Poltergeist

It's heeeeere...! Bless Rhino for this expanded release of Poltergeist, because it includes some of Jerry Goldsmith's best underscore work, ranging from a metallic arrangement of "The Star Spangled Banner" all the way to the curiously eerie children's choir that closes the proceedings. In between these markers, Goldsmiths provides the listener with everything from screaming cues for nightmare to sweet melodies that manage to evoke a warm summery day in suburban Middle America -- a place, it turns out, that's very well haunted by the restless (and very annoyed) spirits of those long dead. Goldsmith's penchant for unusual tones and electronic instruments served him very well on this score -- an element that makes this a very interesting album to audit via headphone, thanks to a plethora of intriguing elements that can be picked out play by play. Poltergeist should be included in any serious underscore collection. ~ Steven McDonald