While Goldsmith's score for LA Confidential is a minor modern noir classic, The River Wild is a rather less inspired Goldsmith action/adventure score. The album opens with an arrangement of the traditional song The Water is Wide (how do they think of these brilliant titles?!) performed by Cowboy Junkies and it's a pleasing folksy number, nicely performed. Goldsmith's score starts well with the lilting Gale's Theme, not exactly indelible, but the kind of tune that Goldsmith can write, and make work, at the drop of a hat. Unfortunately, his mid-90's scores don't always feature particularly adventurous action writing and this is no different. It certainly doesn't have much in the way of pulse pounding complexity, the action is rather slower and seems to grind along rather than fly by breathlessly. Perhaps the biggest disappointment is that Gale's Theme doesn't occur often, nor is there some kind of slightly more lighthearted adventure theme, but evidently Hanson wanted a very serious approach and so there is little in the way of heroic.
Same Old Story features a more gentle interlude of oboe and strings, augmented by synths that recall Medicine Man, but this is followed by the lengthy Vacation's Over which builds from a repetitive selection of low woodwind and brass, together with timpani hits, but eventually turns into an exciting finale to the adventure. Family Reunion forms a coda with the token upbeat finale to the score which then blends into a reprise of The Water is Wide. Perhaps a trifle unnecessary to feature it twice on the CD, but it works well enough. It would seem damnation through faint praise to call it routine; it's similar in style to The Edge, but lacks that score's striking theme, even if The River Wild is a more even listen. Not really one to be remembered in the pantheon of Goldsmith scores, but worth picking up for a listen or two, but he's done this kind of thing much better elsewhere.
Rating ~ 
Total Time ~ 38:57