[Closed] Now Playing XXXIX

Masada - Jerry Goldsmith

I've just listened to both releases of this score today.
Well, I have to say the new Intrada release actually IS a winner!
Yes, the original Varese Sarabande recording was wonderfully full bodied and very nice on all counts.
But despite the smaller orchestra the Intrada release of the original television recording is for me, a better listen in that there's so many interesting tracks Goldsmith omitted from his re-recorded album.
Great action tracks filled with exciting orchestration. Nice atmospheric cues and basically just more variety.
This was written at the peek of Goldsmith's creative output and it shows.
It's wonderful to hear snippets from Outland, The Final Conflict and (the yet to be composed) Poltergeist pop up from time to time too. Wonderful music here!
Disc 2 containing music by Morton Stevens does not stray from Goldsmith's compositions and style.
Perhaps only lacking in the action department. But still a good listen.

That's a great score.

:yeah" x 1,000,000,000



-Erik-

NP: The Rocketeer - James Horner

A masterpiece and one of the finest adventure scores ever written. And boy... WHAT. A. LOVE. THEME! I'm not sure if I want an expanded treatment of this... many do... but this album is pitch perfect! And it's one of Shawn Murphy's finest recordings!

-Erik-

You know they were originally going to do "Flash Gordon"? I have no idea how far they might have gotten.

Really? That's the first I've ever heard of that??

Are you sure you don't mean DUNE?

A bit, but no biggie.

Borislav Slavov, Tilman Siliescu, Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe - Crysis 2

The La-la-land release. I actually like that score. It does sound somewhat RCP, but the orchestral writing is much better and what I like about it is that it builds a very nice atmosphere. A definite highlight is Slavov's SOS New York piece, which is pretty great. In general the New York theme (a simple, restrained, but dramatic motif) is very good.

When it comes to the Zimmer theme (all one of them), it's rather good, I think it's Zimmer's best for years (Inception is a great score, but I wouldn't call it very thematic). Good arrangement too. For Zimmer it is most definitely an improvement over the crap that Modern Warfare 2 was, though in the end that one proved to be a good brain-turning-off experience and the best material from the game (Orvarsson's favela music which still reminds a bit of the... Cutler Beckett material from Pirates 3 and I am talking original Zimmer suites) is not even on the original album!

Great British TV Themes - Silva Screen

Just flicking through this new compilation. So far the two that have stuck... "Soul Limbo" (BBC cricket theme - and the GREATEST music to have been associated with any sport, yes John Williams that includes you) and the theme from The Benny Hill Show.

...ah, but now Ski Sunday has come on... oh, which is better? How to choose?

Ski Sunday by a very long mile.

5

"Bill's Lament" - True Blood - Nathan Barr

I think what Barr added to this show was excellent and there is some great music on the two CDs released so far. I just love how the low strings are placed front-and-centre. And this melancholic tracks highlights this well.

7

"The Next Adventure" - Mr and Mrs Smith - John Powell

This track encapsulates a lot of what I enjoy in a Powell score. The quick staccato strings with the insistent beat underpinning it. And a strong brass support. Light, bright and fun.

I agree, that cue is pure Powell. Also, it has some excelent renditions of the main theme.

9

"Suite (Part 2)" - Scenes of The Crime - Christopher Young

Reminds me a bit of the urban sleaze and disease that Howard Shore gave to his score for Crash with the electric guitars. That, together with a feel that reminds me of a Michael Small thriller score, this track is an excellent listen.