Simon Franglen's AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (2022)

[RustyNail 4]

Deep Discount has the preorder up.

Link

 

Tracklist listed is the LP tracklist.

 

[Jay 39,231]

They probably just copied in the wrong tracklist

Tower JP says 22 tracks

 

https://cdfront.tower.jp/item/5619983/Avatar：-The-Way-Of-Water

[leeallen01 2,169]

So we're likely not getting the 32 track version. 

[midgemania 54]

Seems like a slightly extended edition of Way of Water is coming out for Christmas

 

https://collider.com/avatar-the-way-of-water-collectors-edition-4k-steelbook-release-date/

“…12 deleted scenes will expand what we know about the sequel…”

 

 I’m hoping we’ll get to hear more of Franglen’s excellent score, but knowing Cameron we’ll almost certainly just get more hacked Horner from A1. 

[Tydirium 1,254]

These sites only mention a 13-track version… 

 

https://www.ccmusic.com/simon-franglen-avatar-the-way-of-water/050087517274

 

https://www.deepdiscount.com/simon-franglen-avatar-the-way-of-water/050087517274

 

Worth noting that DeepDiscount says it’s a “Limited Edition.”

 

EDIT: Just realized this is the LP tracklist that has been discussed.

[Richard Penna 4,112]

Makes less and less sense to me to put the shortest program on CD. Those most interested have already bought it digitally. There's no way pressing two CDs would cost so much more than a single CD for them to not put it out.

[Tydirium 1,254]

13 minutes ago, Richard Penna said:

Makes less and less sense to me to put the shortest program on CD. Those most interested have already bought it digitally. There's no way pressing two CDs would cost so much more than a single CD for them to not put it out.

Plus, wouldn’t the 22-track version fit on a single CD…?

[Tydirium 1,254]

More references to the CD only having 13 tracks...

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Avatar-Way-Water-Simon-Franglen/dp/B0BNQL18K5

 

https://www.popmarket.com/simon-franglen-avatar-the-way-of-water/050087517274

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Simon-Franglen-Avatar-The-Way-Of-Water-CD/2697823089

[leeallen01 2,169]

hmmm disappointing.

[Jurassic Shark 12,947]

What do you say, @Thor?

[Mr. Who 974]

The people who lobbied for a CD release were clearly fans of the score. I can't understand why they would release an even shorter version of the regular OST as the people who campaigned for the release would surely be disappointed. I see no point in owning this CD if it doesn't even have all the tracks from the regular OST.

 

I hope it does well though so that they might consider releasing the complete 4 hour score.

[Tydirium 1,254]

I don’t get it. The original digital OST program could definitely fit on a CD; it practically seemed designed to. It’s a couple minutes shorter than Horner’s original OST for the first film, and that obviously managed to fit on 1 CD. Maybe Franglen simply prefers the LP program? I doubt it, but who knows. The only things I will say I do like better about this program are (1) it includes “Kids in Peril,” one of my favorite tracks that didn’t make it onto the original digital OST, and (2) the credits song is moved to the end.

 

It’s also weird that the CD listing (as far as I can see anyway) is currently absent from the US Amazon site. This whole CD release feels very strange, almost as if they don’t really want to let people know it’s even happening. You have to hunt Google just to find out any information about the release, and aside from the old Franglen Tweet which referenced the Film Music Reporter Tweet, the only information out there is random sites that are apparently selling it.

[Thor 8,211]

2 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

What do you say, @Thor?

 

The track amount seems promising, but what is the duration of the CD? Anyone know? Could be superlong tracks, filling the CD to its brink, which - to be honest - the score doesn't sustain.

 

I also notice that it appears to be heavier on the action material than my own playlist (which really only has one action cue -- the action music isn't terribly exciting, IMO), which mostly focusses on the New Agey stuff. By the way, my playlist is a beautiful 45 minutes.

[Tydirium 1,254]

10 minutes ago, Thor said:

 

The track amount seems promising, but what is the duration of the CD? Anyone know? Could be superlong tracks, filling the CD to its brink, which - to be honest - the score doesn't sustain.

 

I also notice that it appears to be heavier on the action material than my own playlist (which really only has one action cue -- the action music isn't terribly exciting, IMO), which mostly focusses on the New Agey stuff. By the way, my playlist is a beautiful 45 minutes.

 

These tracks have all been previously released on the digital albums as well as the LP. (This is an identical tracklist to the LP.) This program runs 45 minutes. The 22-track digital release was 1 hr 17 minutes.

[Thor 8,211]

Ah OK, I wasn't aware of an LP release. 45 minutes is the same as mine, sounds perfect. I'll playlist it, though, to see if it's something I'd like to have on CD.

[Tydirium 1,254]

The #1 track that immediately jumps out at me that I wish it had, from the 22-track version, is “Happiness Is Simple.” Maybe followed by “A New Star.” But overall, the LP selection is actually pretty nice.

[Thor 8,211]

By the way, I should point out that I rewatched the film two days ago, on Disney+, for the first time since the IMAX press screening. I've been holding off because I wanted new speakers in the house. But by GOLLY, how great it is. Just as I remembered. Totally absorbing. "Pure Cinema" at its finest. Sigourney Weaver's teenage character breaks my heart!

[leeallen01 2,169]

It's crazy how hard this film and score hit me. I went into it liking the first film, but mainly I was interested in the technology and seeing how amazing it would look. I was overwhelmed by it. The film and score are very high on my all-time lists. 

 

The theatre experience of the film and the power of the score were perfect, but I can easily watch it at home and have just as meaningful experience. And not a week goes by where I don't listen to pieces of the score.

[Tydirium 1,254]

That was fast! Ordered from Walmart. And it’s the 22-track version after all! Seems that the online listings with 13 tracks are in error.

[leeallen01 2,169]

It's not available in the UK it seems.

[scallenger 551]

How "limited" is this "Limited Edition"?

[Tydirium 1,254]

5 hours ago, scallenger said:

How "limited" is this "Limited Edition"?

Definitely at least not as limited as Indy 5, as that was only really available from one site; this one is in stock a number of places. Still, might be better to grab it sooner rather than later…

[1977 1,745]

2 hours ago, Tydirium said:

Still, might be better to grab it sooner rather than later…

 

That is excellent advice.

[Thor 8,211]

Disappointed. I had hoped for a CD version of the LP version.

[Richard Penna 4,112]

Can the LP version not be created from this one, or a close enough approximation?

 

Nice that it's the longest version they could put on a CD after all. I'd have bought this had it come out when the film did, but not now that more music is separately available. One day I'll buy the expanded download - I've jus been bobbling along with Spotify thus far.

[leeallen01 2,169]

Anyone know anywhere in the UK to get it?

[scallenger 551]

About to buy it this morning... now it is unavailable. Are you kidding me? This kind of crap is going to make me give up on buying physical CDs anymore. Maybe I will go fully digital after all...

[Tydirium 1,254]

Whoa, I didn’t expect it to sell out this quickly. Hopefully they have another batch coming!

[1977 1,745]

2 hours ago, Tydirium said:

Whoa, I didn’t expect it to sell out this quickly. Hopefully they have another batch coming!

 

Your copy's value just inflated by 2000%.

 

#DoD2.0

[Richard Penna 4,112]

Give how insanely briefly it was available, I'm more inclined to think it's a temporary stock issue.

 

Having said that, (broken record warning!) some collectors' lives may be easier by making that transition to digital. JNH's Ballad is the first score I've been interested in available on CD in ages.

[1977 1,745]

5 hours ago, Richard Penna said:

some collectors' lives may be easier by making that transition to digital

 

I've pretty much done that. DoD sort of cemented the deal for me. Obviously boutique label stuff that is exclusive to CD will be dealt with accordingly. 

[Tydirium 1,254]

FYI, this is now back in stock at Amazon US:

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNQL18K5

 

EDIT: Unavailable again.

[leeallen01 2,169]

Still can't get this anywhere in the UK.

[Jay 39,231]

The physical CD edition is now for sale through Disney Emporium

 

https://www.disneymusicemporium.com/product/XVCD63/st-avatar-the-way-of-water

[Tydirium 1,254]

I wish someone would post an official hi-res image of that sleeve cover art with the “Music by Simon Franglen”; the stock cover image that has been floating around on the various sites has “Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” across the bottom instead, rather than what you actually get.

[Gabriel Bezerra 387]

Don't know where exactly to put this information, saw this post from one of the composers of the upcoming Avatar game and I found it amusing how Horner's name wasn't mentioned at all in an interview with Pinar Toprak ("main" composer), but it's the first thing Neal Acree talks about it.

 

[itsevilr 4]

On 8/12/2023 at 7:09 AM, Gabriel Bezerra said:

Don't know where exactly to put this information, saw this post from one of the composers of the upcoming Avatar game and I found it amusing how Horner's name wasn't mentioned at all in an interview with Pinar Toprak ("main" composer), but it's the first thing Neal Acree talks about it.

 

 

this gonna be super controversial, but I like the game soundtrack more than Way of the Water 👀

[Mr. Who 974]

After having read about Cameron's next non avatar film and thinking about who will score it, I listened to the deluxe edition of Avatar 2 again for the first time in about a year! It was one of my favorite scores of 2022 and after having listen to it again, it's as great as ever. I was originally a bit annoyed that Franglen got the scoring job on the Avatar sequels as I thought a new voice would be better but I was completely wrong.

 

The score uses themes in a great way, while also setting up thematic material for future films and the new themes are all amazing, especially the family theme Kiri's theme, payakan, the way of water theme etc. What's extra impressive is that Franglen, together with Cameron have taken Horner's score which was full of thematic ideas which were not really anchored to specific locations, characters or storylines and utilized and adapted them for the full 5 movie Avatar franchise. For instance the rising brass harmonies, heard in Destruction of Hometree has become a theme for Quaritch, who also got a B theme by Franglen himself.

 

The score is both emotional and exiting and cues like Navi Attack really show the power of the music together with the visuals. Like the cheeky major trumpet statement before Payakan crashes the RDA ship and it goes up into the air, accompanied by Franglen's brilliant music!

 

I can't wait to hear what Franglen does with the next scores but based on how good the second one is, I have no doubt that he'll deliver! Wish the wait wasn't this long between the Avatar movies though...

[leeallen01 2,169]

Franglen has a unique canvas to explore. The fact that Cameron is exploring all across Pandora now, going between strikingly different settings and peoples and ways of life, he has such a fresh new angle to take the scores each time. 

 

I'm so damn excited for his dark ideas for the upcoming 'enemy Na'vi' and the feeling he can create with such fire related imagery. 

 

I envision a heavy brass and pounding choir chanting flavour for the new clan.