About the Soundtrack: The soundtrack release for "The Spirit" had a rather unique trajectory. First, it was available from LionsGate via Amazon.com's CD-R program, in which a CD copy is sold to the consumer instead of a fully packaged disc. Then an original release finally pushed through and was recently made available by the good folks at Silva Screen. Given that David Newman's score is a unique and artistic effort, I would say that Silva Screen did a good thing for soundtrack fans by granting this soundtrack a proper release.
What You Need to Know: My impressions about David Newman's score for "The Spirit" are complimentary; there is a certain sense of artistic craftsmanship associated with the soundtrack and it resonates well in its tone. Overall, the music is in line with that of a vintage superhero concept but David further accentuates it by adding a film noir touch that creates a mysterious and captivating atmosphere. The saxophone and lone female voice, in particular, offer a key part in this score.
The main theme for "The Spirit" provides a swirling string motif that is far from being over the top but identifiable enough to hold its own weight. David found just the right musical stroke to represent this character and the city itself. Lending further color to this saga is the inclusion of the harmonica, an addition that adds the flavor of a classic Western canvas to the film. With the old West concept of good vs. evil in mind, thematically, the use of the harmonica is all the more fitting and cool to hear. Not surprisingly, this style certainly gives off a retro Morricone vibe (the film's trailer used Ennio's music from "The Untouchables").
To truly embrace the "The Spirit," you should know that the soundtrack takes a bit of time to build up its energy and that you should be aware of the atmospheric tracks that appear early on. However, the music has a clear direction and ramps up toward being a fully dramatic superhero score by album's end. The soundtrack picks up so much momentum, in fact, that by the end of it, I was hoping it would continue on for another half hour! For sure, leaving 'em wanting more is the sign of a good score and "The Spirit" has such merit. The highest praise I can offer David's work for this effort is that his music tells a story; it's not locked down to the film for one to partake in it.
Final Score: You'll find a very pleasing and interesting time listening to the music from, "The Spirit." Perhaps refreshingly, it's unlike other superhero scores in that David Newman's approach is well thought out, less bombastic, and achieves high points for its artistic style.
