Sometimes i am amazed when certain scores never get a commercial release. The case of the Shaft 2000 score is one that amazes me how such a great score can be overlooked for commercial release. Currently it is available only as a promotional release by the man himself David Arnold.
Arnold's score for Shaft 2000 is a perfect mix of electronic and small orchestra. The score glides along almost effortlessly with electronic funk backing to the themes and bombast delivered by a handful of violins, flutes, trumpets and trombones. Every track sets a slick jazzy pace throughout the album and the action music (the big attraction of any Arnold score) is in some cases way above his normally good bombast.
The score gets better as it goes along, the music carries all the way to the climax of the film where Arnold pulls out all the stops and lets rip with two tracks that are superb. In the penultimate track, "Safe Houe/Shoot Out 2" the orchestra takes centre stage and delivers a hell of a noise. The music rockets along and represents Arnold at his very best.
The final track "A Rare Harlem" is again superb. The orchestra takes a step back in this track and moves back as an equal to the electronics. The drums roll furiously in this track and the trumpets perform short motifs that must have left the performers gasping as they reach for the highest notes. This track is a brilliant end to the album.
Other great tracks include, well basically the whole album. In particular though "Boy's Got Justice", "Rough Justice" and "Remember Me?" are brilliant. The first being a tragic track with an entirely orchestral lament at the end that is moving and lends some heart to the score. "Rough Justice" is superb, filled with theme and atmosphere as Shaft enters the courtroom for the trial. "Remember Me?" has a tense beginning that then bursts into a cool fanfare for Shaft as we discover he "Is the Man".
The only track where there is anything to criticise is Shoot-out 1. This track starts well and for the first 2 1/2 minutes it is a great piece of action and suspense. At about 2:35 however the orchestra completely cuts out as well as much of the electronics leaving just the drums and a mixing deck playing for over a minute of just pounding electronics with no tune of any kind.
Apart from this one criticism though, Arnold's score is one brilliant score. The only real complaints have to go out to the CD companies for not issuing a proper release of this album. If this was released commercially it would become another million seller for "King of Action Music".
*****
2. Scene of the Crime (2:50)
3. Boy's Got Justice (1:39)
4. Rough Justice (2:48)
5. Peoples Hernandez, Come On Down (1:10)
6. Remember Me? (4:08)
7. Gimme Your Shoes (1:17)
8. Courtroom Drama (2:48)
9. Looking for a Witness (2:14)
10. Schoolyard Split (1:10)
11. Tailing Walter Wade (2:41)
12. Shaft's Big Switch (2:42)
13. Peoples Gets Played (2:05)
14. Shoot-out 1 (3:40)
15. No More Running (3:38)
16. Safe House (Shoot-out 2) (3:51)
17. A Rare Harlem (3:21)
