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Chinatown - Jerry Goldsmith

One of those scores I've long admired in the film but never felt compelled to seek out separately. But much to admire here. Jerry could wrangle so much vitality, atmosphere, and momentum out of a small orchestra.

If you remember Jerry's more humble beginings in television it doesn't come as any surprise.

Chinatown is one of my favourite JG scores, a great album from beginning to end including the source pieces, I'm talking of the original release of course.

NP: Starship Troopers (1997) - Basil Poledouris

I have been exited about this de luxe expansion from the start and now that I have listened to it two times I am even more so. This score profits from the expansion enormously. That it is one of Poledouris' very best scores is of course easily discernible from the original album. Yet the original album assembles all the power house cues and in its massiveness it was often a bit much for me. Now the expanded album adds the quieter moments which make the listening experience much more balanced.
I also want to point out the booklet with a loving address by Robert Townson and informative liner notes by Jeff Bond. For me this is one of the releases of the year so far.

Volker

NP: Wavelength - Tangerine Dream

An enjoyable listen as a synth album, not so much as a film score. It sounds quite broad stroked with little of the nuances that other synth-heavy film composers can bring to their scores.

I am no expert on Tangerine Dream but I believe that some of their tracks for film are taken from non-film soundtrack albums?

NP: Predator 2 - Alan Silvestri

Great action scoring with some excellent set-piece tracks. And all rounded off with one of the best end credit suites you'll find.

Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone

I had forgotten how good this is. It's really bloody good.

Rush Hour Lalo Schifrin

I guess this would be considered racist these days.

NP: Captain Blood - Erich Wolfgang Korngold

Am I correct in thinking that there's only a suite of tracks available from this score, OST or re-recording? I am not familiar with the Naxos suite as what I am listening to is the André Previn-conducted suite - which, I seem to recall, isn't highly regarded.

NP: PEOPLE LIKE US (A.R. Rahman)

Rahman shows he can do softspoken, American dramas as much as any American. I really like this one, although the film itself looks kinda cheesy.

NP: Madame Bovary - Miklós Rózsa

A 40-minute re-recording suite from the baton of Elmer Bernstein. I like the mix of the darker tracks with the more romantic moments. Though, as with a lot of these type of suites, I am not so keen on (what are probably) the source music (e.g., the suite of dance pieces).

Hoosiers - Jerry Goldsmith

I strongly disliked this the first time I heard it. The pep, the cheesy theme for the court scenes, the bounce effects worst of all. But I have a dear fondness for it now.

I like that one, too. There's one cue in particular that I remember really enjoying, though I'd have to look it up to remember the name of it.

That score has a great theme!

BFG John Williams

A finely crafted score, but all a bit flowery for me. I wish Spielberg would stop making films for his kids, and start making films the rest of us give a shit about.

NP: Unnatural - Edwin Wendler

The interesting textures, soundscapes and orchestrations make this largely non-thematic score interesting to listen to.