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NP : HIMALAYA - Bruno Coulais



I love this work and it never fails to transport me back there.

Gorgeous! His best work to date, imo.

I guess you know that good old feeling where you put a good edited cd or a record in the player, sit back, relax and simply enjoy, or do that whilst you cook; well, all that is blown if i have to programme (Auto or by hand) each time i'll have to play that album; happened to me many times.

NP: Tangled - Alan Menken

I kind of dismissed this as being just an above average score only after one listen and then quickly getting it on my show. However, this fresh listen a few days after fact has revealed a wonderfully written score full of adventure, drama, danger and romance. Lots of lovely themes are sprinkled throughout and Menken wrote one of the best cues of the year - "Waiting for the Lights" - a gorgeous slow builder that ends with a wonderful orchestral swell. I haven't had the courage to listen to the songs... not a fan of the fluffy, broadway styled Menken songs... although admittedly I do have a soft spot for some of the tunes from Menken's 80's and 90's animated efforts. For now, I'll concentrate on the score with is very entertaining!

-Erik-

I caught a small listen to a cd that was full of cheesy songs; is the score in-between those or in a different score only release?

Ok... I'm converted. I wish I could re-record my radio show so I could praise the shit out Tangled. This is what happens when you get a score, want it on your show right away, skim through the tracks, not really pay attention and then not do the score justice when you do your on-air bit.

To me Menken's score is about as old-fashioned and traditional as you are going to get from a film score this year! It's my cup of tea, it sounds splended to my ears, it's catchy, it's fun, it well written... I have no qualms about placing this in my Top 10 of the year! Absolutely delightful!

-Erik-

On soundtrackcollector.com lists the following:

1. When Will My Life Begin? (02:32)
Performed by Mandy Moore as 'Rapunzel'
2. When Will My Life Begin? (Reprise 1) (01:03)
Performed by Mandy Moore as 'Rapunzel'
3. Mother Knows Best (03:10)
Performed by Donna Murphy as 'Mother Gothel'
4. When Will My Life Begin? (Reprise 2) (02:06)
Performed by Mandy Moore as 'Rapunzel'
5. I've Got a Dream (03:11)
Performed by Brad Garrett as 'Hook-Hand Thug,' Jeffrey Tambor as 'Big Nose Thug,' Mandy Moore as 'Rapunzel,' Zachary Levi as 'Flynn Rider' and Ensemble
6. Mother Knows Best (Reprise) (01:38)
Performed by Donna Murphy as 'Mother Gothel'
7. I See the Light (03:44)
Performed by Mandy Moore as 'Rapunzel' and Zachary Levi as 'Flynn Rider'
8. Healing Incantation (00:54)
Performed by Mandy Moore as 'Rapunzel'
9. Flynn Wanted (02:51)
10. Prologue (02:02)
Performed by Donna Murphy as 'Mother Gothel' and Delaney Stein as 'Young Rapunzel'
11. Horse with No Rider (01:57)
12. Escape Route (01:57)
13. Campfire (03:21)
14. Kingdom Dance (02:20)
15. Waiting for the Lights (02:47)
16. Return to Mother (02:06)
17. Realization and Escape (05:50)
18. The Tear Heals (07:37)
Performed by Mandy Moore as 'Rapunzel'
19. Kingdom Celebration (01:50)
20. Something That I Want (02:43)
Performed by Grace Potter

The numbers don't correspond with your list, Erik. Do you have another release?

Thanks Erik.

I like Tangled a lot, though it falls slightly short of Menken's masterpieces (particularly in the song department, I think).

You,..you......like Tangled's songs!?!

For anything more than playlist creation though, album production is something most of us don't have time (or even skill for). Editing out the odd repetitve measure from a piece, segueing between two moments for musical effect that are completely different cues on album... Mind you, I wouldn't mind doing all that work if someone paid me for it. Maybe they could call me 'Album Producer'.

WALL-E - Thomas Newman

Yet another career best from Newman that got robbed by the Academy. "The Axiom" alone is better than any track on that pseudo-Bollywood knockoff that defeated it.

Listening to a couple new (to me) CDs I just got from BP.

Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games: I like this. I've only listened to it once, but I thought Gordon's contribution was very well done. I could see myself really liking this after a few more listens. There were quite a few songs on the album I didn't care for. Too bad there wasn't more by Gordon.

Lassie - Poledouris: Nice highlights. Pretty good all around. I still need to listen to it several more times.

Headhunter - Richard Jacques

A damn fine game score, and much better than his recent 007: Bloodstone. Headhunter features good themes, plenty of kickass action, yet has room to breathe. If anything, this showed in 2002 that Richard has massive potential, but he hasn't quite lived up to it yet. Hope the guy gets some more interesting work in the future where he can turn similar ideas from this score into something just as good. Plus it helps a lot when the blend of orchestra + synths works so well like it does here.

Check out a short suite I made once.

But upon buying the 2-CD set of Headhunter + Headhunter Redemption I've noticed one glaring fact: the tracks are cut off at the end of each cue. So most of the music ends abruptly. Very annoying!