"The Island"
Score Composed by Steve Jablonksy
Audio Clips: The Island Awaits You | My Name is Lincoln

Tuesday, July 26, was Steve Jablonksy day for me. Not only did I buy the "Steamboy" DVD on this day (to which he supplied the score), but I also purchased his latest soundtrack, "The Island." This was a project I was looking forward to ever since I heard his breakthrough work for "Steamboy." However, after listening to this most recent release, I'd say that we shouldn't plan any parades just yet.

This score is a very uneven venture. There is a stop-and-go pacing to the music that prevents the listener from developing any type of flow with it. The foundation of the soundtrack is based on a heavy blend of electronic music, sound effects, and even a mini-rap song thrown in for good measure! There is such a disruptive pacing at work here that I grew frustrated with the music even when it excelled.

The first track kicks off the score auspiciously. It's an opening title that baits the listener in to believe that the majority of the soundtrack would feature a similar tone. And what a neat tone it is -- a hybrid of science fiction and new age, leading to an 'Island' theme that reveals itself at different times during the score. As you get deeper into the tracks, though, you'll see that that the heavy dose of electronics become far too overbearing to withstand and that the effectiveness of this theme becomes lost in the mix.

I found the bookends, the first and last (orchestral) track to be the standout entries on this disc. In fact, the final track is so stellar that the score nearly overcomes its shortcomings just because of it! Jablonsky taps into a melody that was sorely missing from the previous 50+ minutes of music that led up to this point. If anything, hearing this final track reinforced my confidence with what's to come in the future from him.

"The Island" was teetering between a B- and C+ rating throughout the time I was listening to it. I was rooting for Jablonsky here, but in the end, he came up a bit short. It felt as if Hans Zimmer's influence lingered too heavily over this project (he produced the album). I hope Jablonsky finds more of a balanced opportunity and creative freedom with his next project.

Final Score: An off balance mix of electronic music and sound effects derails a promising opportunity. Jablonsky shows his promise, however, with moments of creative excellence that should keep his fans enthused for the future.