[Closed] Now Playing XVI

Heard Mirrors by Javier Navarrette earlier. At 70 minutes long it really wears thin, though overall it's reasonably listenable. At least it's nearly all orchestral but not many people are going to be reaching for this one over and over again including me. Will stick with Pan's Labyrinth.


Just finished Elmer Bernstein's magnificent The Scarlet Letter.
It's astonishing how good this is and boggles mind how it ever ended up as a rejected score. It just might actually be a masterpiece, with incredible depth and new material constantly woven through some 80 minutes of music, including some brutal and amazing action music - which begs the question: did Bernstein and John Barry actually score the same film!!!???
I admit I haven't listened to Barry's score in years but I can't recall a lot that could be construed as action music. Bernstein's 'Battle' is enough alone to leave carnage in its wake! An astonishing score overall.

About to start on Carlo Giacco's December Boys.

Jurassic Park's main theme is one of the best and boldest main themes ever written in film music, imo.

Taste, we has it.

That's a lot of quoting.

I've selected Mr.Beltrami's works as my companions tonight (BTW the time now is 9 PM in Bangkok):

Previously listening to: I, Robot
Currently listening to: Hellboy
Will be listening to next: 3:10 To Yuma

All solid pieces of music.

Opened my computer after a week. First listened to my sweetheart The Lion King, and then switched to...

Troy (rejected) - Gabriel Yared

This chant is stuck in my head since weeks!!

Eyeball-deep in studies currently, but will try to visit whenever I get a chance to use the computer!

NP: The Lost World: Jurassic Park - John Williams

Hung-over and playing this really loud? What am I thinking!? Still, awesome score!!

I haven't heard the Bernstein score ( though I sure would like to ) but Barry's score is absolutely fine and fits the film perfectly, that's not saying much though as the film isn't worth going out of your way to watch.

WHAHEEEYYYYY!!!

Keep rockin' the hotel and smooth moving day for tomorrow!

While I agree it probably is one of the best themes ever written, I also agree with Jordi that it's totally overused on the soundtrack. The Lost World is a much better listen on CD.

Jurassic Park is not one of JW's finest hours when it comes to sequencing albums. I've found that ditching the last cue and moving the end credits so they're actually at the end is a huge help in improving the album. Ditches some repetition, makes the whole thing an awful lot better.

Here here!!!

It's a crying shame this score was rejected because what director wouldn't want a work like this in their movie? I once had the utmost respect for Wolfgang Petersen but not so much since he made that little goof.

I was just listening to it at about the same time as Demonstar, we rock!



Beowulf is a score I'm growing into currently. Before having seen the movie twice, I found the score unoriginal and boring, how my opinion's changed now! Silvestri is still the man, and after the absolutely gorgeous The Polar Express still one of my fave composers.

Looking forward to seeing some pics of the house, with you included of course

NP: El Cid - Miklos Rozsa
The City of Prague Philharmonic conducted by Nic Raine



FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF____________________________________CK!

THIS. IS. MINDBLOWING!

Could be the release of the year! Great sound, great performance, great conducting, great package, etc. Everyone should purchase this NOW! But if you want to wait a little bit more I'll be featuring this on my show soon.

GOOD LORD THIS IS FANTASTIC!!! Thank you James Fitzpatrick. Brilliant release!

-Erik-

I don't know what they did or what they changed but they knocked this one out of the park. The Tadlow recordings have shown continuing improvement in the Prague Phil's performance and sound but EL CID is their crown jewel. It's easily the best performed and best sounding Prague re- recording out there. It still sounds, at least to my ears, a bit pinched but overall it's a smooth and warm sounding recording. And the orchestra is totally on the ball. According to James Fitzpatrick the Prague Phil absolutely loves playing music of this type so there's some genuine emotion in their performance and you can feel it when listening to this recording.

Now, I will admit that I have NEVER seen the film or heard anything more that an recorded suite from this score with the obvious highlights (Overture/Love Theme/Battle Music/Finale) so this is my first true listen of the entire score and it's now on my greatest scores of all time list. El Cid is a stunning work. Miklos Rozsa again out did himself. Every cue has something interesting to say. It's up there with the Ben-Hur, King of Kings and Ivanhoe. I highly recommend this release to young and old.

I became a film music fan because of scores like this and I want to thank James Fitzpatrick, Tadlow Music and everyone who contributed to making this release possible. Absolutely brilliant stuff!

-Erik-

NP: Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain (Yann Tiersen)

I'd forgotten just how good this album is. It couldn't have been Oscar eligible given a heavy portion of it came off Tiersen's two previous non-film music albums, but a bit like There Will Blood, I wish they'd looked the other way. The Amelie waltz is one of those great pop film music themes of recent years, a bit like The Third Man 'Harry Lime' theme.