinda the best music that Thomas Newman has written and just the collision of his various talents combined in one long +60 minute soundtrack is enough to get you startling with anticipation. Not a five star rating score in my book because of the small hiccups but a true beauty nonetheless.

Score: ****1/2
Songs: *

\도도1/2/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Threshold Of Revelation (0.55)

2. Angels In America (2.16) Excellent Track

3. Lesionnaire (0.40)

4. Ellis Island (2.05)

5. Acolyte Of The Flux (1.15)

6. Umdankbar Kind (1.25)

7. The Ramble (1.07)

8. Ozone (0.57)

9. Pill Poppers (1.17)

10. Quartet (6.44)

11. Solitude: Duke Ellington (3.10)

12. Bayeux Tapestry (1.49)

13. Spotty Monster (0.47)

14. Mauve Antarctica (4.47)

15. Her Fabulous Incipience (1.05)

16. The Infinite Descent (0.54)

17. A Closer Walk With Thee: George Lewis and His Ragtime Band (2.54)

18. Broom Of Truth (2.50)

19. Submit! (1.15)

20. Plasma Orgasmata (2.56) Excellent Track

21. Delicate Particle Logic (1.37)

22. The Mormons (1.51)

23. Prophet Birds (2.42)

24. More Life (2.10)

25. Black Angel (4.10) Excellent Track

26. Garden Of The Soul (4.03) Excellent Track

27. Heaven (2.00)

28. Bethesda Fountain (1.16)

29. The Great Work Begins (End Title) (3.56) Excellent Track

30. Tropopause (2.55)

31. I'm His Child: Zella Jackson-Price (3.36)

Total Length: 72.02

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Thomas Newman ===