Soundtrack Review: Ice Age (2002)

Posted by Jon Blough

August 11, 2009

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IceAge VSD6358 Soundtrack Review: Ice Age (2002) This is a review of the motion picture score Ice Age by David Newman.

“Acceptable fun, but I expected better”

Writing a review for a score like Ice Age is always a challenge. I have to convince readers that I like the score, but not TOO much. I have to balance criticism and praise without leaning too hard in either direction. None of the material found in this score is offensive or poor, indeed the quality of the writing and the energy behind the performance are both quite good. As a result every cue on the album is likeable and, for the most part, good fun. Yet so much of the music is so darn situational that the score maintains little consistency outside of a general comedic feel. The fun found in the militaristic “Dodos” and the waltzy “Walking Thorugh (The Comedians)” is too brief, and many listeners will be found wanting more. For the constraints of the genre, Newman does an able job, but as with most of these scores its energy is about par for the course.

Doesn’t Stand Out

Perhaps a more original or thematic approach could have made it stand out a bit above the pack. “Opening Travel Music” will have you bouncing in your seat with its folksy guitar theme bouncing amidst a jubilant, albeit minimal, orchestral fanfare. Yet while the theme bounces through most of the following cues, it never recaptures the spirit of that first cue, rather tilting towards typical, zany comedy fare. That’s not to say zany comedy is bad, for those not looking for any semblance of originality should have a lot of fun with “Baby’s Wild Ride” and the first minute of “Fighting Over The Melons”.
Conclusion

That’s not to say the score is a total madhouse. The second half of the aforementioned cue absolutely soars, while the reflective moments for choir and flute in “Humans, Diego” and “Baby Walks” are a beautiful respite, even if they are somewhat indebted to the styles of Thomas Newman (genetic compositional trait?). But these moments are often in the minority, as are any moments of memorable action. “Tigers Going For Baby” and “Running From the Lava”, the most rumbling cues on the album, are too dependent on the styles of James Horner to be definitive, although the percussive work in the latter cue does make it stand out a bit more. John Powell’s more robust material in the later two scores of the series is much more engaging and less anonymous. In fact, if you listen to all the Ice Age scores in succession you’ll be hard-pressed to remember most if any of Newman’s entry. The first Ice Age is worthwhile, but given Newman’s talents (Galaxy Quest anyone) this unremarkable score should be better.

Album (34:28)
1. Opening Travel Music (1:17)
2. Angered Rhinos (2:14)
3. Humans/Diego (1:43)
4. Tigers Going for Baby (3:12)
5. Dodos (0:42)
6. Fighting Over the Melons (2:01)
7. Walking Through (1:25)
8. Baby’s Wild Ride (1:56)
9. Checking Out the Cave (3:43)
10. Running from the Lava (2:27)
11. Baby Walks (1:34)
12. Tigers Try to Get Baby (5:41)
13. Giving Back the Baby (6:26)

Listen to Ice Age by David Newman below:

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