About the Soundtrack: "The Legend of Butch and Sundance" is released by the up and coming label, MovieScore Media, available as a limited release CD or download purchase. MovieScore Media has recently been delivering titles that are a bit more attractive to soundtrack collectors and this release may be at the top of the list. What makes this album so noteworthy is that it's being hailed as the final work in the long and distinguished career of the great Basil Poledouris, who sadly passed away in 2006. Though the composer's presence will forever be missed, his legacy will remain alive forever with the wonderful music he left behind.
What You Need to Know: This score was composed for solo instruments and sampled orchestral tracks. That's what the label, MovieScore Media, tells us in the description. What this soundtrack made me realize (even more) is that Poledouris with limited tools was better than most modern day composers who own full arsenals to work with.
Of course, Poledouris is known for his work in the western genre, most notably with his scores for "Lonesome Dove" and in some respects, "Quigley Down Under." That his final album is in this same genre as these two fine efforts is somewhat fitting and makes for a more cherished memory as compared to the Asian action yarn, "The Touch." In any case, knowing that "Butch and Sundance" was Poledouris' final composition made the listening duties a bit tough for me and having to review was made even more difficult. Thus, out of respect to the Composer, who I have always appreciated, I'm not going to give this one a grade as I do with other soundtracks; I feel that would be a tacky move on my part.
The music Poledouris produced on this album certainly offers the Composer's melodic style in each track, even with limited orchestral resources at hand. The features that stand out are indeed the highlighted solo instruments, which are used seamlessly with the sampled background tracks to create a western style of music that is colorful and modern. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought that Poledouris actually did use an orchestra for this production!
Poledouris' penchant for creating main themes is at play here too, fundamentally speaking. There aren't the remembrances that a "Lonesome Dove" would offer, but there is an identifiable theme that is used effectively with this score. Equally effective is the love theme that Poledouris wrote for this film, offering gentle, emotional flows that we are accustomed to from him. Easy on the ears and touching at times, the thematic content on this album is simply pleasant to listen to and doesn't need to excel to epic heights; the beauty lies in the context.
All in all, no matter the outcome of this score's quality, I would recommend it regardless of how it played out. While that may be an ignorant statement for me to make, I write it out of respect for the composer and feel that anyone who has an appreciation for the film music legends should purchase this release. Much like Jerry Goldsmith's "Timeline", there is a certain sentiment involved in owning (and appreciating) the last works of those who have given so much to us. However, the good news about "The Legend of Butch and Sundance" is that this score has an enjoyable quality to it, so it's not simply a token purchase.
After having grown up to Poledouris' music, I find it difficult to end the review of his final contribution. While I don't want to get too sentimental, and though I had never met the man, his music tells me that there was great joy and passion in what he did and that is something that I miss when I listen to many scores today.
For his inspirations, I will remain thankful.
