[Closed] Now Playing XLIV

Oz: The Great and Powerful - Danny Elfman

Zzzzzzzzzzz... Elfman's been on autopilot for several years now and this is no different. Maybe if it had a great theme but the one you hear the most (at the beginning of the opening track) is terribly generic, sounding like about four different Elfman themes mashed together. I'd rather listen to Hellboy II, which has a very similar sound but is about five times more entertaining.

Since it's a long time ago that SKYFALL was mentioned by anyone, I will not mention it either.

THE REVENANTS | mogwai

Soundtrack to a French zombie series that was just released, based upon earlier tracks from the band. Very low key, even for Mogwai. Not so interesting as a focused listen but moody atmospheric background music. There's a very catchy motif in there though.Similar to the Explosions in the Sky sound but without long buildups and climaxes. The track at the end is at the whole other end, wild and loud. Shakes you awake so programme it out or you'll be awake again!

Bless you, Bregt! Appreciate it.



Interesting. I wasn't aware Mogwai had done a score proper.

It bored me to death. No thematic integrity, no special elements, nothing. Complete auto pilot. Next.

NP: Plunkett & Macleane - Craig Armstrong

There's some excellent tracks within a barrage of uninteresting stuff. "Unseen" has a superb burst of action energy. I love the dramatic choral rise at the end of "Ruby". "Rebecca" is noteworthy with its elegiac choir and string melody. "Business" is a brilliant blend of classical strings passages and techno pop rhythms. "Escape" is the EPIC piece that made Craig famous (but not before his excellent arrangement work on Romeo & Juliet).

Wanted - Danny Elfman

I really love this score, surprising because I don't tend to like rock elements in my music. Somehow, Elfman makes it all seem seamless and the thematic material is just terrific. It helps that the album length is perfect at 48 minutes (45 if you skip the song, which I often do). Oz has been thoroughly washed out of my system.

NP: "Devil's Slide" From Iron Will by Joel McNeely

Why can't all composers write "generic" action music that's this awesome?

Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe - The Bible

Not half bad! A very reflective score, but harmonious and emotional. The themes, as far as I know, are a really collaborative effort between Zimmer and Balfe, so if anyone wonders, yes, he did something on it.

NP: The Day The Earth Stood Still - Bernard Herrmann

I think that Herrmann was one of the composers whose music has benefited most from all the re-recordings that have been done over the years: archival original score recordings that have been brought to life by meticulous reconstructions and re-recordings have brought out a lot of the detail of the orchestrations in scores such as this.

Joel McNeely's re-recording of this score for Varese is a great example of how the composer's subtle orchestrations are brought to life, revealing details muddied on the OST by sub-optimal (by today's standards) recording technology. And revealing that detail more than compensates for the variations in the theremin reproduction in the re-recording compared with the OST recording. The theremin parts are definitely well reproduced here in this McNeely recording with only occasional detours from the Arista/Fox original.

Another great McNeely recording for another great Herrmann score.

Still sounds better than 90% of RC composers and/or Brian Tyler quoting Zimmer motifs

Iron Will is phenomenal.

OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL - Danny Elfman

I had to stop and come back to this. Anyone who likes Elfmanisms will enjoy it. A lot. It's okay. Probably about in the same ball park as JACK THE GIANT SLAYER for me at this point. It's not bad. There just isn't a lot there to make me want to come back to it. Perhaps repeated listens will change my mind.

Usually can't get into most of Lennertz either

(why did i decide to play) Jeff Rona's Phantom ?

Well, exactly. Film music