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.
Batman Movie Soundtrack.
1989, Warner Bros.
Danny Elfman.
Warner, CD, 1989, 259 7722 Rating:
Though director Christopher Nolan’s recent ‘Batman’ films have to some degree distracted from Tim Burton’s original, Danny Elfman’s impressively dark score reminds us that at least certain aspects of the franchise were best the first time around. An effective ‘Main Title’ featuring a powerful four note ascent, used to represent the two sides of the Dark Knight, is pitted against the Joker’s schizophrenic waltz that builds to a fantastic climax in ‘Waltz To The Death’. Action cues, ‘Charge Of The Bat Mobile’ and ‘Attack Of The Batwing’ utilise the main theme with choirs, heavy percussion (a highlight of this score) and brass, while ‘Final Confrontation’ is a full throttle fight to the death, including a new motif accompanying the Joker’s fateful fall from the rooftop. While Elfman’s expanding canon of work continually demonstrates both his creativity and commercial awareness, ‘Batman’ remains one of his strongest scores to date, packed full of high points and plenty of gothic atmosphere. Batman Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray.
Track Listing:
1. Batman.
2. First Confrontation.
3. Clown Attack.
4. Roasted Dude.
5. Descent Into Mystery.
6. Joker’s Poem.
7. Charge Of The Batmobile.
8. Up The Cathedral.
9. Final Confrontation.
10. Roof Fight.
11. Flowers.
12. Batman To The Rescue.
13. Photos.
14. Beautiful Dreamer.
15. Bat Cave.
16. Love Theme.
17. Attack Of The Batwing.
18. Waltz To The Death.
19. Finale.
Panned on release, Olivia Newton-John’s worst movie moment (and there have been a few) is a cheesy love story between a graphic artist named Sonny Malone (Michael Beck) who makes a living painting album covers, and the muse Kira (Newton-John) sent down by the Gods to make his dream of owning his own night club (the Xanadu of the title) come true. As ridiculous as it sounds, Xanadu, also stars Gene Kelly, completely wasted as Beck’s business partner. The music, penned by Newton-John’s long time record producer and composer of Grease’s ‘You’re The One That I Want’ among others and rock band ELO is a mixed bag. The strongest tracks, ‘I’m Alive’, ‘All Over The World’ and ‘The Fall’, performed by ELO make it worthwhile and the main theme ‘Xanadu’ is great pop. ‘Magic’, performed by Newton-John is also above average, though duets with Cliff Richard and Gene Kelly let the whole thing down terribly. Xanadu Movie Soundtrack. Review: Tim Mowbray
Track Listing:
1. Magic (ONJ).
2. Suddenly ONJ/Cliff Richard).
3. Dancin’ (ONJ/The Tubes).
4. Suspended In Time (ONJ).
5. Whenever You’re Away From Me (ONJ/Gene Kelly).
6. I’m Alive (ELO)
7. The Fall (ELO)
8. Don’t Walk Away (ELO)
9. All Over The World (ELO)
10. Xanadu (ONJ/ELO)
There are currently no YouTube clips available, sorry!
