Solo: A Star Wars Story [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] [Deluxe Edition]

John Powell / John Williams

(Digital Download - Walt Disney #)

Review by Neil Z. Yeung

On the soundtrack to Solo: A Star Wars Story, John Powell became just the third person to compose a score for a live-action Star Wars film, following in the footsteps of John Williams and Rogue One's Michael Giacchino. Without the burden of the official episode saga installments, Powell took the liberty to experiment with fresh sounds (for the Star Wars universe), delivering the most intriguing and nontraditional Star Wars music to date. Powell employs non-orchestral instrumentation, exciting and unexpected rhythmic percussion, and a choir to great effect (especially as a motif for the newly introduced band of Marauders). After Williams puts his trademark stamp on the project with a lone contribution ("The Adventures of Han"), Powell launches into hyperspace, adapting Williams' familiar leitmotifs ("Meet Han," "L3 & Millennium Falcon," "Break Out," "Reminiscence Therapy," "Into the Maw," and "Dice & Roll") and injecting each composition with flair. The rousing "Corellia Chase" and "Flying with Chewie" swoop and sweep, but it's not until "Train Heist" that Powell truly claims Solo as his own. Funky and primal, "Train Heist" pumps the coaxium hyperfuel into Solo and doesn't look back. The sole pop track on the album belongs to vocalist Baraka May, whose slinky and sultry "Chicken in the Pot" sounds more like a trip-hop Bond theme than a Star Wars cantina tune. It's one of many surprises that make Solo a fun, exciting, and engaging experience. Tasked with filling Williams' iconic shoes, Powell didn't simply mimic the master -- as in Giacchino's case -- but instead charted his own course, capturing the outlaw spirit of the roguish Han Solo himself in the process.

Track Listing

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1 John Powell / John Williams 02:21 SpotifyAmazon
2 John Powell / John Williams 03:10 SpotifyAmazon
3 John Powell / John Williams 03:34 SpotifyAmazon
4 John Powell / John Williams 04:09 SpotifyAmazon
5 John Powell / John Williams 00:30 SpotifyAmazon
6 John Powell / John Williams 00:32 SpotifyAmazon
7 John Powell / John Williams 02:04 SpotifyAmazon
8 John Powell / John Williams 01:32 SpotifyAmazon
9 John Powell / John Williams 02:37 SpotifyAmazon
10 John Powell / John Williams 03:33 SpotifyAmazon
11 John Powell / John Williams 01:01 SpotifyAmazon
12 John Powell / John Williams 10:21 SpotifyAmazon
13 John Powell / John Williams 02:14 SpotifyAmazon
14 John Powell / John Williams feat: Reid Bruton / Baraka May 02:08 SpotifyAmazon
15 John Powell / John Williams 01:12 SpotifyAmazon
16 John Powell / John Williams 02:08 SpotifyAmazon
17 John Powell / John Williams 05:30 SpotifyAmazon
18 John Powell / John Williams 01:09 SpotifyAmazon
19 John Powell / John Williams 02:35 SpotifyAmazon
20 John Powell / John Williams 03:17 SpotifyAmazon
21 John Powell / John Williams 01:59 SpotifyAmazon
22 John Powell / John Williams 02:10 SpotifyAmazon
23 John Powell / John Williams 01:17 SpotifyAmazon
24 John Powell / John Williams 04:28 SpotifyAmazon
25 John Powell / John Williams 10:23 SpotifyAmazon
26 John Powell / John Williams 11:00 SpotifyAmazon
27 John Powell / John Williams 02:00 SpotifyAmazon
28 John Powell / John Williams 04:25 SpotifyAmazon
29 John Powell / John Williams 02:14 SpotifyAmazon
30 John Powell / John Williams 04:47 SpotifyAmazon
31 John Powell / John Williams 04:51 SpotifyAmazon
32 John Powell / John Williams 05:38 SpotifyAmazon
33 John Powell / John Williams 01:02 SpotifyAmazon
34 John Powell / John Williams 01:53 SpotifyAmazon
35 John Powell / John Williams 09:57 SpotifyAmazon
blue highlight denotes track pick