Hans Zimmer is definitely in a groove. Fresh off of the work he and his team delivered for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," he returns with a summer blockbuster of another kind, "The Simpsons." The story of America's first family has finally made its way to the big screen and one couldn't think of a more unlikely pairing than that of Hans Zimmer to do the score. "The Simpsons" movie is certainly a departure from the recent world of Pirates and DaVinci, so it is refreshing to see Zimmer take on a totally new genre with this effort, even if it sounds like an unusual pairing at first glance.
The score begins as it should, with the title cue of The Simpsons television show starting things off. It's an appropriate choice, if a predictable one (hearing it as an orchestral piece is of interest). Had the title track been remiss, than I am sure that loyal Simpsons fans would be up in arms, so it was a prudent approach to ensure that the show's opening music was included. What follows thereafter is a pleasant surprise as the music for the movie adaptation is quite entertaining!
As you listen to the score you'll find that the traditional Zimmer sound is well represented, which I am sure surprises no one. But just as it worked with 'Pirates 3,' it does so here as well. In fact, there are a few snippets of action music that sound as though it's fresh off the 'World's End' disc, but I'm not complaining; I love the fact that Bart and company can receive such serious cinematic treatment.
Aside from the colorful and strong instrumentation, there are some snappy tunes included in the presentation as well. "
Bart's Doodle" is a delightful track that makes one think of "The Wizard of Oz" when hearing it while conversely "
Recklessly Impulsive" is a zany techno tune that offers up the themes of the score in a dance club motif. When listening to the latter track, prepare to whistle alongside it! Also interesting is the expansion of the Simpsons theme that's incorporated into the work as well as the way Zimmer drops hints of it at differing moments of the score. Say what you will, but to me, this is a very well thought out score. If you're willing to come to grips with the style of work that Zimmer brings to the table, than trust me, you'll enjoy this one quite a bit.
And speaking of positives -- a tactical strategy that works well in the score is the delivery of the music itself. For instance, many animated features offer music that operates precisely with the timing on the screen, causing abrupt stops and starts along the way. While there is some of that here, it's not as pronounced. The end result is a series of cues that flow well from each track to the next and thus, offers a listening experience that is not as halting as I expected.
In my opinion, Zimmer has poised himself to deliver truly engaging works moving forward. I think his style of writing thematic material is improving toward more originality each successive time out of the gates. It goes to show you that no matter how long someone may be in a creative field, there is always room to continually develop one's own talent, be it independently or collaboratively. "The Simpsons" could have been a rather routine assignment from a musical perspective, but what's delivered is an above average score that has a lot of pep to it. For me, the end result is that I've now officially transitioned from a marginal Zimmer fan to one that is completely on board and ready for more.
