by mjz on 5/5/2003
favorite track: 3
 
They just don't make film scores like this one anymore. For everyone who thought they had heard everything John Williams had to offer will be most assuredly pleased to hear this absolute gem of a score.

I first encountered the music to The Reivers on the John Williams Greatest Hits CD released in 1999, which contained the "Main Title" from this film. Not being the biggest fan of bluegrass or country music in the world, I usually skipped past the track because I found the banjo section in the middle to be utterly obnoxious. But I recently completed (or came close to completing anyway) a quest to obtain every John Williams soundtrack album available, and my search led me to this one, which I admit I was most hesitant to buy based on the little bit of music I had heard from it.

So then the happy day (note the implied sarcasm in that statement) arrived when the CD showed up in the mail. I tossed it in my CD player, not expecting too much, and, in all honestly, fell asleep listening to it. But that was because I was very tired. After listening to it again once I woke up, I wondered just exactly how I could have fallen asleep while listening to it in the first place. This is one of few soundtracks I own (John Williams soundtracks included) that really doesn't sound at all like a soundtrack, but rather a thoroughly enjoyable instrumental album.

Anyone who has ever shown an interest in hearing just how creative John Williams really is (granted there are PLEANTY of other CDs that could serve this same purpose) should make a concerted effort to track down this somewhat hard to find soundtrack. Where else can one hear a banjo, harmonica, kazoo, mouth harp and a synthesized harpsichord on a CD by John Williams and not be totally repulsed by the mere thought of such instrumentation? Admittedly, I would probably be skeptical of buying such a CD based simply on that description, but set all skepticism aside. This is a brilliant soundtrack, full of tender and lovely moments and sweeping themes, much in keeping with John Williams' melodic genious, and adding in heaps of fun and quirkiness for flavor.

Some have called this score John Williams' homage to Aaron Copland. While there are several moments that one can point out that certainly sound like Copland-esque Americana, this is pure John Williams at his creative best. Easily one of the best soundtracks you can buy, provided you can find it.