I Am Number Four Soundtrack Review

By: Arlene R. Weiss

I Am Number 4 Score

Click to Buy the I Am Number 4 Soundtrack from Amazon

When it was announced that Producers Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay had optioned the best-selling novel, I Am Number Four for a big budget screen adaptation, my main cause for excitement emanated from the news that, venerable film composer, Trevor Rabin, renowned for his esteemed artistry and scores for Armageddon, Remember The Titans, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, National Treasure 1 and 2, Enemy Of The State, Con Air and many more Hollywood celluloid jewels, would be crafting the film’s score.

I had very much looked forward to Trevor’s score for I Am Number Four being released on an official album after experiencing his score firsthand, when I screened and reviewed the film. Here, Varese Sarabande Records does Rabin proud with the release of this Original Motion Picture Score Album, featuring Trevor’s luminous score, which he both composed and produced. This 21 track release highlights Rabin’s dazzling and affecting soundscapes that so beautifully serve and voice the film.

On “Welcome To The Jungle,” “Water Vision” and “Mog Shop And Feed,” Trevor offers tense moments of foreboding, suspense, and imminent, looming danger, and Rabin evokes taut action on the central characters’ chase sequences “VI To The Rescue,” “IV And Sarah Escape,” and “Forest Fight,” by way of his implementation of striking, sharp, and forceful strings, loud and bold orchestral swells, and great, grand symphonic flourishes.

“Hit Me With Your Lumen” and the gorgeous “Rising From The Ashes,” crescendo with epic, sweeping and majestic, fanfares and pageantries that just soar, and are brightly imbued with uplifting heroism and valor.

Depth and emotional resonance, lustrous hallmarks of Rabin’s scores, illuminate his exquisite emotional centerpieces for the film, “Getting To Know Sarah” and especially his key theme “Who We Are.” This key theme comes up in the film whenever the film’s hero, John, (aka Number IV), looks at meaningful photographs, keepsakes, or he shares a romantic moment with Sarah.

Eloquent, lyrical, wistful, and full of joy, these sublime musical motifs are the shining moments that stand out and elevate the film, and ultimately, are the beating, emotional heart of “I Am Number Four.”

Gentle, intricate, and beautifully melodic piano and guitar, color and theme, and indeed give life, to the film’s main characters, conjuring indelible memories and images of their most emotionally urgent moments, by virtue of Rabin’s essence of ever flowing sparkle and magic.

What makes this key theme even more memorable, is that is Trevor, strumming the understated brushstrokes on guitar, enveloped delicately by Trevor’s beautiful arrangement for orchestra, painting remarkable emotional depth and breadth with his wonderfully textured, multilayered sonic canvas.

Trevor Rabin has crafted a stunning score that resoundingly rises to the occasion, showcasing Rabin’s flair for composing unforgettable music that can be endlessly treasured and that evokes dynamic, riveting, aural narratives and purposeful, thoughtful, character development, complimenting I Am Number Four just beautifully, with compelling excitement, luster, and grace.

© Copyright May 21, 2011 By Arlene R. Weiss-All Rights Reserved

7 Comments

  1. Arlene R. Weiss (12 years ago)

    Also Wonderful News Re: Trevor Rabin’s long awaited solo album! The Title of Trevor’s New Instrumental Solo Album, Being Released September 2011, On VoicePrint Records is “Edging Closer”!

    http://gonzomultimedia.blogspot.com/2011/05/trevor-rabin-new-solo-album-entitled.html

    FYI…Gonzomultimedia is the parent co. of VoicePrint Records.

    Many Wonderful Congratulations to Trevor on both of these new album releases, the Original Motion Picture Score Album Soundtrack for “I Am Number Four” and Trevor’s new studio, instrumental solo album, “Edging Closer”!

  2. Arlene R. Weiss (12 years ago)

    Update Re: The Title of Trevor Rabin’s New Instrumental Solo Album! The blog entry from VoicePrint Records & GonzoMultimedia announcing the Title as of 5/5/11 as “Edging Closer”..has as of 5/22/2011…NOW been REMOVED..so…Maybe there’s been a Change in the Title of Trevor’s Instrumental Solo Album by Trevor…which artists frequently DO sometimes before & right up to their albums release date, and this has 3 and a half more months to go as its set for a September 2011 Release on VoicePrint. Might be a change in Title..I’m not sure yet so guess we all have to STAY TUNED! Whatever Title Trevor names it, will be wonderful and I’m very looking forward to it!

  3. Arlene R. Weiss (12 years ago)

    The Title of Trevor Rabin’s New Instrumental Solo Record is reportedly, “Jacaranda”, according to an Interview in the current issue of “Classic Rock Meets Prog Magazine”…(NOT “Edging Closer” as was initially reported in the GonzoMultiMedia/Voiceprint Records Blog).

  4. Arlene R. Weiss (12 years ago)

    Trevor’s long awaited instrumental solo album, “Jacaranda” will drop January 2012 on GonzoMultimedia Records.

  5. Arlene R. Weiss (12 years ago)

    Sunday, 2/5/2012 Trevor’s long awaited all instrumental solo album, “Jacaranda” is now due for major release April 2012, on a different record label which as yet, is to be announced. Trevor is finishing up the first video for “Jacaranda” which he is working on with his longtime drummer, Lou Molino and bassist Tal Wilkenfeld, both who appear on the album with Trevor’s son drummer Ryan Rabin & also with jazz drummer Vinnie Colaiuta. Trevor also just “finished mastering this week” and is “Going back next week for a small touchup.” according to Trevor’s latest report to NFTE (Notes From The Edge) on Sat. 2/4/2012.

  6. Arlene R. Weiss (12 years ago)

    Trevor’s new, instrumental solo album, “Jacaranda”, his first new studio album in 23 years, will be released 5/8/2012 on Varese Sarabande Records. Here is OFFICIAL Information for availability & purchase & more directly from Varese Sarabande’s OFFICIAL website!

    Quote: “Jacaranda is Trevor Rabin’s first new solo album since his 1989 album Can’t Look Away. Rabin plays all of the instruments himself, with the exception of drums, for which he brought in noted jazz/rock drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank Zappa), longtime Rabin drummer and collaborator Lou Molino III, Trevor’s son Ryan Rabin (Grouplove), and noted bass guitarist Tal Wilkenfeld (Jeff Beck) plays on the track “Anerley Road.”

    Release Date: 05/08/12
    Price: $12.98
    http://www.varesesarabande.com/servlet/the-1029/Trevor-Rabin-cln–Jacaranda/Detail

    The complete track listing is also on the first link above from Varese Sarabande Records.

    Also this link has info… http://www.varesesarabande.com/servlet/the-VARESE-VINTAGE-cln-Upcoming-Releases/Categories

  7. Arlene R. Weiss (12 years ago)

    3/7/2012 Update on Trevor Rabin’s new instrumental solo album, “Jacaranda”, being released May 8, 2012 on Varese Sarabande/Varese Vintage Records.

    Vocalist Liz Constintine is featured on the track “Rescue,” inspired by the film “The Guardian”. There’s also a video Trevor is doing for the album that I believe is with Tal Wilkenfeld, which might be the song “Anerley Road”.

    Track List:
    1 Spider Boogie
    2 Market Street
    3 Anerley Road
    4 Through The Tunnel
    5 The Branch Office
    6 Rescue
    7 Killarney 1 & 2
    8 Storks Bill Geranium Waltz
    9 Me And My Boy
    10 Freethought
    11 Zoo Lake
    12 Gazania