When a score is released as a 3-disc set in today's market, you know something is up. And that something is Bear McCreary's stock because he has delivered a rather astonishing soundtrack experience with his score for the television series, Human Target. Believe the hype on this one...and then some.

Human Target can be looked at as a modern take on the old fashioned serials from yesteryear. The number of above-average, standout cues spread across this 3-disc set seems to defy the odds but somehow they're here before us, ready to be enjoyed on a level unique to the television format. The enthusiasm that's behind the music is infectious and the spirited, adventurous tone is tangible. How Bear was able to come up with this epic output is beyond me. I'd venture to say that there were not a lot of hours dedicated to sleep and rest during the development time on Human Target.

Those of us who are engaged in the soundtrack medium will recognize Bear for his ethnically diverse palette that he wove into his scores for the modern Battelstar Galactica series. I think many of us sensed that there was a special quality to his work but the parameters of Galactica never fully unleashed the composer's orchestral voice. Well, wait until you hear him out on Human Target because there is a bundle of rich, sophisticated, and catchy music that you'll partake in. What you'll first notice is a prominent, adventurous main theme from the show's opening titles, presented on this release in the extended version (which kicks off the album) and it's far removed from the new-age tones of the Galactica opening. The Target theme serves as the foundation for the adventure that's to unfold and it's definitely a keeper. In fact, Bear calls upon it frequently throughout the score and it never seems to wear out its welcome. It also helps that the supporting motifs play off of this main theme in a complimentary manner which ensures a solid thread of consistency throughout. But this is no static, by the book deployment; the music evokes a sense of cinematic wonder in a countless number of moments. Those of us who had our dreams served by the music of Goldsmith and Williams will find that we've arrived in similar territory here. Again, it's hard to fathom that this great music hails from a modern television series and not some Spielberg blockbuster. That's how good it is.

It's rare for me to pass out a perfect grade here on ScoreNotes. A lot has to come together, a perfect storm in a sense, for a soundtrack to receive an A+ recommendation. I'm happy to report that Human Target is such a score. You see, this type of music speaks my type language and rekindled a type of youthful enthusiasm within me. Even if Disc 1 were released on its own, I would still give it a rave review, but here, the La La Land team knows a good thing when its before them and have granted us a stellar 3 discs to dive into. Further accolades go out to the Producers behind the series itself for having the guts to commit to the music in this fashion and for simply allowing Bear to do his thing. So whether you go all in and purchase the La La Land release or opt to purchase the digital "double disc" option, you are bound to be satisfied either way.

With the brilliance of Doctor Who and the liveliness of Human Target, we fans have quite a bit to be thankful for from the small screen these days.