Stephen Endelman "Home of the Brave" (Lakeshore Records)

Home of the Brave is the story of an Army unit in Iraq about ready to come home. But they have one last mission, delivering medical supplies to a remote village. The small unit is ambushed and many lives are lost. The remaining soldiers come home and try to pick up their lives all the while thinking about what has changed them so much.

Stephen Endelman's score is haunting, starting off with Sheryl Crow singing one of her best songs in quite a long time "Try Not To Remember",the acoustic based score is very moving. It depicts not the glory of war but more of the shattering of innocence and the bringer of nightmares.

Endelman showcases some Middle Eastern influence but the strongest pieces feature lush strings and a sad piano, especially on "The Funeral." He really conveys with his spare score the stark reality of knowing someone you love just not may be coming home the same way they left.

Endelman,who scored the wonderful "The Englishman Who Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain" hasn't really fulfilled his early promise as a composer but this score perhaps he can regain some much needed momentum. This is a keeper.


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