The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

If one thing is clear about Trevor Jones, its this. He is a master in writing big explosive themes and is above all a master in making mood so dreary and bleak. The second plagued From Hell and because of its too long score was a boring album to listen to. Then Dark City and the at times magical Merlin where more interesting pieces to hear. However, I never thought to hear just one of those trademarks returning for The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and more surprising is the fact that its not the big theme but the dreary mood that overflows the score. This score is one overlong dreary mood setter where almost nothing sounds uplifting or in this case heroically powerful. This is dark and therefore you receive the most powerful brassy action music to accompany it with. Thirteen Days was a case in point where the dark mood worked like a charm and that the action music at times gave it such an edge, it was enjoyable because it was so effective. In case of League here, the score should have received (in my opinion) powerful heroic music like we heard in the trailer (alternating a more pumping version of Cutthroat Island's music). It also makes The League a score that will not be enjoyed as you would enjoy the music of Cutthroat Island or say Sinbad. Its bleak, powerful but above all dark, strong and showing no sign of heroic sings of relief. The sole versions of the uplifting pieces are for me even so unfitting that I basically don't care for them. The African pieces 'Kenya / Wait for Me' and 'Son of Africa' are so unfitting for the genre, especially when you hear after that a serenade from the old book in track 4, again so unnatural if you hear the entire time the music to be so powerful and dark. Its a detraction to say the least.

The score by Jones is also capturing 2 voices, the one being the typical underscore which as many Jones' scores don't bring much innovation as joy. And here especially its not interesting music to hear after all the dark music. 'Task Requires Heroes', 'Old Tiger', 'Mina Harker's Secret', 'Phantom's Lair' and 'Portrait of Dorian Gray' are all so bleak and alike, there are exposable, at least several tracks. However, the action music is brassy all the way, dark but brassy and The London Symphony orchestra gets a real workout with this one. 'Dawn of a New Century' opens the score as it will show itself the entire time, bleak and dark but the begin piece does show a dark and foreboding piece with occasional choir behind it, its strong and menacing and a powerful piece. 'Nautilus / Sword of the Ocean' has a fanfare after 2.50 which at least tries to show some heroic more uplifting music while the pumping action music starts to shows powerful versions of the theme in 'The Game is On', especially its main theme is strong and foreboding at the end. The best track showing us the relentless action music is 'Capturing Mr. Hyde', containing good action ideas and Dark City structures leading us to the known sound. Near the end, 'Treachery' at first follows the dark path as all the others before a welcome fanfare and rhythmic piece flows further in 'Storming the Fortress', a mammoth track full of brass while thick ideas pump their way to the end. 'May this New Century be Yours' finishes with a major fanfare (backed up with whirling strings) of the main theme, but again not here is it uplifting, heroic nor happy. But its good, enjoyable and stunningly powerful.

The final track as said brings back the African music, ending with the orchestra backing it up but for me it just doesn't work to please me. What pleases me is the relentless bombardment of action music, from brass to brass its powerful and thick but not so melodically satisfying like for instance Cutthroat Island or Independence Day. Why I say Independence Day is because the main theme is so close to sounding like the dark fanfare for the Alien threat and ships in that film and score. Especially the final performance in 'May this New Century be Yours' shows this ample. And why the enormous blunder of presenting this score first to downloading buyers overshadowed Jones' score is still beyond me. The downloading quality was never going to present this score in the dark thick mood as Varčse Sarabande presented it here and while not sharp, its powerful gloom and impending power is what makes Jones' score happen on disc. However, I hoped that Jones could compose something more in the line of G.I. Jane since that score captured a heroic and stunning theme. Here, the mere fact that the action music is good and powerful yet not containing one happy moment is somewhat disappointing. Whether Dark City and Thirteen Days were dark, they at least suited the film like clockwork. I however have the feeling that the darkness in the film inspired Jones to write something so dark, it was depressing to hear after a while on disc. I kinda hoped to hear something so heroic and fantasy like the trailer promised with an adaptation of Cutthroat Island's music. For a sheer mass of brass, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a powerful and thick to enjoy listen, but it lacks shades of optimism and uplifting qualities that denies to make it more then memorable.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Dawn Of A New Century (4.27) Excellent Track

2. Kenya / Wait For Me * (3.30)

3. Task Requires Heroes (4.08)

4. Promenade By The Sea + (2.54)

5. Nautilus / Sword Of The Ocean (3.29)

6. The Game Is On (2.54)

7. Old Tiger (2.55)

8. Capturing Mr. Hyde (3.29)

9. Mina Harker's Secret (3.17)

10. Phantom's Lair (5.30)

11. Portrait Of Dorian Gray (3.38)

12. Treachery (5.28)

13. Storming The Fortress (3.54) Excellent Track

14. May This New Century Be Yours (2.32) Excellent Track

15. Son Of Africa * (2.08)

* Score Lyrics written and composed by Trevor Jones & Joseph Shabalala

+ Score Lyrics written by Victoria Seale

Total Length: 54.43

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Trevor Jones ===