What Is The Last Score You Listened To? (older scores)

[alicebrallice 134]

Uhmm Alice there is nothing but NP in the above post...

and now?

[Incanus 5,890]

Ah Rio.

I have never heard that one. How is it?

[Koray Savas 2,260]

A pleasant but run-of-the-mill animation score from Powell, but that's just me.

[Matt C 605]

Hook

Several big highlights like "Prologue" and "Ultimate War" really give the score it's lauded classic status... but the rest doesn't do much for me. It's like Raiders of the Lost Ark... has its classic moments but as a whole doesn't do much for me.

[Incanus 5,890]

Star Trek by Michael Giacchino: With all the excitement for the new Star Trek score I took listen of Giacchino's previous effort in the longer 2 disc form and while there are great moments on the set, the overall experience is a bit halting as there is quite a bit of chaff among the wheat, which stops the momentum of the score for me. Pruning some of the shorter atmospheric cues might improve the experience as it feels like you have to wait for several shorter and uneventful cues to get to the next ear grabbing piece. I would say a single full disc might actually be able to contain a very strong listening experience. Still it is better than I remembered. Begrudging acknowledgement to Giacchino on this one.

[Matt C 605]

Captain America: The First Avenger - Alan Silvestri

Superman Returns - John Ottman

[Pieter Boelen 1,032]

...I'm starting to realize that I don't like Giacchino's action sound very much.

Not even Medal of Honor?

[KK 3,313]

...I'm starting to realize that I don't like Giacchino's action sound very much.

Not even Medal of Honor?

Giacchino's action sound has evolved a lot since Medal Of Honor. Medal of Honor was awesome. But these days, his action music tends to sound more bland.

Star Trek by Michael Giacchino: With all the excitement for the new Star Trek score I took listen of Giacchino's previous effort in the longer 2 disc form and while there are great moments on the set, the overall experience is a bit halting as there is quite a bit of chaff among the wheat, which stops the momentum of the score for me. Pruning some of the shorter atmospheric cues might improve the experience as it feels like you have to wait for several shorter and uneventful cues to get to the next ear grabbing piece. I would say a single full disc might actually be able to contain a very strong listening experience. Still it is better than I remembered. Begrudging acknowledgement to Giacchino on this one.

The action music wasn't too exciting, nor was the villain theme. And the theme was really repetitive. That pretty much sums up my big issues with this uneven score. Other than that, it's fairly entertaining.

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

I really dig the original opening, with the suspense theme, compared to the rescore using the Main Theme

[JoeinAR 1,957]

Aside from Married Life, I couldn't really connect with the score on album. But it works brilliantly in film.

Having heard the new Star Trek samples, I like some of what I'm hearing, but I'm starting to realize that I don't like Giacchino's action sound very much.

it is rather generic and uninspired. but there is lots of it from ST 2009 to Ghost Protocol,

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

On Her Majesty's Secret Service - John Barry

[Incanus 5,890]

The Adventures of Mark Twain by Max Steiner: A lovely score full of Americana and sparkling optimism and big heart in the inimitable way only the grand father of film music could do it. Sprinkled with familiar Americana tunes and sounds the score is abound with various musical styles but firmly rooted in the orchestral idiom and has a wonderful twinkle in its musical eye.

Even though the work is somewhat monothematic, the short motto for Mark Twain repeating constantly Steiner takes it through enough permutations for it not to over stay its welcome. The performance by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of William Stromberg is lush, nuanced and spirited and the recording is top notch.

Much the same way as the film the score is comprised of short vignettes ranging from the lilting fluid woodwind figures of the River Pilot to the whimsy and tender nostalgia of The Squirrel - Livy and spirited and larger than life travelling montage music of World Tour Begins and World Tour Continues where Steiner's own theme is interspersed with colorful ethnic allusions. Highly recommended.

[Jay 46,241]

Star Trek by Michael Giacchino: With all the excitement for the new Star Trek score I took listen of Giacchino's previous effort in the longer 2 disc form and while there are great moments on the set, the overall experience is a bit halting as there is quite a bit of chaff among the wheat, which stops the momentum of the score for me. Pruning some of the shorter atmospheric cues might improve the experience as it feels like you have to wait for several shorter and uneventful cues to get to the next ear grabbing piece. I would say a single full disc might actually be able to contain a very strong listening experience. Still it is better than I remembered. Begrudging acknowledgement to Giacchino on this one.

Yea, I have thought for a while that you could make a KILLER 75 minute version of the ST09 score with all the highlights and enough varied underscore to be totally satisfying. In fact, I wish Nic Raine and the City of Prague would record an album of just that. Would be great to hear the score come alive with all the choir restored and proper recording techniques used.

[Matt C 605]

After reading about La-La Land's limited CD release of Willard, I decided to go back and listen to more cues from Shirley Walker's contributions during her career. Her work for the DC animation canon was truly something to behold. Mask of the Phantasm is a breathtaking work, especially "Main Titles" and "Batman's Destiny".

One can only imagine if Christopher Nolan approached her to score Batman Begins... what a score that would be!

... I really miss her.

[crocodile 9,724]

Captain America: The First Avenger

I've not listened to it in quite some time. Still the best score to come from a Marvel studio and one of the best written for a blockbuster in the past few years. In fact one of my favourite Silvestri works ever. Not sure why so many people don't like it.

Karol

[Brónach 1,330]

I was totally bored by it.

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

I only liked the stuff with the main theme, personal theme, and Training the Supersoldier....

[Incanus 5,890]

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow by Edward Shearmur

[crocodile 9,724]

I was totally bored by it.

I only liked the stuff with the main theme, personal theme, and Training the Supersoldier....

What's wrong with you people? It's as traditional as film music gets these days.

Jaws (the original album)

Karol

[Incanus 5,890]

I was totally bored by it.

I only liked the stuff with the main theme, personal theme, and Training the Supersoldier....

What's wrong with you people? It's as traditional as film music gets these days.

Jaws (the original album)

Karol

They are just hip and cool youngsters Karol. Faleel is more into game music and likes to play it cool when it comes to the traditional stuff and Chaac has obviously fallen in with a bad crowd because he has to maintain his street cred by dissin' some good music and using expressions like "da shit". Joining the neighbourhood gang and acting all tough is not the answer Chaac!

Jaws (the original album) is a fantastic listening experience.

[crocodile 9,724]

I was totally bored by it.

I only liked the stuff with the main theme, personal theme, and Training the Supersoldier....

What's wrong with you people? It's as traditional as film music gets these days.

Jaws (the original album)

Karol

They are just hip and cool youngsters Karol. Faleel is more into game music and likes to play it cool when it comes to the traditional stuff and Chaac has obviously fallen in with a bad crowd because he has to maintain his street cred by dissin' some good music and using expressions like "da shit". Joining the neighbourhood gang and acting all tough is not the answer Chaac!

Who is to blame if not us - the society. We neglected them and now it will haunt us for the rest of our lives. That is our legacy.

Rebel Without a Cause

Karol

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

I like Star Wars... and Rozsa..

[Brónach 1,330]

They are just hip and cool youngsters Karol. Faleel is more into game music and likes to play it cool when it comes to the traditional stuff and Chaac has obviously fallen in with a bad crowd because he has to maintain his street cred by dissin' some good music and using expressions like "da shit". Joining the neighbourhood gang and acting all tough is not the answer Chaac!

lol

I liked the theme (but not at first), if that counts.

[crocodile 9,724]

Try harder! Both of you!

Karol

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

Hey, I like Miklos Rosza, Korngold, John Barry, John Williams, Howard Shore, Jerry Goldsmith, Cliff Eidelman, Clifton Parker, Paul J. Smith, Elmer Bernstein, Ennio Morricone, Alexander Courage, Fred Steiner, Gerald Fried, Sol Kaplan, James Horner, Koji Kondo, Michael Giacchino, John Powell, Korsakov, Wagner, Alan Silvestri, Clint Bajakian, and Kurt Heinecke, so I think I am trying hard enough

[Jay 46,241]

Been listening to Chris Tilton's SimCity a lot, can't get enough of it.

Iron Man 3's score in the film didn't offend me, and I left hte theater humming the main theme, smoething that hasn't happened in a non-Williams/Giacchino/LOTR score in a LONG time

[Wojo 2,458]

Croc, I can appreciate Captain America for being traditional, which is rare these days.

But there are decades upon decades of traditional scores to listen to, and lots of them are still boring.

[crocodile 9,724]

Hey, I like Miklos Rosza, Korngold, John Barry, John Williams, Howard Shore, Jerry Goldsmith, Cliff Eidelman, Clifton Parker, Paul J. Smith, Elmer Bernstein, Ennio Morricone, Alexander Courage, Fred Steiner, Gerald Fried, Sol Kaplan, James Horner, Koji Kondo, Michael Giacchino, John Powell, Korsakov, Wagner, Alan Silvestri, Clint Bajakian, and Kurt Heinecke, so I think I am trying hard enough

Speaking of Rozsa, I'm now listening to Shirley Walker's score to Fire From Olympus episode of Batman: The Animated Series. There's quite a Rozsa-esque fanfare in there.

I've decided to divide those two albums into individual mini-score playlists. It's better this way.

Karol

[lonzoe 19]

[Pieter Boelen 1,032]

Yea, I have thought for a while that you could make a KILLER 75 minute version of the ST09 score with all the highlights and enough varied underscore to be totally satisfying. In fact, I wish Nic Raine and the City of Prague would record an album of just that. Would be great to hear the score come alive with all the choir restored and proper recording techniques used.

I wonder what tracks would be recommended for such an album. Any thoughts?

[Jay 46,241]

I have put some though into it before, but would have to sit down and actually make the thing to come up with a definitive sequence.

[Pieter Boelen 1,032]

Well, consider me interested if you ever get to it.

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

The Empire Strikes Back - Charles Gerhardt (Composed by John Williams)

I like it, its got decent tempos, and it actually sounds like a decently close orchestra.

[Incanus 5,890]

The Empire Strikes Back - Charles Gerhardt (Composed by John Williams)

I like it, its got decent tempos, and it actually sounds like a decently close orchestra.

The brass totally blows in some sections and not in a good way, but otherwise a pretty great execution of the concept of a larger suite from ESB.

The River by John Williams

Dracula by John Williams

[crocodile 9,724]

Maybe but the end credits performance is actually better than the LSO one.

Karol

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

Star Wars - John Williams

The score that started my journey.

[crocodile 9,724]

Don't know what's wrong with me but I listen almost constantly to Elliot Goldenthal's S.W.A.T. in the past few weeks. If only younger composers knew how to produce something this badass. Goldenthal beats a lot of them in their own game - it's hip, obnoxious and yet devilishly intelligent as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3z_y7hTQ_E

The Master by Jonny Greenwood

Star Trek: The Best of Both Worlds by Ron Jones (if the sound is good I might buy the new release, I like this score)

The New Moon in the Old Moon's Arms by Michael Kamen

Karol

[Incanus 5,890]

Stanley & Iris by John Williams

Diamond Head / Gone with the Wave by John Williams/Lalo Schifrin

[Jay 46,241]

What'd you think, Inky?

[Incanus 5,890]

Diamond Head is somewhat typical score of its times, the album featuring heavily source music alongside the dramatic scoring. You can already hear Williams' dramatic voice in the few tracks that feature actual score but on the whole the Diamond Head album is quite a jazzy and breezy affair. The main song melody, written by Hugo Winterhalter is featured on several tracks but is surprisingly enjoyable outside the funny song version sung by the film's star James Darren and Williams' arrangements are pretty well done although they do favour a subtly Hawaian loungey and jazzy or pop music mood. I wouldn't say that is an enormous triumph for JW but none the less an interesting link in the chain of his early works where you can hear the roots of his style and sound. What I have come to note is how the scores from this period, comedies but even more the dramatic output has a specific sound to it, Williams' style and skills still in development. 3 to 3½ stars for me. It is a real shame the master tapes for the actual score are lost.

Shifrin's work on Gone with the Wave is equally eclectic with jazz mixed with several different other styles like bossa nova and other Latin flavours. The music is also equally engaging or perhaps even more so than Diamond Head.

All in all a pretty swinging album with top notch, interesting and informative liner notes (as per usual for FSM).

Next up: Jericho/Ghost Breaker (Various composers/Williams)

[Jay 46,241]

Awesome!

[Incanus 5,890]

Lincoln by John Williams: After a small break this score still sounds as good as before if not better. Such warm, beautiful and gentle music, the humble simplicity of the main themes only adding to the effect.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,383]

Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.

Brilliant!

[KK 3,313]

Thought you were Joey for a sec...

[ZackR 187]

Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.

Brilliant!

Indeed. I keep hoping it will get an expansion. I also love his score to What Dreams May Come. I find it reminiscent of Robin Hood at times. If he hadn't replaced the Morricone score, I think his would have been much better received. I really like it and think it is generally underrated.

[alicebrallice 134]

NP:

absolutely love this score.

[Incanus 5,890]

Kingdom of Heaven is to me inarguably one of HGW's finest achievements.

[Pieter Boelen 1,032]

I like how the Christian and Muslim themes are essentially the same melody. He definitely put some serious thought and care into that one!

Not a bad film either, especially the Director's Cut. Too bad they had to mess around with the music selection in there.

[Incanus 5,890]

The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing by John Williams: A score somewhere between Missouri Breaks and Sugarland Express in terms of style and mood with a small orchestral ensemble creating a very intimate atmosphere. Unlike with Missouri Breaks Cat Dancing contains somewhat more typical dramatic scoring to be expected from the Maestro with sweeping string section, horns and trumpet lending a serious and weightier edge to a number of cues. The few cues of action and suspense music are sparsely textured, rhythmically jabbing and in some ways a nod towards the stylistics of the action music of The Cowboys. Williams works economically and relies on trademark Americana solo instrumentation, harmonica, guitar, flute, piano, clarinet and aforementioned trumpet to carry the emotional message. The main theme is a slightly pop song styled progression, typical to the films of the era (Frank Sinatra actually recorded a song version of the main theme titled Dream Away not featured on the FSM album), which Williams reprises in various forms, the rollicking pop sensibilities lending it a certain laid back flow, a pianola figure used as a rhythmic accompaniment adding further Western feel.

The album also contains the rejected score by Michel Legrand, whose approach is much more impressionistic and challenging, containing Indian chanting (courtesy of the composer himself) and wordless vocals and an array of exotic instrumentation including cimbalom and ocarina. Undeniably it is a more original and even eccentric approach, which might have led to its rejection as in comparison Williams' music is much more conventional and accessible take on the drama than Legrand's.

Once again the FSM liner notes are superb, Jeff Eldridge chronicling both the film production and providing detailed cue-by-cue analyses of both scores. The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing is a score that has actually taken for me a bit of time to get to know well but it has revealed to be an entertaining intimate Western score, which shows yet another facet in the composer's range and is another step on the path of his career towards the eventual grand symphonic adventures that would make him a household name.

[Jay 46,241]

The amount of knowledge Jeff Eldridge has on all those old 50s and 60s film and television scores is pretty amazing