146 replies to this topic

[Charlie Brigden]

Finally got this today. I feels really surreal holding this in my hand, having waited this long. But awesome.

[Joe Brausam]

My copy should be arriving today as well!

[Jason LeBlanc]

For a score that was on everyone's grail list for almost 2 decades, I feel like the terrific FSM CD that eventually came out did not receive a lot of discussion.

So, let's get some going! Who has it, who likes it, who ended up being not that impressed with it, etc? Share your thoughts!

[Wojo]

I had downloaded a footwarmer from the interwebz that was very similar to FSM's complete first disc, and so I haven't listened to it as much as I should have with a new purchase since the footwarmer got so much play; disc 2 hasn't been touched at all.

[Jason LeBlanc]

Is Gremlins one of your favorite Jerry Goldsmith scores?

[Wojo]

It's probably my second favorite out of his mid-80s kiddie movie phase, which would include Baby*, Explorers, Innerspace, and his work on Amazing Stories.

[Jason LeBlanc]

Did Goldsmith score any episodes besides "Boo!"?

[John Crichton]

This instantly became one of my favorite Goldsmiths as soon as I listened to it for the first time, I hardly knew anything about it beforehand.

I remember posting on FB on my second or third listen, asking just what in the hell Jerry did to those cats to make them make those sounds they made.

[FrankV]

Did Goldsmith score any episodes besides "Boo!"?

No, just the "Boo!" episode directed by Joe Dante.

[Wojo]

I fell in love with The Gremlins Rag because of its usage on Goldsmith Conducts Goldsmith. It's been years since I saw the movie, and until it's offered on Netflix for streaming, it'll be more years until I see it.

That compilation is also what compelled me to buy Intrada's Masada.

[John Crichton]

Masada is fantastic. The main theme is one of Jerry's best.

I still need to pick up The Great Train Robbery and The Sand Pebbles from Intrada.

[Demondm810]

I've been slacking on Great train Robbery as well. I need to kick it up a notch on my Goldsmith acquisitions.

[Joe Brausam]

The Great Train Robbery is great.

After giving Gremlins quite a few listens I could safely say I could have done without it, his suite that he had on other albums was plenty good enough. Of course I'm glad it was released, I'm just a remorseful buyer.

[crocodile]

It's amazing how underwhelming response this release got. It's been demanded for ages!

I, for one, never heard it. The release, that is.

Karol

[Jason LeBlanc]

Yea. It was so demanded for SO long, then it came out and..... it was like great, what's next?

Hook I feel also didn't generate nearly as much discussion as I was expecting

[crocodile]

I'll tell what I think when I get it. Hook, that is.

Karol

[John Crichton]

Yea. It was so demanded for SO long, then it came out and..... it was like great, what's next?

Hook I feel also didn't generate nearly as much discussion as I was expecting

I think both of those are just due to the nature that these types of releases aren't really new anymore, they're now the norm. Great music and great releases to be sure, but ones that we've come to expect now.

[Jason LeBlanc]

But does that mean we should not discuss them? I feel like we discuss more what isn't out, or could be coming out, then we do what is out

[Koray Savas]

I don't remember the last time I did an in depth review of a score. I'm not going to anytime soon. And Hook wasn't discussed enough? I stopped reading all those damn threads before the CD even came out.

[John Crichton]

Is the level of message board discussion really proportionate to how much people enjoy the release? I don't think so, personally, and don't see it as a very big deal. Plus, it's human nature to spend more time talking about what we don't have, or what we're looking forward to or expecting, than what we already have in our hands.

[Jason LeBlanc]

Hmmm, you may be right

[John Crichton]

After giving Gremlins quite a few listens I could safely say I could have done without it, his suite that he had on other albums was plenty good enough. Of course I'm glad it was released, I'm just a remorseful buyer.

I've felt that way about some other Goldsmiths I've picked up over the years (not Gremlins). But recently I listened through my whole collection, and even in the ones I never enjoyed all that much I found new worth in. One or two have even worked their way up to regular listening status.

EDIT- Of course I'm right, Jay!

[Marian Schedenig]

After giving Gremlins quite a few listens I could safely say I could have done without it, his suite that he had on other albums was plenty good enough. Of course I'm glad it was released, I'm just a remorseful buyer.

But Late for Work was not previously (legally) available. And neither was The Fountain/Stripe's Death. Those are the highlights of the score for me. For the rag itself, I much prefer the version from the sequel.

[MrJosh]

I listened to a foot warmer, and though I found some of it interesting, I couldn't get into the cat meow sounds and some of the other quirkiness. I wonder if this score will grow on me if I buy the FSM release.....

[Wojo]

Yea. It was so demanded for SO long, then it came out and..... it was like great, what's next?

That is the cycle. Each thread wishes and wishes for a particular score to arrive...it's a very public display of hope and expectation and anger that it's taken so long.

And then...silence. Once the score does arrive, it's a very personal, private, introspective experience. The very verbose of us -- Incanus, Marian, Steef among others -- may take the time to write an in-depth review that demonstrates their high level of appreciation, but the rest of us who just listen to it in peace and silence...well, we just can't find the words.

[pixie_twinkle]

But does that mean we should not discuss them? I feel like we discuss more what isn't out, or could be coming out, then we do what is out

But that's just human nature. Especially for collectors!

I enjoyed Gremlins. Great release. I hadn't realized quite how much synthesizer featured in the score. I got a little tired of that "cat howl" ghost-house noise that keeps popping up, but it certainly adds to the sense of fun.

[scallenger]

Gremlins was a huge grail for me. It was something I wanted ever since I was a kid, honestly. My parents taped Gremlins off the TV for me, and I used to watch it often. Before I was even consciously into film music, this score REALLY stuck out to me. The worst part for me was, my parents only taped like less than half of the end credits, meaning I actually only heard PART of the wonderfully fun end credits track for many, many years, and always wanted to hear the rest of it! It wasn't until I found a footwarmer online during high school that I finally got to.

As for this release... well maybe some of the reason for no discussion is because the FSM release is basically perfect! It includes everything from the film, and more! Hell, even the album with the songs. I think people really do find it more interesting to discuss what isn't quite right with releases, like what is missing, where to find it, etc. This release isn't one of those. It was a desired score that got the best possibly release, and now never will need another one again. I mean, look at Back to the Future? People used to mention that score all the time around here! But look at the release it got... it can't possibly ever get better than that. I mean it even had an entirely alternate score on a 2nd CD!

I think the other thing is, without getting into too much of a technical analysis, it is hard for people to really say much more than "I really liked this score, because...", or the opposite. I do however think people should actually voice that opinion more, now that it is out. And I do love this score. It is so zany and bizarre, yet it also features some genuinely scary music mixed with unexpected emotion as well. I can't think of many scores quite like this one, and I believe that is one reason why it jumped out at me so well even at a young age, and still continues to do so. It doesn't get constant playing on my media player, but it is definitely a score when if you are in the right mood for it... it is VERY satisfying.