John Williams - Jaws 2 (CD)

All Music Guide

Apart from Bernard Herrmann's Psycho theme, there is no movie music more ominous and chilling than John Williams' twonote Jaws motifwhile each successive sequel blunted the impact of the Jaws franchise as a whole, Williams' Jaws 2 score is nevertheless a worthy followup to its predecessor, retaining the sinister ambience while boosting its kinetic intensity. For better or for worse, Jaws 2 beats the original for undersea action and carnage, and Williams clearly relishes the opportunity to capture the bloodshedcues like "Attack on the Helicopter" and "The Water Kite Sequence" employ shrieking strings and unnervingly robust percussion to striking effect, while "The Catamaran Race" proves surprisingly rousing, perfectly capturing the spirit of competition. Best of all, the classic Jaws theme proves its durability and flexibility with a series of variations that all boast serious teeth.

- Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide