Josh500 1,615 Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 This is only about first impressions.... Obviously, we've had the TLJ for only a week so far, so first impressions is pretty much all we've got at this point. Your opinions may change later on, but what do you think at this juncture? For me, there's no comparison. TFA wins hands down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brundlefly 2,385 Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 3 minutes ago, Josh500 said: For me, there's no comparison. TLJ 4 minutes ago, Josh500 said: wins hands down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh500 1,615 Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 Just now, Brundlefly said: TLJ That's called selective editing. 😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loert 2,511 Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 TLJ impressed me most initially, but I think TFA is actually the better score. Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John 2,032 Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 While overall TFA is a more intricate and memorable score, I feel as though TLJ succeeds over TFA when it comes to initial impressions. "Main Title and Escape" does a much better job at immediately pulling you back into the Star Wars soundscape than "Main Title and the Attack on the Jakku Village". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh500 1,615 Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 Just now, Loert said: TLJ impressed me most initially, but I think TFA is actually the better score. Which tracks were you particularly impressed with? I'm still trying to like and make sense of Rose's Theme, but it's hard. This is not a very memorable theme. I can't even hum it. 1 minute ago, JohnSolo said: I feel as though TLJ succeeds over TFA when it comes to initial impressions Same question to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loert 2,511 Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 4 minutes ago, Josh500 said: Which tracks were you particularly impressed with? Mainly the first track and the last few tracks before the Finale. I am still really intent on listening to a more complete score, though. I think Rose's theme is pretty good, but nothing special. Josh500 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh500 1,615 Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 Yeah, the first and last tracks are always among the best! That's the case with TFA as well as TLJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artguy360 1,843 Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 The middle portion of TFA has some seriously awesome music though. Starting with Kylo Ren Arrives at the Battle (FYC album) or The Starkiller just before it if you want, then followed by The Resistance (FYC album) into The Abduction (OST) and Han and Leia (OST) and possibly ending with MOTR (OST). That's some amazing music from the middle portions of both the FYC and OST. I'm not sure TLJ has any equal middle portion highlights, at least not on the OST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh500 1,615 Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 Maybe I'll grow to like TLJ more in time, but I seriously doubt it'll ever surpass TFA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artguy360 1,843 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Its early days yet and having no FYC music restricts my ability to better understand the score as a whole, but at the moment I agree with you. As presented on the OST and what I remember from the film, the music is in a near constant rush and never has room to breath. Even just looking at the last 2 tracks from both OSTs, I much prefer Farewell and The Trip and Jedi Steps and Finale to Peace and Purpose and Finale. There's more originality and more evenly paced music in the former than the later. Even the end credits themselves tell 2 very different stories. One could reasonably called a suite, while the other much more a medley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arpy 4,145 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Obviously, a return to Star Wars for Williams after a decade, my anticipation for a new film and score really drew me back into the Star Wars hype. TFA is an introductory score in ways and I think that's why I find it more memorable than TLJ. That said I choose to look at these scores as chapters and not necessarily a competition between scores. Both are impressive and both deserve time to delve into them. Pieter Boelen and Cerebral Cortex 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brundlefly 2,385 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 TFA has great themes but boring underscore and set pieces, TLJ has few themes but great underscore and set pieces. Of course that is quite exaggerated, but this is the way I see it and therefore I like TLJ far more for some reason, although I love the March of the Resistance more than the Imperial March. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 TLJ has a lot of themes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,059 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Old friends long gone..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JoeinAR 1,949 Posted December 24, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted December 24, 2017 The two scores play very well back to back. crumbs, Cerebral Cortex and Taikomochi 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muad'Dib 1,801 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 I'd like a non-chronological mix between the two, taking the best stuff and re-arranging it for a cool listening experience. DarthDementous 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Knock yourself out. Only you can make the best arrangement for yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,306 Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Wonder if TFA's OST could be remixed to sound closer to TLJ? Acoustically they are very different sounding scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 25, 2017 Share Posted December 25, 2017 So were ANH and TESB, what's the problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh500 1,615 Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 On 25/12/2017 at 12:40 AM, crumbs said: Wonder if TFA's OST could be remixed to sound closer to TLJ? Acoustically they are very different sounding scores. My first impression was, TFA sounds much better. Is it just me, or does TLJ sound somehow slightly muffled? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,306 Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 4 minutes ago, Josh500 said: Is it just me, or does TLJ sound somehow slightly muffled? Not to my ears. It's a stunning performance, recording and mix, probably the best sounding JW score since Azkaban or Memoirs. Orchestra sounds beautifully balanced, which is partly why all the TFA themes sound so much more dynamic in TLJ than they did in TFA. It might be a little jarring if you're familiar with the brass-heavy TFA mix though. Williams, Murphy and Sullivan have done a sublime job. Arguably the soundtrack on album has been mixed a little loud (reducing the dynamic range) but there's no distortion. Others might discover some issues analysing the soundwaves though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh500 1,615 Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 Hmm, you make it sound as if TFA has a terrible sound quality... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,306 Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 Hardly. Have already explained my thoughts on TFA's recording. The recording is sharp and detailed. I'm just not a fan of the brass-heavy mix which drowns out other sections of the orchestra, especially after hearing the score live (it was filled with trademark JW-Star Wars-isms that are inaudible on album/in the film). TLJ resolved this issue with a more balanced mix that gives equal weight to all sections of the orchestra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armorb 9 Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 Do you think any of the alternative presentations of TFA music alleviate these issues? The Lockhart pops recordings, maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,306 Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 Well it's personal preference. I don't like the album version of March of the Resistance at all, but I love the Lockhart recording. The MSO did a brilliant job performing the score. Would've bought an isolated recording of their complete score performance if it were available! Couldn't believe all the details hidden by the film/score mix, especially in cues like The Lightsaber/Rey's Vision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p0llux 398 Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 TLJ impressed me more. Better action cues and the integration of the themes from TFA were fantastic. So it's basically TFA with better action cues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh500 1,615 Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 So how many new themes are there in TLJ? Rose's Theme, the Rebellion theme, and what else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,306 Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 55 minutes ago, Josh500 said: Rose's Theme, the Rebellion theme, and what else? Themes: Rose's Theme Luke's Island Theme Resistance Desperation Theme Motifs: Canto Bight The Fathiers Action/Sacrifice Motif Josh500 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chen G. 3,948 Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 Nah, those are really just setpiece-specific pieces of music. They're not "motifs" in the thematic sense of the word. 2 hours ago, crumbs said: Luke's Island Theme I prefer calling it "The Last Jedi." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 I can't vote because I didn't listen to these first, saw both films in the premier. But I can compare those first impressions. In TFA it was thrilling to hear Rey's theme for the first time, instant goosebumps and Poe's theme was also great. But the first impression in TLJ was even greater, Rose's theme and the brilliant new arrengements of the old themes from especiallyTFA plus OT. Both times it helped that I heard before some negative comments against these scores, it was more awesome to hear that JW was still brilliant and the fans here have lost it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,337 Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 TFA I didn't like much at first, I warmed up to it later. I pretty much liked TLJ right away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artguy360 1,843 Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 I warmed to TFA but I never stopped listening to it for at least a few weeks after initial release. With TLJ, especially having listened to the FYC music from today, I think I'm already done listening to this score. It has some really good musical moments, but very little of this score is drawing me back in for repeat listens. A bit odd but The Post OST is entertaining me a lot right now so I guess it's OK for TLJ to fade into the background. Not Mr. Big and Arpy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brundlefly 2,385 Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 2 hours ago, Jay said: TFA I didn't like much at first, I warmed up to it later. I pretty much liked TLJ right away Same here. I just haven't entirely warmed up to TFA yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 TFA is awesome! Shut up! Josh500 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 When I discover a new JW score, I pretty much stick to the concert suites first. An easy way for me to get used to the new themes. So, with TFA, it was easy, and I pretty quickly adopted the "March of the Resistance - Rey's Theme - Scherzo for X-Wings - The Jedi Steps and Finale" big suite. Now as I discover slowly TLJ, I'm not still sure of which tracks I would include in a "TLJ Suite". For now, "The Rebellion is reborn" and "Peace and purpose" have been adopted... but I'm still not sure about the rest... and I don't like the End Credits as it appears on the OST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artguy360 1,843 Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 Do you like the End Credits on the FYC more or less than the End Credits on the OST? Overall, I find TLJ OST sorely lacking in tracks that begin and resolve nicely and make for a satisfying listening experience from beginning to end whereas TFA had atleast a few such tracks. Arpy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 1 minute ago, artguy360 said: Do you like the End Credits on the FYC more or less than the End Credits on the OST? Yes I prefer the one on the FYC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brundlefly 2,385 Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 TLJ is simply too long for one disc. Unlike TFA's OST this OST is like a glimpse at the whole score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,337 Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 Yes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p0llux 398 Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 6 hours ago, Bespin said: Now as I discover slowly TLJ, I'm not still sure of which tracks I would include in a "TLJ Suite". I would use "Rebellion is Reborn", "The Fathiers", "Holdo's Resolve" from the FYC, and the last section from "The Spark". I'll agree this score is less clean cut than TFA, but those tracks I mentioned pretty much cover the material from this score that I think should appear in a TLJ suite. Bespin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt C 452 Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 The Last Jedi was entertaining, but mainly recycled old themes and didn't feel as larger-than-life than what one expected from a JW SW score. The Force Awakens felt fresher and the OST was better laid out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fancyarcher 350 Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 The Force Awakens. The Last Jedi is good, but The Force Awakens was much more impressive as a "back to basics / new material" type of Star Wars score. I suspect TLJ will probably grow on me on repeat listening's, like is usually the case with a lot of recent JW music. Arpy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 On 12/25/2017 at 3:21 AM, Stefancos said: So were ANH and TESB, what's the problem? What is-anh? Ive been following John longer than anyone here. Dont remember him scoring a film with those initials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idril 86 Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Yeah it's definitely TFA. Impressed me immediately with beautiful new themes and it felt very well-organised. TLJ is growing on me by the day (I listened to The Rebellion is Reborn this morning for the 20th time and suddenly it hit me in a really emotional way as it hadn't before, I nearly cried!). But it's definitely not an immediate feeling like TFA was. Joni Wiljami 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balahkay 627 Posted January 1, 2018 Share Posted January 1, 2018 After 2 weeks or so of listening to TLJ, TFA is probably my overall favorite of the two simply because of the new themes and the end credits suite. Plus, I fell in love with TFA immediately while TLJ took a bit longer for me appreciate it overall. Also, while I think Rebellion is Reborn is excellent, I'm still disappointed Williams didn't create concert arrangements for each theme. I feel if he could expand the Fawkes and Chamber of Secrets themes, he could have done the same for the Rose and Luke/Island themes instead of combining them. But the new thematic material... , especially Holdo's/Desperation theme. I do, however, feel the action music in TLJ is far superior and more suspenseful than TFA. Granted, TFA didn't have as many exciting action sequences and was definitely lacking suspense but that's more of a complaint in regards to the film. idril 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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