I remember Dick Tracy with much fondness. At the time I even liked it more than the original BATMAN that had come out in 89. Although I had the film on DVD, I had not been able to listen to the soundtrack in sometime because my cassette tape broke 10 years ago and have not been able to find a copy since then. I know how silly this must sound because just the other day it finally popped in my head, that I should try to see if Amazon has any used copies of it. They do! Not only used but I bought a brand new copy from an independent dealer for 6.99 using Amazon.

I put it in my CD player and does this soundtrack take me back. The soundtrack with its wide scale in moods, and style captures the color and action of this movie. More so alone as a soundtrack album this film also is quite entertaining. You definitely can pin point this to the early years of Elfman careers. Although its not nearly as dark as the Batman score it shares similar thematic elements of that earlier score. As robust the score may be in the action pieces, it also has an equally tender love theme for Tracy and Tess as well as a tragic version of that theme for Breathless. And though it shares elements of the Batman score its overall tone is just the opposite of Batman. Instead of brooding and serious, this score is optimistic and comical not to mention nostalgic.

True in some ways Elfman is now more polished but he doesn't really do the big and brash type of scores anymore. His scores have become a lot more subtle and in my humble opinion...ordinary. His music use to stand out from the rest of the composers. However, that is not to say Mr. Elfman is any less of a talent. His work on the Spider-Man films as well as Corpse Bride were both excellent scores as well his "Serenada Schizophrana" is absolutely brilliant.

I just think it would be wonderful to see Mr. Elfman attempt another score like Dick Tracy again. I love it. I think its wonderful