Medal of Honor: Airborne
Michael Giacchino
" Airborne soars back to that Medal of Honor magic we thought that was Lost "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
If people only heard of the name Michael Giacchino now, they have missed an amazing period before something as Lost came along. Of course the man now is practically a living legend for filmmaker J.J. Abrams and for many Television fanatics. But before all that hoopla of islands and incredibles, there was a Medal of Honor series. One that is expanding every year to amazing heights. And now the height is of the utmost importance because we go Airborne, a new interactive free flowing engine makes sure you're gonna land wherever you want from now on!
Back for the ride is composer Michael Giacchino. First off, I'm surprised to see him back in action because I thought he would be too busy now with all those Lost episodes, other video game franchises and big budget movies. But no, he just returned after a successful if not spectacular interpose by Christopher Lennertz. And I must say, I was really looking forward to it.
Of course, you must know that the style of Giacchino has changed. It has matured like any great composer, simply look at the John Williams now and the one 20 years ago. But what if you mix the style of Lost with themes and more thematic material of the MOH franchise? Then you get Airborne and my god that makes for intriguing listening.
With "Medal of Honor Airborne Theme" you return to what made MOH so grand, namely its heroic theme. However in this track the new Airborne theme is introduced as well. While not as grand or exiting as his main theme, it surely fits the bill. Yet it's clear from "Operation Husky" that the energy and rhythm from his previous scores (especially M:I III) is now the driving force of this score, and the Airborne theme is surrounded by fast brassy play. "Back Alleys" shows you more of this behavior.
They are good tracks but they don't offer you a moment's rest. And so we continue with mystery in "Restoration Temple" and an Airborne action moment in "Gunfight in the Ruins".
There are great moments when Giacchino brings variation to his themes. In "Operation Neptune" we have a cool variation on the Airborne theme while "Unblocking Utah" has for the first time a stirring effort with strings and drums. A new theme is introduced in "Operation Varsity" and expanded in sinister ways to a big finish in "Sniper Showdown". "Dropping Into Nijmegen" has a lonesome trumpet version of the Airborne theme, while "Wreckage of Nijmegen" is a 7 minute dramatic delight of emotional fanfares.
What follows next is nothing short of amazing. "Taking Out the Sighting Tower" brings us a brassy action / heroic theme moment before the main theme of MOH signs off "Paestum Landing" with its biggest heroic version yet. Finally in "Medal of Honor Airborne End Credits" we receive the Lost strings soaring over the themes of the game.
In the end it is not as colorful, big or thematic as the previous MOH games, but it sure is exiting and brassy enough to get a kick out of it. It is especially amazing when we hear the themes of the first games reappear in their most exciting version yet. Medal of Honor: Airborne is thereby an energetic Giacchino affair that hits not all the right notes, but surely the big driving notes. So I welcome back Michael Giacchino to a series that felt Lost without his voice.
Tracklisting
1. Medal of Honor Airborne Theme (3.48) Excellent track
2. Operation Husky (3.27)
3. Back Alleys (2.24)
4. In the Trenches (2.34)
5. Restoration Temple (2.46)
6. Gunfight in the Ruins (5.24)
7. Operation Neptune (2.34)
8. Following the Demolition Wires (1.06)
9. Room by Room (2.23)
10. Unblocking Utah (2.43) Excellent track
11. Operation Varsity (3.38)
12. Sniper Showdown (3.16)
13. Das Flakturn (2.36)
14. Destroying the Fuel Reserves (2.29)
15. Dropping Into Nijmegen (3.00)
16. Wreckage of Nijmegen (7.04) Excellent track
17. Defusing the Charges (2.37)
18. Taking Out the Sighting Tower (2.30) Excellent track
19. Paestum Landing (2.50) Excellent track
20. Medal of Honor Airborne End Credits (4.14) Excellent track
Total Length: 63.23
Back for the ride is composer Michael Giacchino. First off, I'm surprised to see him back in action because I thought he would be too busy now with all those Lost episodes, other video game franchises and big budget movies. But no, he just returned after a successful if not spectacular interpose by Christopher Lennertz. And I must say, I was really looking forward to it.
Of course, you must know that the style of Giacchino has changed. It has matured like any great composer, simply look at the John Williams now and the one 20 years ago. But what if you mix the style of Lost with themes and more thematic material of the MOH franchise? Then you get Airborne and my god that makes for intriguing listening.
With "Medal of Honor Airborne Theme" you return to what made MOH so grand, namely its heroic theme. However in this track the new Airborne theme is introduced as well. While not as grand or exiting as his main theme, it surely fits the bill. Yet it's clear from "Operation Husky" that the energy and rhythm from his previous scores (especially M:I III) is now the driving force of this score, and the Airborne theme is surrounded by fast brassy play. "Back Alleys" shows you more of this behavior.
They are good tracks but they don't offer you a moment's rest. And so we continue with mystery in "Restoration Temple" and an Airborne action moment in "Gunfight in the Ruins".
There are great moments when Giacchino brings variation to his themes. In "Operation Neptune" we have a cool variation on the Airborne theme while "Unblocking Utah" has for the first time a stirring effort with strings and drums. A new theme is introduced in "Operation Varsity" and expanded in sinister ways to a big finish in "Sniper Showdown". "Dropping Into Nijmegen" has a lonesome trumpet version of the Airborne theme, while "Wreckage of Nijmegen" is a 7 minute dramatic delight of emotional fanfares.
What follows next is nothing short of amazing. "Taking Out the Sighting Tower" brings us a brassy action / heroic theme moment before the main theme of MOH signs off "Paestum Landing" with its biggest heroic version yet. Finally in "Medal of Honor Airborne End Credits" we receive the Lost strings soaring over the themes of the game.
In the end it is not as colorful, big or thematic as the previous MOH games, but it sure is exiting and brassy enough to get a kick out of it. It is especially amazing when we hear the themes of the first games reappear in their most exciting version yet. Medal of Honor: Airborne is thereby an energetic Giacchino affair that hits not all the right notes, but surely the big driving notes. So I welcome back Michael Giacchino to a series that felt Lost without his voice.
Tracklisting
1. Medal of Honor Airborne Theme (3.48) Excellent track
2. Operation Husky (3.27)
3. Back Alleys (2.24)
4. In the Trenches (2.34)
5. Restoration Temple (2.46)
6. Gunfight in the Ruins (5.24)
7. Operation Neptune (2.34)
8. Following the Demolition Wires (1.06)
9. Room by Room (2.23)
10. Unblocking Utah (2.43) Excellent track
11. Operation Varsity (3.38)
12. Sniper Showdown (3.16)
13. Das Flakturn (2.36)
14. Destroying the Fuel Reserves (2.29)
15. Dropping Into Nijmegen (3.00)
16. Wreckage of Nijmegen (7.04) Excellent track
17. Defusing the Charges (2.37)
18. Taking Out the Sighting Tower (2.30) Excellent track
19. Paestum Landing (2.50) Excellent track
20. Medal of Honor Airborne End Credits (4.14) Excellent track
Total Length: 63.23