What You Need to Know: Lets get one thing out there right up front -- "Watchmen" isn't your typical superhero score, so for those listeners who are looking for bombast and big themes, you'll have to turn elsewhere. As Bates himself stated (in a recent
ScoreNotes interview), this score is more about ambience and getting into the head space of the characters. Thus, at no point during this score will you be greeted with the camp and fanfare you're used to from other movies of this type. And lets be fair, the "Watchmen" sure as heck aren't "Superfriends" so one can appreciate the approach that was taken by Bates and company.
The score relies heavily on electronics and a mid-80's sound design. The latter makes for an interesting element since films that are based in another era are usually "updated" and brought into the modern day. Kudos for "Watchmen" for staying put in the 80s! Bates' contribution to that comes both through use of guitars and electronics that seem to be right at home in the decade. Just as with his "Doomsday" score (and let's hope he doesn't get typecast as the retro guy!), Bates delivers some enjoyable material with this latter day fare. However, the shining moment of the soundtrack for me is the "Rescue Mission..."
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Rescue Mission" is the first track on the score and everything about it feels right. The style heard on this cue is everything I could have hoped for the "Watchmen" to be. Indeed, this is the one moment on the score that Bates is given the opportunity to come as close as possible to that of a traditional superhero march. For me, I loved the driving pace, the electronic melodies and the orchestral support on this track. If only there could have been more of the same, than I would have been an extremely happy soundtrack critic! Sadly, much of the ambience that I heard on the album takes away from the listening experience and makes this score a bit of a challenge to sit through apart from the movie.
Overall, with the plethora of song material and the licensed material from Philip Glass in the film, there really wasn't a lot of room for Bates to maneuver on this one. While this album might be a bit too critically reviewed in some circles, I think there are a few nice tidbits to enjoy (the electronic 'main' theme, 80's homage) if given a chance on repeat listens. I didn't come out of this blown away but at the same time, I didn't leave disgruntled either. It's a solid, sometimes interesting, middle of the road score.
