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Review of Cars (Randy Newman)

FILMTRACKS RECOMMENDS:

Buy it... if you enjoy the collection of classic, modern, and original rock songs heard in the film.

Avoid it... if you're looking for a fresh new style from composer Randy Newman in the underscore (or a Newman vocal performance).

FILMTRACKS EDITORIAL REVIEW:

Cars: (Randy Newman) Despite claims from Pixar that the studio is capable of producing one fresh feature film per year, fans of the Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo style of digital animation have been patiently waiting for the much anticipated Cars for two years. The premise of a host of animated, talking cars without humans wasn't actually invented by Pixar or Disney, but dates back to the highly popular introduction of claymation-style cars in Chevron commercials in the mid-1990's. In Cars, dozens of vehicles ranging in size and age reside in a world largely absent of pesky humans, lamenting lost glory, racing each other, and attempting to find their purpose in life. Its story and incidental dialogue are littered with hidden meanings and references to other Pixar films, continuing a recent Disney tradition of playing commercialized tongue in cheek jokes for their audiences. Vocal talents range from well known actors to race car drivers, actors turned race car driver to several top flight stand-up comedians. Early screenings of the film have been largely positive, with Pixar impressing audiences this time around with its ability to realistically portray reflections off the surfaces of its washed and waxed characters. The film has a decently long running length of an hour and a half, leaving room for a significant musical underscore and the usual collection of pop songs. The songs in this case are predictable, combining America's love of cars with that of classic rock n' roll. Included into the picture are several 50's and 60's classic rock references for the older car characters, with some cover work bringing this music up to modern standards. The modern rock songs are all relatively soft and listenable; four original songs include those by Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, and the unstoppable Randy Newman. Newman's song, "Our Town," is not performed by the composer himself, but is a rather somber piano and acoustic guitar piece for the voice of James Taylor. The underscore, however, is pure Randy Newman in style and delivery.

The album for Cars contains half an hour of songs and only about 20 minutes of score, but with a project as predictable for Newman as this, 20 minutes is really all that's needed. Orchestrally vibrant, Newman's score will be largely familiar to listeners of his other animated film scores, deviating in only a few places for individual cars' personalities. The ensemble is on the lighter side, aided by the bounce of its own enthusiasm, though certain more robust cues suffer from a lack of rumbling depth. Occasional drum pad or synthetic bass enhancement can be heard in cues such as the climactic "Piston Cup," but for the most part, Cars is a lightweight derivative of the Western styles of Maverick, among others. Had Cars let loose with the same ambient muscularity of the stagecoach chase in Maverick, it would have been a far more engaging listening experience on album. As it stands, a cue like "Pre-Race Pageantry" borders on being a flighty parody of John Williams' "Flag Parade" cue from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Newman does avoid the outright parody styles of John Debney's recent blockbuster animation music, though detractors of Randy Newman could say accurately that Cars is yet another parody of himself. There are a few moments of fresh life in Cars that should be mentioned, however, and their inclusion assist the score in rising above its tendency to bore. Slight character-specific instrumentation, as in the Dukes of Hazzard-inspired "Bessie" cue with slide guitar and ultra-lazy rhythms to the more ambitious acoustic guitar rhythms in "McQueen and Sally" pump life into the scene. The most interesting cue by far is the "Opening Race," which interrupts Newman's usual playful orchestral overture with a rocking pair of electric guitars and band percussion. Unfortunately, this adaptation of style from the film's songs is curiously absent from the rest of the score, despite the fact that such an orchestral and rock blend could have served the film quite well. On the whole, however, the score's themes and orchestration are highly derivative of Newman's other fluffy animation works, sparking as much excitement as a mid-90's Toyota Camry.  ***

TRACK LISTINGS:

Total Time: 52:16

• 1. Real Gone - performed by Sheryl Crow (3:21) • 2. Route 66 - performed by Chuck Berry (2:51) • 3. Life is a Highway - performed by Rascal Flatts (4:36) • 4. Behind the Clouds - performed by Brad Paisley (4:09) • 5. Our Town - performed by James Taylor (4:07) • 6. Sh-Boom - performed by The Chords (2:25) • 7. Route 66 - performed by John Mayer (3:24) • 8. Find Yourself - performed by Brad Paisley (4:11) • 9. Opening Race (2:04) • 10. McQueen's Lost (2:28) • 11. My Heart Would Know - performed by Hank Williams (2:26) • 12. Bessie (0:58) • 13. Dirt is Different (1:27) • 14. New Road (1:17) • 15. Tractor Tipping (1:21) • 16. McQueen and Sally (2:00) • 17. Goodbye (2:42) • 18. Pre-Race Pageantry (1:30) • 19. The Piston Cup (1:52) • 20. The Big Race (3:07)

NOTES & QUOTES:

The insert includes no extra information about the score or film.

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The reviews and other textual content contained on the filmtracks.com site may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of Christian Clemmensen at Filmtracks Publications. All artwork and sound clips from Cars are Copyright © 2006, Walt Disney Records and cannot be redistributed without the label's expressed written consent. Page created 5/20/06 (and not updated significantly since).