"Robots"
Composed by John Powell

I am so thankful that Randy Newman didn't score this! Recruiting a perfect choice to write the music for this animated film, 20th Century Fox hired the right man for the job in John Powell, and he does not disappoint.

"Robots" is a movie that offers just enough of a good story to make the amazing visuals flow well enough to avoid a mediocre experience. And Powell does his job in creating a fantastic melody of music that paces the adventure.

Listening to this, one gets the feeling that Powell had a lot of fun in writing this score, and the output matches such a conceived enthusiasm. The score ranges from campy and playful music to near epic segments of villainous mayhem. The main theme is light, yet serious enough to accept as a cinematic offering. Much too often, I find the merry underscore to movies such as this easy to write off, but not so with this one; it sticks.

There are a lot of fun instrumentations that Powell uses in his arsenal, but its all very well balanced. He didn't overlook the orchestra at all. Also, The transition from one track to the next makes for a very smooth listening experience.

What I also appreciated with this effort is that Powell asked for, and delivered, original material for the robotic marching band, Bigweld TV and more. Its simply fun to listen to such unique creations. The tracks are also not very long, so there was no real lull for me, nor did it become too overbearing.

Final Score: Powell strikes just the right mix to give this robotic journey a lot of life.

Composition Comparisons:
A blend of "Just Visiting", "Evolution" and "Chicken Run"

Grade: B +

1. Robots Overture (4:02)
2. Rivet Town Parade (:54)
3. Bigweld TV/Creating Wonderbot (2:45)
4. Wonderbot Wash (2:08)
5. Train Station (3:50)
6. Crosstown Express (1:19)
7. Wild Ride (1:36)
8. Madam Gasket (1:00)
9. Chop Shop (1:50)
10. Meet The Rusties (2:07)
11. Bigweld Workshop (3:13)
12. Phone Booth (1:29)
13. Gathering Forces (3:28)
14. Escape (4:42)
15. Deciding To Fight Back (1:13)
16. Attack Of The Sweepers (1:27)
17. Butt Whoopin' (3:42)
18. Homecoming (1:33)
19. Dad's Dream (1:24)

 

Audio Clip: Robots Overture| Wild Ride

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