Meet the Robinsons [An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack] [Soundtrack]

Danny Elfman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 27, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Walt Disney Records
• ASIN: B000N0KVQ0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,695 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Disney's animated adventure may be driven by themes of futuristic time traveling, but its musical score is a delightful, pop-driven hybrid that turns on decidedly back-to-the-future sensibilities. Rob Thomas' hook-rich single "Little Wonders" and the All-American Rejects' collaboration with Danny Elfman "The Future Has Arrived" give the collection an immediate contemporary edge. But just as winning are disparate pop performances from Rufus Wainwright (the Nilsson-esque opening gem "Another Believer" and lilting "Motion Waltz"), while nouveau UK crooner Jamie Cullum turns in a swinging, piano jazz take on Wainwright's "Where Is Your Heart At?" as well as an inviting cover of "The Simple Life" in the same vein. Elfman's orchestral score returns him to the vibrant milieu of his early Tim Burton collaborations, supercharged here by a manic energy that seems equal parts Simpsons, Bernard Herrmann and Carl Stalling. Bringing the collection full circle is a big-band cover of Disney's vintage "There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" theme performed with loopy big-band charm by They Might Be Giants and the Jonas Brothers more disposable Kim Wilde update, "Kids of the Future." --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good mix of score and songs, April 2, 2007

By 

Bryant Burnette "Bryant Burnette" (Tuscaloosa, AL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Meet the Robinsons [An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack] (Audio CD)

I bought this CD because (1) I'm a big Disney fan and (2) I'm a big Danny Elfman fan. And it didn't really disappoint me on either front.

First, the songs. Rufus Wainwright's "Another Believer" is a great, Beatles-esque ditty that I loved the first time I heard it during the movie. The All-American Rejects' "The Future Has Arrived" is also pretty great. Rob Thomas's "Little Wonders" is another solid song, although in my opinion it doesn't quite fit the movie as well. There are several other songs, but mostly they are unremarkable. The one remaining exception is They Might Be Giants' cover of "There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" from the Carousel of Progress. That's a very apprpropriate inclusion; it fits the theme of the movie extremely well, and is also a good tip of the hat to Walt himself.

As for Danny Elfman's score, it's one of the better he's put forth in the past few years. It's very much in the vein of "classic" Elfman (that is, late '80s and early '90s Elfman). If you're a fan of his, you will love it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Future Is Now, August 14, 2007

By 

tvtv3 "tvtv3" (Sorento, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Meet the Robinsons [An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack] (Audio CD)

I was just as impressed by the music and soundtrack of MEET THE ROBINSONS as I was by the visual images from the film and, therefore, decided to get the soundtrack. Like the characters in the movie, the songs on the cd fit into a wide range of genres. Rufus Wainwright, Rob Thomas, The All-American Rejects, They Might Be Giants, Jamie Cullen, and Jonas Brothers all contribute to songs on the MEET THE ROBINSONS SOUNDTRACK. The score is by Danny Elfman and is a pretty good one. The songs from the score that I especially enjoy are, "Goob's Story" and "A Family United." The lyrical songs that I enjoy most from the album are:

"Little Wonders"--Rob Thomas

"The Future Has Arrived"--The All-American Rejects

"There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow"--They Might Be Giants.

If you really enjoyed the movie or are a fan of Danny Elfman's music, then this is a cd that you will probably enjoy.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice album with a special treat for Disneyland fans, October 19, 2007

By 

Greg Ehrbar "'MouseTracksOnline'" (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Meet the Robinsons [An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack] (Audio CD)

It's refreshing that a contemporary animated soundtrack not fall back on existing pop tunes to elicit "easy" emotional reactions from the theater audiences, but rather create new songs by popular artists. The Meet the Robinsons CD not only features new songs, but from the copyright notices on the liner notes, they're all new Disney songs.

Like the best examples of recordings for the family, and Disney records in general, Meet the Robinsons is eclectic, with selections running from power rock to big band crooning, in addition to the landmark score by Danny Elfman, landmark because it's his first for a Walt Disney animated feature, if you don't count Nightmare Before Christmas or James and the Giant Peach, which somehow seem outside the "Brand" (sorry to use the "B" word!) Elfman also co-wrote The All-American Rejects' "The Future Has Arrived."

Rufus Wainwright contributes two tunes, his co-written potential hit "Another Believer," and the especially engaging, self-penned "The Motion Waltz."

For a completely different change of pace, Jamie Cullum adds a touch of pop jazz style with the new song, "Wherer is Your Heart At?' as well as the classic standard "Give Me the Simple Life" (which some may remember being used several years ago for Campbell s soup TV commercials).

Also unlike some contemporary animated film soundtrack albums, the Meet the Robinsons disc does not skimp on background score tracks, dismissing a great score with a few cuts and a "suite." Instead, there are ten instrumental tracks, essentially making this practically two albums in one.

There are also two bonus tracks, including the Jonas Brothers' "King of the Future," which got lots of Disney Channel play.

But it's the other bonus track that really stands out for Disney fans: an interpretation of "There's a Great Big, Beautiful Tomorrow," the classic Sherman Brothers theme for the Carousel of Progress attraction at the New York World's Fair, Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Rather than turning the song into a new pop track, They Might Be Giants have done an astonishing, spot-on tribute to the Rex Allen version, soprano and all, that adds a fine instrumental bridge.

What a treat!