Music Review

"Gremlins" Soundtrack - Composed by Jerry Goldsmith - Two CD Set-Retrograde Records-2011.

Compact Disc Two has the same Track Listing as the originally released Vinyl/Tape Release-(1984). As CD2 was the first Gremlins Soundtrack available to the public, my review is of CD2, and is also my main Review.

CD2:Track One - Michael Sembello - "Gremlins... Mega Madness". This song was written for the film. The track begins with what sounds like fast sped-up giggling/laughter by what could be a group of Gremlins, we also hear the sound of mild mayhem and mischief happening in the background, before Michael Sembello begins to sing. The song describes a busy energetic club-like scene, where a lot of silliness and madness is taking place and the song describes the Gremlins in the film, to a tee! The song has a short instrumental section towards the end, before Michael Sembello repeats the "Mega-madness, super badness" lyrics. The song becomes a little experimental whilst repeating them, and soon-after begins fading out.

CD2:Track Two - Quarterflash - "Make It Shine". This track begins with a quiet Rock Instrumental Theme, with the words "Shine" spoken softly under it, repeated a few times, then the female lead singer Rindy Ross begins to sing softly, with the message of making something worthwhile happen by giving it your all! An uplifting song with a mild Rock/Pop feel to it. As with the first song "Mega Madness", there is a short instrumental bit nearing the end before the final section of lyrics come in to reinforce the songs message. This song was not written for the film, but taken from Quarterflash`s second Studio Album.

CD2:Track Three - Peter Gabriel - "Out Out". This song was also written especially for the film. The track begins with some unusual distant and subtle but bright sounds-then some very fast drumming before Peter Gabriel enters the song quickly stating "I`ve had enough of this!" and a groovy sparkly electronic beat immediately begins with a tribal style to it. The song has an atmosphere of confusion, a feeling for wanting to escape, as well as the need of companionship. There are Saxophones used throughout the song, and other sounds which are animalistic and strange sounding. There are distorted voices which sound ghostly and otherworldly, weaving in and out of the funky playing music. Peter Gabriel is known for experimental music and tribal influences also creep into the song here and there, with strange chants just appearing half way through, which gives the song an interesting and unusual feel, with many mixed voices, textures, and emotions, with nicely overlapped and layered sounds. Nearing the end the music becomes more playful with a xylophone/keyboard sounding instrument being used before some wild sounding electric guitars and Peter`s forceful voice coming in for the finale of the track. An epic track at seven minutes long!

CD2: Tracks Four to Seven are mini suite/pieces which are made up and specially arranged pieces, with the music taken from different sections of the Film Soundtrack. Jerry Goldsmith created the instrumental score/soundtrack to Gremlins. His music is the "character" of each of the "Gremlins" as well as the "Human Characters", and is the emotion of each scene and situation. The four remaining tracks on CD2 includes music from the film, but exactly as it was heard in the film (please see CD One Review for further information).

CD2:Track Four - Jerry Goldsmith - "The Gift". It begins with a beautiful lullaby theme which represents the cute "Mogwai" creature (also the song that "Mogwai" sings/hums to itself), the music quickly moves to a more strange and darker tone to represent the more sinister "Gremlins" that appear later in the film. The music goes back to the "Mogwai" lullaby to give us reassurance that all is well for the time being, before becoming more strange again. The track also introduces us to the "transformation" that the Gremlins go through, which is a dark and deeply upsetting experience for all concerned. The darker "Gremlins" section of this track is indeed scary, here we are introduced to the "Gremlin Rag" which consists of high pitched violins playing along with the Gremlins singing, their "Tune/Anthem", so to speak.

CD2:Track Five - Jerry Goldsmith - "Gizmo". Gizmo is the name given to the Mogwai, who is one of the main characters of the film. Gizmo is a playful, friendly, intelligent little fur-ball, who likes nothing more than to whistle/hum little tunes and roll its eyes every so often. The music here perfectly represents "Gizmo" in every way - soft, lovely, adorable, and very cute.

CD2:Track Six - Jerry Goldsmith - "Mrs. Deagle". This track represents the chief antagonist of the film, a woman who controls the people of the small town, with her wealth. A clumsy plodding electronic-trombone sounding theme plays here especially for her. She suffers at the hands of the Gremlins later in the story. As the track continues, the music gives us a clear vision of what happens when all goes awry - deep, moody keyboards play, as well as quick played high-pitched violins with sharp and dark brass/orchestral themes.

CD2:Track Seven - Jerry Goldsmith - "The Gremlin Rag". This is the last track we hear during the film`s credits, the music reminds us of the darkly playful and dangerous nature of the "Gremlins" themselves, and is a version of the "Gremlin Rag". It is a funky and melodic track, but also strange and clearly meaningful-relating to the strange phenomena of what we could call the"supernatural", in a seemingly "ordinary" world.

Compact Disc One is the fully restored, remastered and officially complete version of the soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith.

CD1: Compact Disc One consists of the whole orchestral score created for the film. Each track on this CD is what is heard in the film. The themes here are much longer versions than what is heard on CD2. Here we experience each piece of music in its full glory, with no edits or anything missing. Each track is a truly magical piece of music, with all of the emotion of CD2, but with a lot more of it to digest! On this CD there are also some extra tracks previously unreleased. A Beautiful Soundtrack!