Soundtrack Review: The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Posted by Jon Blough

November 13, 2008

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This is a review of the motion picture score The Shawshank Redemption by Thomas Newman.

Quirky rhythms and uplifting string themes. Defining styles of the majority of Thomas Newman’s works, and yet few of his scores can match the emotional impact of The Shawshank Redemption. Oddly enough, that impact is achieved through fairly conservative thematic usage. Both the rolling Stoic Theme and the uplifting theme that is heard most memorably in the superior End Credits each pop up a handful of times, yet their memorable performances feel all the better for it. Music doesn’t make it into dozens of trailers for nothing, I suppose.

Aiding this impact is the enjoyable surrounding material. None of it breaks new ground for the composer, but it all works cohesively enough to be highly effective in both film and album. “Brooks Was Here” is the easy highlight, a sad, detached, piano-led piece that is effectively downbeat without ever being either overwhelming or depressing. “So Was Red” also succeeds in this lulling, meditative style. Other individual moments, like the folksy fiddles in “May” and “Workfield” and the soothing percussive beats in “Rock Hammer”, are likeable if brief. A few tracks (“Elmo Blatch”, “An Inch of His Life”) feel TOO detached to be memorable in any way. Still, it’s the emotion in the thematic references that is the major selling point for this mostly great score. Listeners would be best served to put the album in chronological order, as the triumphant “Shawshank Redemption”, with its strong brass performances of the stoic theme, is oddly placed in the album’s middle.

Geek Score: 9

Album (53:44) (Chronological placement # at ends)

1. May (0:33) – 6
2. Shawshank Prison (Stoic Theme) (1:53) – 2
3. New Fish (1:50) – 3
4. Rock Hammer (1:51) – 4
5. An Inch of His Life (2:48) – 9
6. If I Didn’t Care (3:03) – 1
7. Brooks Was Here (5:06) – 11
8. His Judgement Cometh (2:00) – 7
9. Suds on the Roof (1:36) – 8
10. Workfield (1:10) – 10
11. Shawshank Redemption (4:26) – 18
12. Lovesick Blues (2:42) – 14
13. Elmo Blatch (1:08) – 16
14. Sisters (1:18) – 5
15. Zihuatanejo (4:43) – 17
16. The Marriage of Figaro/”Duettino – Sull’Aria” (3:32) – 13
17. Lovely Raquel (1:55) – 15
18. And That Right Soon (1:08) – 18
19. Compass And Guns (3:53) – 19
20. So Was Red (2:44) – 20
21. End Title (4:05) – 21