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Steven Price has certainly been working his way up through the ranks over the years. While he has only a few exclusive scores under his belt, he has had some wonderful opportunities to train and learn from the best in the business. He has worked with Howard Shore as a music editor for "Lord of the Rings" and has collaborated with the likes of Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. He really gained attention as a film composer in his own right with his phenomenal score for "Gravity" (2013). He would follow it up with an equally amazing score for the film "Fury" (2014). Both scores are highly recommended. There has been much anticipation for the film "Suicide Squad" and this really provides a great opportunity for the young artist to show his skills. While the film has been met with mixed reviews and disappointment by those who have waited (for what seems like an eternity) so long for the movie...I can tell you that despite some of the "misguided" reviews here that Price's film score is very good indeed. I haven't seen the film yet but I find Price's score to be very visual and it provides a great listening experience even outside of the film.
The score opens with "Task Force X" (track 1) and it's here that Price introduces us to the major Suicide Squad theme. It's a theme that reminds me of a tough guy walking in a bar that no one wants to mess with. It's a great thematic track that fits right in with the whole concept behind the film. "Arkham Asylum" (track 2) is a great piece that offers another reoccurring theme that Price toys with throughout the score. The cue has nervous sounding strings, atmospheric background sounds, and ghostly choral voices that give Arkham Asylum a very haunted house feel to it. At times it rides on the edge of sadness and fits quite nicely into the universe of the Dark Knight. "I'm Going to Figure this Out" (track 3) provides a great transition from the previous track by becoming less atmospheric and moving towards a more emotionally driven piece. I was actually surprised to find a good number emotional sequences within the score and was expecting a more thunderous and bombastic approach throughout. While this makes for a great Price score, I wonder if this is why some of the movie's critics said it was too slow? Anyway, the score picks up with a jolt during "You Make My Teeth Hurt" (track 4). This cue is quite animated with it's busy fast stepping strings and piano. It reminds me a little of silent film music where the damsel in distress is tied to the railroad tracks with the train coming. It's slightly cartoonish at times and I'm wondering if this music is somehow associated with an appearance of the Joker? It's a fun and lively cue and Price's orchestration is nicely done.
At times, the score takes a very gothic approach with it's dark/moody emotional spurts and haunting choral voices. The score offers plenty of upbeat action sequences as well where the composer demonstrates his capabilities in balancing a slightly heroic movement with villainous undertones. "Thats How I Cut and Run" (track 9) establishes more rhythmic action music that incorporates some strange background noises. It's less techno than say a "Fast and Furious" score but it's still reflective of a "good guys doing bad stuff to accomplish good objectives" idea. I guess in this case it would be "bad guys doing bad and good stuff to accomplish good objectives". However you wish to look at it, I feel the composer has established action and thematic moments that certainly have a darker side in some aspects. The same could be said of Junkie XL's "Deadpool" score with the big difference between the two scores being orchestration. Price uses more of a traditional orchestra whereas Junkie XL leans toward a more industrial sound. It's quite obvious that both composers know their tools well and how to use them. In short, I enjoy hearing how composers can take a heroic theme and give it a darker component that seem to fit these character's well.
A favorite track of mine would be "Harley & Joker" (track 12). The cue twinkles with a sound that seems to drip down into the abyss of the psychotic mind before cascading into a larger diabolical crescendo. You can almost hear the maniacal laughter within the music for sure. It's a short cue but it certainly says a lot about the two characters. As I had mentioned earlier, Price has mixed in some emotional moments within the score and to me they seemed designed to elicit a sympathetic response from the audience. This sadness motif pops in through several pieces and seems most prolific through tracks 14 thru 17. These are certainly some complicated characters that we are dealing with here and the music reflects this. Track 18, "Are We Friends or Foes", seems to start us on the journey for the climatic showdown where the main theme (introduced from the first track) blast out triumphantly as our heroes...or villains....take the fight to the next level. "One Bullet is All I Need" seems to be where the big moment happens and is more of a dreamy "slow motion" sequence where the tension builds which finally results in a climatic burst from the orchestra. The final cue, "The Worst of the Worst" provides the bookend to the score by revisiting some of the previous themes throughout.
It's an enjoyable score and one that seems to fit right in with material the composer is working with. It would of been cool to hear specific music dedicated to more of the characters but the film has quite a few of them and that would of obviously taken up too much time. I was also surprised that the score was released only as a CDR. Even sites like Intrada records only have it available this way. I've noticed that Amazon now has the import version available at a higher cost however. So if you want an "official" CD pressing, you better opt for that. The CDR comes with a 12 page insert that contains photos of all the major villains. production credits, orchestra/choir listings, and a special thanks section. The cartoonish psychedelic art effect continues throughout the insert. There are 22 tracks on the release with a running time of 1 hour and 13 minutes. Steven Price doesn't disappoint and I look forward to hearing more from this talented composer.
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Matt
Another good DC films score
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 3, 2017
