Search - Michael Nesmith :: Timerider

Good soundtrack for a ok movie.

Andrew | 11/29/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this movie when I was younger and I have always liked the music in it. The combinations of Rock, Folk, and 80's synthesizer give this score and edgy and exciting sound. The music fits the action on screen and carries the emotion of the events very well. Even if you are not familier with the move, but are into movie scores with more rock and less orchestral feel then you will likely enjoy this soundtrack."

One of my favorite movie soundtracks ever

Curtis G | OC, CA, USA | 01/13/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a fan of "Timerider" since I saw it in the theater in 1982, and a major factor in my enjoyment was Michael Nesmith's music. I wanted this soundtrack in the worst way, but the closest I could get was recording the movie's sound from my VCR onto audio cassette (after a year or more of waiting for the VHS tape to come out). Not a perfect solution, but the only one back then. When I picked up the guitar in the mid-80s, I spent a lot of time trying (unsuccessfully) to recreate its numerous and delicious leads. ("The Baja 1000" is a veritable smorgasbord of tasty licks). It will come as no surprise that I'm itching to pick up my guitar again and take another shot at it.



Listening to the music by itself, with headphones, has been a revelation. Although the music is a big part of the movie (in terms of the movie's "construction," two-thirds of it is visuals and concept; the other third is the music--not surprising, considering that we're talking about Michael Nesmith here), the nuances tend to get lost behind the sound effects and dialogue. I'm impressed by the numerous variations on the main musical themes: I love how "Escape to San Marcos" is essentially "Lost in the Weeds" on acoustic guitar. Nearly every track offers something new and different, yet never fails to reference a main theme. Especially noteworthy is "Scared to Death," with its Mexican-style guitar and subtle maracas. I could be mistaken, but I get the impression that the recording sessions were a lot of fun.



If I have a gripe at all, it's the very-80s synthesizer work. Without synthesizers, and with guitar or even a symphony filling out the sound, this soundtrack could have been far less dated, perhaps even able to stand on its own, like a Ry Cooder album (note the jaunty slide guitar on "No Jurisdiction"). That said, apart from keeping production costs down, I imagine that synthesizers were used to underscore the idea of a present-day man and his slightly futuristic machine being thrust into the past. Where they are most effective is in adding some beef behind the guitars, as in "Murder at Swallow's Camp." Conversely, where they are least effective (read: most cringe-worthy) is when they are made to fill in for real orchestral instruments, as in "Two Swanns at the Pond." So while the synth work--like the movie itself--is definitely a product of its time, it still has its many charms. In fact, the first time I listened to "Lost in the Weeds," I got goosebumps. And I'm not exaggerating, but the final moments of "Out of Ammo" stir my soul (jeez, did I just write that?) like nothing since Wagner's "Siegfried's Funeral Music."



I'm shocked that this soundtrack was released in 2000; I just found it on Amazon yesterday and bought the digital album immediately (I couldn't wait for a CD, although liner notes would be nice). I haven't stopped listening to it since. In my review of the Timerider DVD I gave the soundtrack 4.5 stars, and that was before I'd even heard it by itself. I'm happily upgrading my rating of the soundtrack to 5 full stars.



A note on the digital download: Bit rates vary from 213 to 235kbps (VBR). I'm no engineer, but it sounds great to me. Then again, I started collecting soundtracks in the vinyl era, so I almost expect to hear pops, clicks and hiss. Color me ecstatic."