[Closed] Now Playing - Part XV

You too Anthony?
I´ve tried, I´ve tried hard, but I still think it´s a very lazy and boring effort. Oh, and a funny thing, I´ve watched "The Lost Boys" today (when Kiefer Sutherland wasn´t Jack Bauer yet) and the so original Joker Theme is in the score (by Thomas Newman btw).

Yes I like this score, just a nudge beneath JP, but still high class entertaining stuff. The action cues in particular are exhilarating.

Nothing wrong with mixing the new with the old...

But old and fantastic (in the case of a real classic) means you can write down all the feelings you've experienced over the years listening to it. So for me it comes much easier than writing down about some month old score which I've probably haven't listened to in a more objective way. In fact I don't buy much new stuff anymore, due to lack of interest in these new scores.

Finally! You saw the movie...tell me D please....

What about the score? and your final opinion is?

NP : JESUS OF NAZARETH - Maurice Jarre



One of THE great TV scores!

Road To Perdition Thomas Newman

Ahh, what a score. Every time I've played this one, without fail (if someone's around within ear shot) someone comments on that first track.
"Ooh, where's that from?"
"Road To Perdition"
"Can you put that on m iPod?"

Indeed, one of my favourites. A great score!

NP: Pirates of The Caribbean - At World's End - Hans Zimmer

Really? Damn, you don't know what you're missing! A beautiful film score, perhaps what's Thomas Newman's best to date and a perfectly-shot and acted, very nice-looking strong movie. Couldn't recommend it more.

James Horner - In Country

This score functions only in form of bootlegs. A pity, because it's a piece of heartfelt Americana with beautiful themes. The track "Listen, Sam" is the kind of a piano miniature only Horner is capable of writing, though without the impressionistic qualities of definitely Satie inspired Gillian.

Agreed!

NP: The Star Wars Trilogy - John Williams
performed by the National Philharmonic - conducted by Charles Gerhardt.

I recently acquired the non-Dolby version of the RCA Star Wars and Jedi album so I decided to create a playlist containing Gerhardt's wonderful interpretations of the Star Wars trilogy. IMHO, Gerhardt's version of Princess Leia's theme is the best of the best. And Gerhardt LOVED "Here They Come" so much that he insisted Williams include it in the concert program. The National Philharmonic perform the shit out of the piece! Thunderous!!!

The Empire album contains one of only two known recordings of the "Han and The Princess" concert suite which is superbly performed. Gerhardt's version of "The Imperial March" is the way I would love to hear it in concert halls starting with the "Carbon Freeze" version of Vader's theme and then blending into the concert version of The Imperial March. Again, I'm still annoyed with the lazy trumpet performance on the Empire album but it's still a fantastic listen.

Jedi contains easily one of the best sounding albums I've ever heard. I also love the combined "Into The Trap; Fight in the Dungeon" arrangement. For years that track contained the only commercially available music from the Rancor Pit scene. Gerhardt's slower rendition of the Rebel Victory fanfare at the end of "The Sail Barge Battle" is even better than the original. The "pops" style finale to that cue is awesome! And the underrated "Jabba's Theme" gets a splendid performance here. We don't hear alot from the tuba and most composers these days don't use one. So, it's great to hear it singled out here. It's not an easy piece to play and I'm sure the tuba player's lips where hurting after the recording sessions. And those snaky strings at the 2 minute mark are so sly and evil. Wonderful!

I could have use less Ewok battle music but all the major highlights are here. The only really annoyance is the non-vocal version of the original Ewok Celebration. I'm sure hiring a HUGE chorus just for a few minutes of work would not be cost effective but the piece is naked without the chorus. A Lost Horizon sized chorus singing at the top of there lungs...

Celebrate the light; (Freedom!)
Celebrate the might; (Power!)
Celebrate the fight; (Glory!)
Celebrate the love!

...recorded by K.E. Wilkinson would have been brilliant.

Anyway, these two hours have just zipped by and it's a wonderful reminder why John Williams is the best at what he does and why the original Star Wars trilogy is miles ahead of anything composed today... even the prequel trilogy.

-Erik-

NP: Pirates of The Caribbean (Unreleased Suites)

Now this is some great bonus fun for fans of the trilogy scores!!

NP The Film Music of Ron Goodwin

Now this is a great compilation of Goodwin´s music from track 1 until the last one, with most of his memorable main themes.

Oh shite! I forgot to list the name of the actual soundtrack album it's from, Surf's Up.