Best Releases of 2010 (so far)

[Dean1700 4]

I thought it would be interesting to review the year so far with a list highlighting the year's best releases. Hopefully we can limit the amount of discussions to just the CD releases themselves. So let's start naming the years best offerings.

Spartacus (6CD) VS

Independence Day (2CD complete) LLL

Star Trek III (2CD complete) FSM

The Poseidon Adventure (Complete) LLL

Black Sunday FSM

Added a couple more.

[Wojo 2,442]

So this is like the, um, best score of the year so far? Or just the best release of 2010? I'm confused.

[Dean1700 4]

Where did you get the best score of the year from?

As the title suggests it is an overview of this years best releases. Even though it doesn't have to be a score that you necessarily have, since I don't have Spartacus but I acknowledge the quality of Alex North's score for what is regarded as a classic movie. The score might not be one I would buy but its release is significant thereby making it one of the years best releases.

[indy4 152]

It seems like choosing a release due to "the quality of Alex North's score" is more oriented around the music rather than the release, although you'd like to discuss only the CDs themselves.

[Dean1700 4]

If people are going to pick this thread to pieces, rather than contribute, you may as well just delete it now.

[OneBuckFilms 181]

For me, the best release has to be Star Trek III (FSM).

By far, that is how it should be done.

One of my FAVORITE releases was Star Trek: DE, but it was not a great release, merely a good release of an excellent score.

Batman was a very good release, even with the sound issues.

I have yet to obtain many of the others listed, so I can't render my opinion on those.

[Ollie 859]

Spartacus is a 6 CD set.

Spartacus is the best release of the year, no contest.

However everything else is a close second.

[Andy 1,492]

I think out of everything this year, I've enjoyed Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome the most.

Star Trek III and Independence Day were both huge, and I'm excited to get Batman.

[indy4 152]

If people are going to pick this thread to pieces, rather than contribute, you may as well just delete it now.

I'm not sure what you're asking for. Are you looking for quality of music or quality of release? Upon first reading the thread I thought the latter, but your second post made me think otherwise. I'm not nitpicking, all I want is some clarity.

[Dean1700 4]

If people are going to pick this thread to pieces, rather than contribute, you may as well just delete it now.

I'm not sure what you're asking for. Are you looking for quality of music or quality of release? Upon first reading the thread I thought the latter, but your second post made me think otherwise. I'm not nitpicking, all I want is some clarity.

No. It's about any CD that has been released this year that has gotten any one excited about its release and was not meant to sound like I was meaning the quality of the music. I was just using Spartacus as an example because it was a eagerly anticipated release.

Spartacus is a 6 CD set.

My bad...fixed.

[ManofDestiny 56]

Predator. Oh, wait......

To me, it must be ID4 first. And then there are:

Black Sunday

The Goonies

Star Trek DE

Spartacus

Lawrence of Arabia

Alamo

Island in the Steam

And there are some releases with great music, but not much un-released material:

The Blue Max

Robocop

The Poseidon Adventure

Batman 1989

THE MESSAGE / LION OF THE DESERT

[King Mark 2,924]

Black Sunday.

[Morn 7]

Spartacus is the best release of a soundtrack ever.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,765]

Spartacus is exciting, but Independence Day was the one I was waiting years to have. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is my other pet glee. It was also good to see Intrada get RoboCop right after two attempts by Varese.

[Naïve Old Fart 6,637]

"OUTLAND".

[Wojo 2,442]

Where did you get the best score of the year from?

From the, um, thread of the same name.

But if this is about all music that has been released this year, not just written this year, then I haven't decided yet.

For some reason, I can feed six $20s into a slot machine with no problem, but I can't seem to blow the same amount of money on Spartacus.

[Jay 27,216]

Spartacus is the best release of a soundtrack ever.

If it were all in stereo I might agree with you

[Ollie 859]

That's a poor excuse to use.

That's just like saying a movie isn't good because it's in Black & White.

[John Crichton 4]

With all due respect to Spartacus and Williams, it'd be between ID4 and Star Trek III for me right now. The end of year awards are going to be very, very interesting.

[Ollie 859]

It's going to be hard, especially with the unreleased stuff coming.

Ron Jones TNG box set

Poltergeist 2 disc set

Family Plot possibly coming

Then look at all the released stuff:

The Alamo

Star Trek III

Black Sunday

Island In The Streams

ID4

Batman

The Goonies

Star Trek DE

The Blue Max

Robocop.....

I could go on and on.

[Wojo 2,442]

I could go on and on.

And you will, thank the labels!

[Koray Savas 2,095]

That's a poor excuse to use.

That's just like saying a movie isn't good because it's in Black & White.

It's actually more like saying a movie isn't good because it's fullscreen. Either way Jay isn't saying the score is bad, he' saying the representation is, and that's a perfectly legitimate excuse. Imagine a favorite film of yours that never got released on DVD or Blu, and it's finally coming... in fullscreen. I'd be pissed, but that's just me.

[Jay 27,216]

I also think its funny that people are naming releases as the "best of the year" that they haven't seven seen the packaging or heard the CDs yet - Spartacus, Ron Jones Box, etc.

[Ollie 859]

I've heard the entire score for Spartacus. I've seen the film and read Varese's press release. They went with best elements they could find. They have a DVD with interviews and 160+ page book. I've listened to the soundclips.

Packaging isn't a huge factor for me.

Given FSM's usual quality, I have no doubt the Ron Jones Box set will rank up there with the rest. Plus I've seen the episodes he scored and the music was all good.

So I think some of us can form an early opinion.

[OneBuckFilms 181]

When judging releases, I look at what I actually have.

Last year, InnerSPACE, Twilight Zone: The Movie and Star Trek II were jaw-droppingly good releases for me.

I swear, the last couple of years seem to be conspiring to keep us all relatively poor, and yet make me feel like the richest man on earth in terms of music.

There are so many great scores being released that I'm having a hard time figuring out which ones I can afford.

These guys are flooding us with such musical riches, it is not even funny.

Seriously, Star Trek II? Star Trek III? ID4? An even better RoboCop? Twilight Zone: The Movie? Spartacus? TNG Ron Jones Box? Poltergeist 2 CD? Thunderdome? InnerSPACE?

Just look at the holy grails listed above. LOOK at them !!!! We HAVE them, or are GETTING them !!!! And MORE !!!

Rather than wondering if there is going to be a big release of one of our grails, we have more grails than some of us can afford.

Lets reflect on what we're being given here.

[Ollie 859]

Other than the missing the Best Of Both Worlds score, which Lukas has no control over, does anyone actually think this is going to be product from FSM that doesn't deserve to be mentioned as a candidate for top release of the year?

That's a poor excuse to use.

That's just like saying a movie isn't good because it's in Black & White.

It's actually more like saying a movie isn't good because it's fullscreen. Either way Jay isn't saying the score is bad, he' saying the representation is, and that's a perfectly legitimate excuse. Imagine a favorite film of yours that never got released on DVD or Blu, and it's finally coming... in fullscreen. I'd be pissed, but that's just me.

Sorry Koray, disagree. It's an older movie and there was a chance the elements would be in mono. There's no excuse to not release a movie in widescreen.

[Koray Savas 2,095]

That's a poor excuse to use.

That's just like saying a movie isn't good because it's in Black & White.

It's actually more like saying a movie isn't good because it's fullscreen. Either way Jay isn't saying the score is bad, he' saying the representation is, and that's a perfectly legitimate excuse. Imagine a favorite film of yours that never got released on DVD or Blu, and it's finally coming... in fullscreen. I'd be pissed, but that's just me.

Sorry Koray, disagree. It's an older movie and there was a chance the elements would be in mono. There's no excuse to not release a movie in widescreen.

That's true, I was just playing devil's advocate. I don't have a problem with it being in mono, but I can understand why some people are upset about it.

[OneBuckFilms 181]

I feel the TNG Ron Jones box is going to blow 99% of this year's releases out of the water.

Sheer volume, quality, attention to detail and lavish production are all hallmarks of FSM's box sets (and individual releases, come to think of it).

This sound like a Star Trek: TNG / Ron Jones equivalent to the Blue Box.

[shockwave 8]

In no particular order:

Star Trek III

Star Trek (deluxe ed.)

Spartacus

Independence Day

Robocop

ST:TNG-Ron Jones boxset (I just had to add it since it was announced on FSM: 7/30)

Batman

Outland

The Goonies

Since we will have more surprises coming out this fall/winter. I shall wait and update

[Richard Penna 2,082]

ID4 and The Edge for me.

Robocop and Star Trek DE were cool, but not something I got excited about.

I'm hoping for a couple more 'big' ones before the end of the year from Intrada or LLL. Not necessarily grails - just a number of boots I'd like to see officially released.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,476]

With numerous JW releases, I hope the best is yet to come.

[crocodile 6,294]

As far as the releases go my favourite was Black Sunaday and ST III.

Karol

[indy4 152]

I'm hoping for Family Plot by the end of the year. Usually the labels try to enter holiday season with something big.

I think I've purchased 3 releases this year so far (Black Sunday, The Goonies, and Star Trek III). Black Sunday and Goonies are great. I admit I've rarely listened to Star Trek III. I think I overplayed WoK when it came out last year, and since II and III are so similar if you overplay one, if feels like you've overplayed the other. Still, it was a great release.

[Naïve Old Fart 6,637]

With numerous JW releases, I hope the best is yet to come.

Such as..?

Personally, I would love to hear a complete "Link". I know it's not everyone's cup of lapsang souchon, but I do like it. The prospect of a complete "Star Trek V", makes me cream my jeans.

[Ollie 859]

Well I can tell you Intrada has the rights to Link but cannot find the masters. They may end up releasing just the original album.

The info can be found here:

http://www.intrada.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=3548

[Naïve Old Fart 6,637]

Well I can tell you Intrada has the rights to Link but cannot find the masters. They may end up releasing just the original album.

The info can be found here:

http://www.intrada.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=3548

Thanks for the heads up, Mark, but I still don't understand why the music is not lifted straight from the 35mm negative, for "Link", or any other film, come to that?

[OneBuckFilms 181]

Well I can tell you Intrada has the rights to Link but cannot find the masters. They may end up releasing just the original album.

The info can be found here:

http://www.intrada.n...php?f=12&t=3548

Thanks for the heads up, Mark, but I still don't understand why the music is not lifted straight from the 35mm negative, for "Link", or any other film, come to that?

Dialogue, Sound Effects etc.

[Ollie 859]

I'm not an expert but wouldn't the music contain SFX and edits?

[Naïve Old Fart 6,637]

Well I can tell you Intrada has the rights to Link but cannot find the masters. They may end up releasing just the original album.

The info can be found here:

http://www.intrada.n...php?f=12&t=3548

Thanks for the heads up, Mark, but I still don't understand why the music is not lifted straight from the 35mm negative, for "Link", or any other film, come to that?

Dialogue, Sound Effects etc.

Yah boo sucks! But wait! Doesn't music have its own track, otherwise, how can there be isolated scores?

[OneBuckFilms 181]

And probably strange fade-ins and fade outs, funky sounding cuts, SFX, Dialogue, weird volume changes, strange instrument emphasis in the mix, and all those wonderful issues when music is mixed, cut and edited along with the rest of the movie.

It would not make a pleasant listening experience. See The Phantom Menace: Ultimate Edition (ha!) for the best result, assuming the music could be isolated from the rest of the mix at all.

[Naïve Old Fart 6,637]

And probably strange fade-ins and fade outs, funky sounding cuts, SFX, Dialogue, weird volume changes, strange instrument emphasis in the mix, and all those wonderful issues when music is mixed, cut and edited along with the rest of the movie.

It would not make a pleasant listening experience. See The Phantom Menace: Ultimate Edition (ha!) for the best result, assuming the music could be isolated from the rest of the mix at all.

I hear what you are saying, but the isolated score on "The Witches Of Eastwick" isn't bad.

[OneBuckFilms 181]

And probably strange fade-ins and fade outs, funky sounding cuts, SFX, Dialogue, weird volume changes, strange instrument emphasis in the mix, and all those wonderful issues when music is mixed, cut and edited along with the rest of the movie.

It would not make a pleasant listening experience. See The Phantom Menace: Ultimate Edition (ha!) for the best result, assuming the music could be isolated from the rest of the mix at all.

I hear what you are saying, but the isolated score on "The Witches Of Eastwick" isn't bad.

That was created from separate elements as an extra for the DVD.

This is not directly from the film sound track, and if they don't HAVE any of these elements, it is impossible to get isolated music.

Well I can tell you Intrada has the rights to Link but cannot find the masters. They may end up releasing just the original album.

The info can be found here:

http://www.intrada.n...php?f=12&t=3548

Thanks for the heads up, Mark, but I still don't understand why the music is not lifted straight from the 35mm negative, for "Link", or any other film, come to that?

Dialogue, Sound Effects etc.

Yah boo sucks! But wait! Doesn't music have its own track, otherwise, how can there be isolated scores?

Separate elements during the mixing process initially. In many cases, these simply do not exist.

[Romão 1,931]

The best release of 2010 is yet to be announced.

[Jacob 0]

Eh?

[Ollie 859]

Unless the complete Original Trilogy or the Indiana Jones Trilogy are released complete and in pristine sound, Spartacus is the release of 2010.

[indy4 152]

The best release of 2010 is yet to be announced.

Is this speculation or fact?

[Romão 1,931]

It probably isn't as historically significant or as exaustive as Spartacus, but as far as popularity and sheer musical enjoyment, it will definitively give Spartacus a run for its money

[indy4 152]

It probably isn't as historically significant or as exaustive as Spartacus, but as far as popularity and sheer musical enjoyment, it will definitively give Spartacus a run for its money

Sounds good to me! Can you reveal if it's a Williams title?

[Romão 1,931]

It's not a Williams release, that much I can tell you

[indy4 152]

I shall wait in anticipation...