The Force Awakens The Force Awakens ALBUM Discussion (No Film Spoilers)

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

It all sounds better, too. I really dig on this performance and recording.

[artguy360 1,843]

First time poster (or first time in a long time?) here.

I've been listening to the soundtrack all day. I haven't seen the film yet. So far, I'm really loving Snoke's track. It's really, really good. The men's chorus sounds imposing and imagining that blaring over speakers in the movie will be so cool.

I agree the soundtrack is missing one highlight cue, but Rey's theme is actually used very well throughout the album even though the Rey's Theme track is a bit of an oddity.

Can't wait to see the film tomorrow and discuss more!

[King Mark 3,631]

Hey, is there any UNUSED music on the OST?

[Balahkay 627]

I was going to wait until Friday to listen to the OST, but I caved and listened to the first track. I'm loving what I hear so far. I'm hearing vintage and some modern Williams merged into one. I've listened to the first track twice now and it's already stuck in my head. I'm going to resist hearing the rest until Friday, but it's going to be hard.

[KK 3,307]

The Snoke track is really really cool.

But this is a bit of a disarming score. It's not what I expected, at all. And I'm not saying that's a bad thing

I found that cue lame. I mean if you're going to go there, you'd think Williams would employ more than a meandering line with unison basso profundos. He's accomplished a lot cooler sounds with the same colours in ROTS.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

Weirdly, I think the album would have been better if they left off the Han/Leia stuff. It kinda felt out of place. Also, some microedits to remove the Princess Leia's Theme at the end that sounded exactly like the ending of Revenge of the Sith.

[KK 3,307]

Man, I seriously don't get all the "worst Star Wars score" talk. �

Especially since we haven't actually heard the full score.

Right!! We KNOW there's so much music we haven't heard. And honestly, as an album, it's got to be one of JW's best. It's a killer listening experience.

Many have said the OST represents the scores best highlights. And as an album it just can't compete with the highlights of any of the other SW scores.

[Demondm810 399]

For me, I would consider it as good as Phantom Menace. It's still early, but on first listen I would place it firmly ahead of Clones and Sith.

[Taikomochi 1,136]

"The Rathtars!" is perhaps my least favorite track on the album.

[Demondm810 399]

And as far as recent non Star Wars Williams, I like it a hair more than Tintin and War Horse.

[King Mark 3,631]

War Horse is pretty awesome. I don't like Tintin so much

[KK 3,307]

"The Rathtars!" is perhaps my least favorite track on the album.

I think that's one of the best action cues on the album!

[Taikomochi 1,136]

I'll have to see it in context, but aside from some fun action strings, it leaves absolutely no impression on me.

[Balahkay 627]

Are people disqualifying this score because it doesn't have a "Duel of the Fates," "Across the Stars," etc??

[Muad'Dib 1,802]

Seems that way, although for me Rey's Theme fits that place perfectly.

[King Mark 3,631]

Maybe the lack of new memorable themes is why they didn't use the new score for the trailers, as I already speculated

[leeallen01 2,136]

Star Wars has always been filled with big, brash, loud and hummable themes. Williams makes it his top priority to give us that. He prides himself on it. So Ep 7 should have had the same. And no one can say "well he's trying something different." Because the entire film was just a remake of the original trilogy, so no one was going in a new direction with this film. So why the lack of big memorable themes?

[Faleel 5,347]

I know everyone's been raving about Rey's Theme, which is lovely, but I'm really digging Finn's theme (if it is indeed his theme)!

BadababadabaBadababadabaBadababadaba

tss tss

I was referring the heroic outburst at 1:18 of "I Can Fly Anything".

Yeah I had that listed as Rey's Theme but after listening to the End Credits again, its probably Finn or Poe's theme

[mrbellamy 6,286]

Seems that way, although for me Rey's Theme fits that place perfectly.

Same, I could hum the whole thing verbatim after only listening to it twice. I fell in love with it almost instantly.

Maybe it's not used enough in the film? I dunno.

[Faleel 5,347]

why the lack of big memorable themes?

Because the entire film was just a remake of the original trilogy, so no one was going in a new direction with this film.

[Balahkay 627]

Star Wars has always been filled with big, brash, loud and hummable themes. Williams makes it his top priority to give us that. He prides himself on it. So Ep 7 should have had the same. And no one can say "well he's trying something different." Because the entire film was just a remake of the original trilogy, so no one was going in a new direction with this film. So why the lack of big memorable themes?

Was the PT loaded with big, hummable themes? I feel like TPM was the last to have that across the entire score. AOTC is excellent but not the most memorable aside from Across the Stars and a few other cues. ROTS is the same. I still enjoy both scores.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

These themes felt more like vintage Williams to me, not like a satire of Williams, like KOTCS and Tintin.

[leeallen01 2,136]

Star Wars has always been filled with big, brash, loud and hummable themes. Williams makes it his top priority to give us that. He prides himself on it. So Ep 7 should have had the same. And no one can say "well he's trying something different." Because the entire film was just a remake of the original trilogy, so no one was going in a new direction with this film. So why the lack of big memorable themes?

Was the PT loaded with big, hummable themes? I feel like TPM was the last to have that across the entire score. AOTC is excellent but not the most memorable aside from Across the Stars and a few other cues. ROTS is the same. I still enjoy both scores.

I could hum the droid army theme in TPM ( which is still a fun favourite of mine), and Anakin's theme. The stuff from the flag parade as well I remember being so fun, duel of the fates too. With AOTC I remembered Across the Stars, and in ROTS I remembered Battle of the Heroes and even Grevious's theme. I'm not saying it absolutely on first viewing should have made me memorise 60 themes, but I'm just saying right now I can't remember a single music idea. I recall how nice some of Rey's stuff was, but I can't remember any sort of melody and I seriously have no idea if the first order and Ren even had any music to represent them.

[artguy360 1,843]

Are people disqualifying this score because it doesn't have a "Duel of the Fates," "Across the Stars," etc??

The film definitely lacks one clear memorable theme but Rey's theme is used very well throughout and I think will be even better when I see it paired with the actual movie.

The action music is somewhat disappointing in that it's not very distinctive. Even the X-Wing piece is punchy and brassy like TinTIn but not very memorable. The only motif that seems to drive any of the action music is the Finn theme which is more rhythmic than melodic and the Rebel fanfare from the OT.

Overall though, I'm liking the score more as I listen to it. JW is using a classic motivic style of short identifying phrases. Even more so than any of the prequel soundtracks.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

The Snoke track is really really cool.

But this is a bit of a disarming score. It's not what I expected, at all. And I'm not saying that's a bad thing

I found that cue lame. I mean if you're going to go there, you'd think Williams would employ more than a meandering line with unison basso profundos. He's accomplished a lot cooler sounds with the same colours in ROTS.

It sounds like he's exploring the timbres of different vowels, as dictated by whatever text he's using. Kinda like what he did with the throat singing in ROTS, except they're 'stepped' instead of slowly evolving.

But I agree, he could have done something more interesting, like giving them a harmony. Slowly divisi-ing out into clusters maybe, or some kind of texture based around the harmonic series.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

For some reason, I really love that rhythmic motif that keeps popping up. "The Falcon" is one of my favorite tracks, especially the end.

By the way, 8:15 of the Finale, I've heard this before, but where? It's driving me crazy!

Edit: Nevermind, I remembered. Ron's motif from Harry Potter. 1:33 of "House Selection".

[KK 3,307]

Yes, the action music is one of the weaker parts of this score, in that it's pretty anonymous stuff for Williams. And there's just so much if it in this score. At least the action in the prequels had character.

[mrbellamy 6,286]

Star Wars has always been filled with big, brash, loud and hummable themes. Williams makes it his top priority to give us that. He prides himself on it. So Ep 7 should have had the same. And no one can say "well he's trying something different." Because the entire film was just a remake of the original trilogy, so no one was going in a new direction with this film. So why the lack of big memorable themes?

Was the PT loaded with big, hummable themes? I feel like TPM was the last to have that across the entire score. AOTC is excellent but not the most memorable aside from Across the Stars and a few other cues. ROTS is the same. I still enjoy both scores.

I could hum the droid army theme in TPM ( which is still a fun favourite of mine), and Anakin's theme. The stuff from the flag parade as well I remember being so fun, duel of the fates too. With AOTC I remembered Across the Stars, and in ROTS I remembered Battle of the Heroes and even Grevious's theme. I'm not saying it absolutely on first viewing should have made me memorise 60 themes, but I'm just saying right now I can't remember a single music idea. I recall how nice some of Rey's stuff was, but I can't remember any sort of melody and I seriously have no idea if the first order and Ren even had any music to represent them.

You finished Phantom Menace on the very first viewing without listening to the soundtrack at all and you were able to hum Anakin's Theme? Uh, are you sure?

Hopefully you feel different after giving the OST a whirl. I've only listened to "Rey's Theme" and "March of the Resistance" a few times so far, 3-4 each according to iTunes, and they're already way in my head.

[KK 3,307]

For some reason, I really love that rhythmic motif that keeps popping up. "The Falcon" is one of my favorite tracks, especially the end.

Yup, best action piece of the score I think.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Star Wars has always been filled with big, brash, loud and hummable themes. Williams makes it his top priority to give us that. He prides himself on it.

That's pretty fucking presumptuous.

So Ep 7 should have had the same. And no one can say "well he's trying something different." Because the entire film was just a remake of the original trilogy, so no one was going in a new direction with this film. So why the lack of big memorable themes?

So if everyone else was treading old ground, Williams is somehow at fault for exploring a new path? How dull and conformist your world must be.

[artguy360 1,843]

One problem is that I can't help but compare this to the last Star Wars score, ROTS. Of this its an unfair comparison as ROTS is the end of a trilogy has has those necessary culminating sounds and emotional cues. TFA is far lighter and funner than ROTS. But as others have already said, the action music in TFA is disappointing, especially compared to past Star Wars action cues that are more memorable and more varied. TFA action cues seem to be defined only by brassy clashes. But there's no melodic identity to the action music on the CD release of TFA.

[Balahkay 627]

Or is it similar to this?

[Faleel 5,347]

A whole bunch of custom covers:

http://hqcovers.net/2015/12/17/star-wars-the-force-awakens-by-john-williams-2/

[Dixon Hill 4,234]

I am a contentedly lonesome sailboat adrift on a milky sea of new Star Wars music.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

I was wrong, the Star Tours scene uses the album/film (presumably) version of "The Falcon". But see, I knew that was him.

[mrbellamy 6,286]

I think I get "Follow That Kid" vibes from "Rey's Theme" the most.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

I got a Home Alone vibe from Luke's Theme at the end of the Finale.

[Taikomochi 1,136]

The fast strings in "Kylo Ren Arrives at the Battle" are awesome and remind me of some of the action scoring in ESB in a good way. I am very excited to to see it in context.

[Jay 37,359]

I really love that bit!

[Not Mr. Big 4,639]

From the Jedi Council Boards...

Just combine 'Rey's theme', 'The Falcon', and 'The Rathars!' into one song and a lot of time and disc space would be saved.

They might as well be.

[Taikomochi 1,136]

Just finished my 5th or 6th listen for the day. This is a score that needs very closely listened to and played loudly, but, with that in mind, it is fucking awesome when it wants to be. I had goosebumps the entire first two minutes of Jedi Steps.

[Amer 2,106]

A few tracks that ive just sampled are terrific. the Action cues The Falcon and The Rathars both share an amazing new cacaphonic jagged motif.These Action cues are just dark and terrific and kinda like Williams 70'S vibe. To say the least there is a more primordial darker edge in the action cues plus the rather abrasive brass sound upfront sound recording by Shawn Murphy gives the music an extra oomph. I think the album is going to be terrific.

And If the films success goes beyond the expectations, maybe Disney will dish out an expanded set in the not so distant future, one can hope.

[Incanus 5,714]

A few tracks that ive just sampled are terrific. the Action cues The Falcon and The Rathars both share an amazing new cacaphonic jagged motif.These Action cues are just dark and terrific and kinda like Williams 70'S vibe. To say the least there is a more primordial darker edge in the action cues plus the rather abrasive brass sound upfront sound recording by Shawn Murphy gives the music an extra oomph. I think the album is going to be terrific.

And If the films success goes beyond the expectations, maybe Disney will dish out an expanded set in the not so distant future, one can hope.

There is some terrific brass playing in this score from fanfares to the snarling material. Oh those brilliant resounding Kylo Ren motif renditions on horns!

I really wish JW will score the sequels. There is quite a bit to explore in the musical material that he set up in the Force Awakens.

[RuBen_Kenobi 19]

Wow, It´s been a long time since my last post (maybe years haha), but I read you guys almost everyday. With the return of Star Wars, it´s time to come back .

I am working in the biggest record store in Madrid (Fnac Callao) and tonight, the soundtrack arrived. Sorry because I have not pics of it, but I had the three different editions in my hands. They are almost the same... The back cover is BLACK, with NOTHING in it: without the titles of the tracks, only the "space" with a couple of stars and the Disney logo. Funny that the spanish version has all the letters in spanish. The special edition is a digipack (and it is 2 euros more expensive than the regular one: 17,99 and 15,99). And the deluxe edition is a fraud: the same as the special, but with a special cover and 2 cards, and it cost 22,99! 5 more euros! The booklet change the cover and the back, but the same number of pages.

I didn´t read the JJ text, and the credits neither. But in the tracklist it credits with an asterisk that the Main Titles, The March of the Resistence and the End Credits are conducted by Gustavo dudamel (I think it says guest conductor).

About the score, I think I am with the mayority here. It sounds great, and has grown on me with every listen (I think I have listened to it 5 or 6 times), but the action music is not memorable and the new themes are not in par with the rest of the saga. The are all fun: I love the Finn (or Poe) one, I find Kylo Ren´s so simple and Rey´s Theme... It sounds different each time haha. I love the version before the credits (the one of the spot). The Resistence sounds more Indy than Star Wars to me...

By the way, in 16 hours I will be watching the movie (I can´t fucking wait), and I´m sure the themes will grown a lot with the images.

[Quintus 5,399]

It reminded me of ROTS string writing.

This entire scores string writing and recording has more in common with 77 SW than any of the prequels.

Don't get my hopes up, man! SW is my favourite score of the trilogy.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

It seems like this score isn't being received well at all, but I'm digging it. What the fuck? I usually agree with popular logical sane opinion when it comes to Williams scores. This is like the Always of Star Wars scores. Maybe that's why I love it!

[Incanus 5,714]

It seems like this score isn't being received well at all, but I'm digging it. What the fuck? I usually agree with popular logical sane opinion when it comes to Williams scores. This is like the Always of Star Wars scores. Maybe that's why I love it!

Admit it, you love the feeling of listening to an underdog!

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

To be honest, most of my favorite scores are beloved iconic truly great ones. There are only a few outside of that I rank as favorites, such as Always, Amazing Stories: The Mission and Minority Report, because they make me emotional and/or horny.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Which one makes you horny?