CD REVIEW - THE TOWN


The Town
Music by Harry Gregson-Williams & David Buckley
Silva Screen Records Cat. No.: 738572134327
16 Tracks 41 :59 mins

Already the buzz is pretty positive for Ben Affleck's new thriller, The Town, which opens in UK cinemas on Friday.
For the music, Harry Gregson-Williams reunites with David Buckley, with whom he has collaborated on a number of projects in recent years. Buckley's recent solo credits include The Forbidden Kingdom and From Paris With Love, whilst Gregson-Williams, who needs no introduction, worked on Affleck's directorial debut, the Oscar-nominated Gone Baby Gone.
Written in contemporary urban fashion, the composers mix electronics with the live players, opening the score with the lonely, atmospheric "Charlestown," which only really gets going right at the end. "Bank Attack" follows and mixes suspense with moments of rhythmic action, before strings enter to propel the getaway. "Doug Reflects" is well, reflective, with effective electric guitar solo. "FBI Show & Tell" has an oppressive pulse to it, a feeling that continues into "Oxycontin," before strings enter in sorrowful fashion, only picking up at the end. The reflective theme from before opens "Healing and Stealing," this time voiced by piano, but things quickly pick up and move rhythmically to a close. "Nuns with Guns" follows and returns us to the style of "Bank Attack." After the action, the music pauses for reflection again with the piano-lead sentiment of "The Necklace;" whilst the oppressive pulse returns vengefully in "The Wreath."
Largely rhythmic and suspenseful, "Cathedral of Boston," only comes to life at the very end, and the music ticks along in similar fashion throughout "Fenway" and "Who Called 911?" before becoming more purposeful. "Making the Switch" builds to a crescendo, before a burst of action leads to yet another purposeful build. "Sunny Days" again gives pause, with more solo piano and even offers a glimmer of hope at its close, with strings returning to propel "Leaving" towards the promise of better things, a promise that seems to be realised in the closing track "The Letter" where the reflective theme returns once more on piano and is then taken up by electric violin and orchestra to bring the score to a peaceful close.
Go to www.silvascreenmusic.com for samples and to order your copy on CD, or as a digital download.