This site was conceived as a side project by a "tekkie" friend of mine who suggested I use my journalistic experience to write about something I love. We bandied about some ideas before settling on this one - largely because I had collected movie soundtracks for much of my life and thought I could write about them. We wanted the site to be user friendly, well-written and reliable.
Over time, I hope to attract other writers keen to contribute to the site, who don't mind foregoing the financial benefits they may be used to in the short-term for something that may, or may not, be profitable further down the line.
The gradual demise of the cd format, re-emergence of vinyl, along with the expansion of blu-ray dvd and downloads translate to an ever-changing market place; despite this, most of us still buy cd's and dvd's and I hope that you will use the Amazon links on this site to buy online.
We have also included mini YouTube video links that accompany the reviews, so that you can listen to your favourite theme music while watching a related trailer or clip from the movie; because film is a visual medium, there seems no better way of presenting it.
Finally, a note on the type of soundtracks featured. Though purists generally view albums such as "Top Gun", "Flashdance" and others like them, as unworthy of coverage on a film soundtrack site, preferring instead to focus on orchestral scores, we have taken the view that these albums have earned their place based on their continued saleability and affection with a large section of cinema-goers. We wanted to reach as broad an audience as possible and have developed the site with this in mind, without forgetting those fans for whom composers such as Bernard Herrmann and Jerry Goldsmith, among many others, are considered on a par with the master composers. We hope you can find your best movie soundtracks on this site.
Tomorrow Never Dies.
1997, United Artists.
David Arnold.
A&M, CD. 1997, 540 830 2 Rating:
David Arnold’s best Bond score to date is an energetic combination of hi-tech action and jazz, reminiscent of some of John Barry’s best work for the franchise. Extensive use of Monty Norman’s main Bond theme, particularly effective in ‘Company Car’ is incorporated into Arnold’s new material with a slickness that signals progression rather than a regressive repeat of past glories; Arnold’s continued involvement with the franchise is an obvious asset, confirmed here by the song ‘Surrender’, performed by K.D. Lang, written to be the main theme but passed on by the studio in favour of Sheryl’s Crow’s star power; (see YouTube clip below featuring Lang’s performance as it would have appeared and Crow’s as it was). An impressive, wood wind driven love theme, featured most notably in ‘The Last Goodbye’ and ‘Paris And Bond’ adds an additional thematic layer, demonstrating Arnold’s versatility - something less evident in his predominantly action-led scores for ‘Independence Day’ and ‘Stargate’. Though more complete editions of the score have been released, most notably from Chapter III records in 2000, this is a fine album packed full of exciting escapism with a technological twist. Tomorrow Never Dies Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Tomorrow Never Dies (Sheryl Crow).
2. White Knight.
3. The Sinking of the Devonshire.
4. Company Car.
5. Station Break.
6. Paris and Bond.
7. The Last Goodbye.
8. Hamburg Beak In.
9. Hamburg Break Out.
10. Doctor Kaufmann.
11. 3-Send.
12. Underwater Discovery.
13. Backseat Driver (David Arnold/The Propellerheads).
14. Surrender (Tomorrow Never Dies) (K.D. Lang).
15. James Bond Theme (Moby).
Planet Of The Apes.
2001, 20th Century Fox.
Danny Elfman.
Sony Classical, CD, 2001, 5099708966621. Rating:
Jerry Goldsmith won an academy award for his post modern score to the original 1968 sci-fi classic, in which a lone astronaut finds himself abandoned on a planet ruled by apes. The 2001 re-make starring Mark Wahlberg wasn’t a patch on the original , saddled by a wooden performance from Wahlberg and lacking the intelligence of the first movie. Danny Elfman’s score however, makes the right noises for this type of film, forgoing Goldsmith’s sense of isolation and desolation, so in keeping with the original, for buckets of pounding energy. Both scores are heavy on percussion, creating some memorable motifs, particularly noticeable on Elfman’s ‘Main Title’ and Goldsmith’s version of ’The Hunt’ (see other entry). Despite this, Elfman may have been wise to tone down some of the noise in favour of more reflective material, particularly as it works so well on cues ‘Deep Space Launch’ and portions of ‘The Return’. Paul Oakenfold’s remix is loud and powerful - so, more of the same, then. A blast - off. Planet of The Apes Movie Soundtrack (2001). Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Main Titles
2. Ape Suite # 1
3. Deep Space Launch.
4. The Hunt
5. Branding The Herd
6. The Dirty Deed
7. Escape From Ape City/The Legend
8. Ape Suite # 2
9. Old Flames
10. Thade Goes Ape
11. Preparing For Battle
12. The Battle Begins
13. The Return
14. Main Title Deconstruction
15. Rule The Planet Remix (Remix by Paul Oakenfold)
Though the term “music from and inspired by” is enough to send any self-respecting lover of soundtracks running for a refund, ‘Mission: Impossible’ is a reasonable collection with bands ‘Pulp’, ‘Massive Attack’ and ‘Bjork’ all putting in solid performances, if only they were in the film. The major drawback lies in the lack of an orchestral score, with Danny Elfman’s contribution running to only three cues - which is a shame because the ones featured are pretty strong. Of course, the iconic ‘Theme From Mission: Impossible’ makes a souped-up appearance but there isn’t enough to get your teeth into here. With only five of fifteen tracks actually appearing in the film, this is obviously a marketing exercise, though why bother with Elfman’s score at all considering that it was given a separate release at the same time? Mission: Misguided. Mission: Impossible Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Theme From Mission: Impossible (Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen).
2. Spying Glass (Massive Attack).
3. I Spy (Pulp, Anne Dudley, Orchestra).
4. Impossible Mission (Danny Elfman).
5. Headphones (Björk).
6. Weak (Skunk Anansie).
7. On & On (Longpigs).
8. Claire (Danny Elfman).
9. Dreams (The Cranberries).
10. You Me And World War III (Gavin Friday).
11. So (Salt).
12. Trouble (Danny Elfman).
13. No Government (Nicolette).
14. Alright (Cast).
15. Mission: Impossible Theme (Mission Accomplished) (Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen).
