Randy Newman.

Disney Music

Out now.

 

Randy Newman has returned to score the latest in the Toy Story franchise. He brings with him reprises of the themes for the major characters, as well as a couple of new songs – ‘I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,’ sung by Newman, and ‘Ballad Of The Lonesome Cowboy,’ which is sung by Country star Chris Stapleton over the end credits (and third track on the album, which front-loads the songs). Newman himself also sings a reprise of the latter song, and a new arrangement of the series theme ‘You’ve Got A Friend In Me.’

The score overall is quite jaunty for the most part, with some rather predictable and skippable parts for the emotional beats in the movie, which don’t quite have the same impact in purely listening terms. It is very much a cartoon score, evoking the air of bouncy action and primary colours, and a pleasant nostalgia for the classic cartoons of yesteryear, without specifically – or at least too obviously – riffing on any of those Tom & Jerry or Bugs Bunny melodies (which is probably just as well, as they tended to be riffs on classical music anyway).

There are new leitmotifs for several new characters, with Duke Caboom’s being particularly memorable for its mandolin and accordion mix.

Verdict: Overall, it’s a light and colourful score with jaunty action cues, quite suited to a summer’s day at play. 7/10

David A. McIntee