Intrada Soundtrack Forum

Just got "The 'burbs", finally... great stuff.

A few weeks back I put together a mix of the scores that Goldsmith wrote for Joe Dante's films:

1. Twilight Zone: The Movie - It's a Good Life (10:50)
2. Gremlins - Suite (9:08)
3. Explorers - Have a Nice Trip (8:03)
4. Amazing Stories: Boo! - Suite (5:53)
5. Innerspace - Let's Get Small (5:57)
6. The 'burbs - Suite (5:54)
7. Gremlins 2: The New Batch - Suite (8:40)
8. Matinee - The Next Attraction (7:56)
9. Small Soldiers - Suite (9:35)
10. Looney Tunes: Back in Action - Suite (6:39)

What tremendous fun this stuff is. It really makes you appreciate how Dante brought out his wild side. Obviously they got on well; Goldsmith worked with him more times than with any other director. There's so much freshness and creativity in the music. None of it's serious or important or overreaching; you can tell how much he liked writing it. It makes you appreciate a collaboration that allows for a lot of play and experimentation.

In my humble opinion, Jerry Goldsmith composed for Joe Dante some of his best scores, fresh, inventive, weird, humorous, darkly charming, magical and powerful.

I think Gremlins/Explorers/Small Soldiers is the winning trio. But they all got a special something that make them so enjoyable !

I've been on a GREMLINS 2 kick recently after rewatching the film. It's one of my favorites. It's certainly of its time: 1990. While Goldsmith's electronic synth drums haven't aged well, they're part of the scores charm.

That warm, brassy finale ("New Trends") Goldsmith wrote for the finale made me miss the composer again.

Ryan