What are you listening to now?
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Brilliant 2007 vocal album. This track is among my alltime favourites:
Don’t know this TD album but that track was best when there was no singing for me 😉
Both scores suffer a bit from Morricone’s general repetition habit the same theme with minor changes only (at least LE PROFESSIONAL does for sure)
Yeah, THE PROFESSIONAL on album suffers more from that than LE MARGINAL, which features an additional theme, some pop songs, and more “varied” variations than THE PROFESSIONAL.
The original LP for LE MARGINAL had three major variants of the same idea, fully played out in 6 minute tracks, with some interesting differences (that I really found very interesting).
“Le Marginal” (6:23)
That’s basically the “primary” variant, what is usually on compilations (usually shortened by two and a half minutes). It has a determined, but up-beat pop flair to it.Le Marginal (La Droguée Et Le Garçon) (6:32)
This follows mainly the same basic construction as the first variant, but switches the two melodies: what is played on strings is now played on winds and what was played on winds is now played on strings. So it’s basically some switched orchestration; the effect is that this second variant sounds more elegiac and relaxed, softer compared to the more up-beat “Le Marginal”.And Le Marginal (Conclusion) (6:23)
This one among other things changes the 16th notes of the string theme to 8ths (or something like it, don’t have the score, just guessing from memory), and the theme sounds much more grim, edgier and darker, even though it is the same melody. It drops the lighter instrumentation and leans into a tense, sweeping orchestral arrangement that matches the grim, inevitable climax of the movie.I found these three variants very exciting back in the day, because these were showcases how with minimal adjustments to the same basic music construct you could express very different musical moods.
Yeah, THE PROFESSIONAL on album suffers more from that than LE MARGINAL, which features an additional theme, some pop songs, and more “varied” variations than THE PROFESSIONAL.
Might very well be. I have a digital version somewhere and need to give it a listen again!
The singing was okay. I’m less enthused with the electric guitars. But otherwise, a fine track.
Interestingly that part I did like 😉
The singing was okay. I’m less enthused with the electric guitars.
Really?? I think it’s one of the best guitar solos ever. The flute part is also nice.
Really?? I think it’s one of the best guitar solos ever. The flute part is also nice.
Indeed the guitar solo reminded me of classic solos that Froese normally would perform himself.
I prefer my TD guitar free, with the exception of SHY PEOPLE, where it fit well with the Pink Floyd-ian style (at least I think there were guitars in there).
I’m listening to Mission Impossible: Fallout. It’s my favorite of the MI scores. I particularly enjoy the percussion in Stairs & Rooftop. It’s a good motivation score for tackling something I’m resisting doing. 🙂
Anyone else have a favorite MI score?
I actually don’t own many Lorne Balfe scores, but I have his score to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves that I also enjoy very much.
I’d love some others by him along these lines, recommendations?
I’m not a big fan of FALLOUT, I’m afraid, but I enjoy me some Balfe now and then. His synth work on TETRIS was excellent, and BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F was also pretty good. But have you checked out his excellent work for HIS DARK MATERIALS? Not that far removed from DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, only better, IMO.
Otherwise, I agree with Jon above. My favourite M:I score is also Zimmer’s.
Otherwise, I agree with Jon above. My favourite M:I score is also Zimmer’s.
Of the movies I agree as well. The Elfmann is to low key at times and the Giacchinos have some moments but are rather missed opportunities (especially MI3). Not a fan of Balfe’s music in generally although he is a “craftsman” and can have its moments. But I don’t really know his work in general. The “remix” of AXEL F was fun. I remember having sampled HIS DARK MATERIALS some time and was even a bit surprised.
Generally I prefer the two Schifrin albums which are album versions of course. I regret having missed the MI box being too expensive. Hope it would surface as digital versions like the Star Trek original box did…
I guess I like the tension in the Fallout score. Apart from the main theme, I can’t really tell the MI2 score is a Mission Impossible story. But I do love the latin portions especially. Too bad there’s great Zimmer music in the worst film of the franchise. I’ve not heard His Dark Materials by Balfe, sounds like that might be one I’ve been missing – thanks so much!
I like both of these, but if someone put a gun to my head, I would go for the Zimmer. It is, after all, from the best year of his entire career, 1991.
Anyone else have a favorite MI score?
Joe Kraemer’s Rogue Nation by a good margin. Elfman’s “original” is 2nd.
I regret having missed the MI box
Ditto.
Generally I prefer the two Schifrin albums which are album versions of course.
Thankfully, there’s a third album, which contains original recordings from both the original series and the 80s revival.
https://www.maintitles.net/reviews/innocence/
Kugutsuuta _ Kagirohi Ha Yomi Ni Mata Muto
Listened to it for three hours in a row…..
I like both of these, but if someone put a gun to my head, I would go for the Zimmer. It is, after all, from the best year of his entire career, 1991.
The pan-flute-synth years. Love it. 😅
Sigbjørn always has a running joke about this on JWFAN, because he finds it boring. I couldn’t disagree more. Even when it came out, in 1998, and I was a young, impatient man geared towards action adventure music, I was touched by this. Those cautious, beautiful drama scores he does so well, in this case carried by Parkening’s gorgeous guitar solos. Very autumnal and heartfelt. And those woodwinds, man! I melt.
“The Days Between” from STEPMOM was one of themain motivations for me to take piano lessons as an adult. It took me about nine Month to learn to play the piece. But is was worth the effort. I really love this piece and the arrangement for solo piano.
Oh yes, great piano bits too. And even some fine synth, in that John Williams kind of way. Like “Time Spins Its Web”.
This and THE RIVER makes me always want a proper John Williams guitar concerto. Of course played by John Williams 😉
He did do one in 2012, “Rounds”. Alas not for guitarist John Williams, but for Pablo Sáinz Villegas. It’s a fine piece, but I prefer his filmatic guitar excursions.
Yes, but that is not a guitar concerto but a piece for solo guitar. Maybe he should just adapt parts of his guitar featuring scores to movements. If Goldenthal can do that 😉
Here’s a proper concerto by a film composer played by Parkening.
Sigbjørn always has a running joke about this on JWFAN, because he finds it boring.
I guess it works well enough as background music to set the mood for a lazy evening.
I guess it works well enough as background music to set the mood for a lazy evening.
That’s underselling it!
But yes, that Bernstein guitar concerto is fine.
Probably controversial to say, but this has climbed steadily over the years to become MY SECOND FAVOURITE JOHN WILLIAMS SCORE! That’s something. Especially for a film that is only so-so. Only beaten by the unbeatable JURASSIC PARK. We’ve been talking about Williams’ pastoral writing recently, and this fairly recently edged out JANE EYRE as the best representative of that sound, and hence pushing Jane to third place. (Meanwhile, RETURN OF THE JEDI – which was no. 2 for decades – has been pushed slightly off the top 10!).
The pan-flute-synth years. Love it. 😅
I’ve never thought about it that way, but yes – there was a considerable amount of spacey pan flutes in those years.
Probably controversial to say, but this has climbed steadily over the years to become MY SECOND FAVOURITE JOHN WILLIAMS SCORE!
I bet you prefer the version with narration. 😉
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