Kung Fu Panda 2 (Soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer and John Powell - Review

Zimjitsu and Powellsanity!
Review by the Tracksounds Gang

It could be said that the film that elevated Dreamworks Animation from playing second-erhu to Pixar was 2008’s KUNG FU PANDA. Leaving behind the shallow humor of efforts like Out of Season and Madagascar, KUNG FU PANDA delivered a solid story, with compelling characters, top rate voice actors, and stunning visuals. And then there was HANS ZIMMER and JOHN POWELL’s epic score, which was ripe with both top-drawer action cues and emotionally memorable themes.

With the success of the first film, there was immediate talk of a sequel and three years later KUNG FU PANDA 2 made its debut. Now that Panda Po has reached new status among his peers, The Furious Five, and under his master, Shifu, it’s not only time to up the ante with a host of new kung-fu-fightin-characters, but to delve into Po’s mysterious past. The original voice cast is back, but this time under the direction of Jennifer Yuh Nelson (who was a story-artist on the original). Best of all, at least from the film music perspective, both HANS ZIMMER and JOHN POWELL return to deliver more musique de pandemonium.

Does the duo return to the heights set by the first? The Tracksounds review team gang-tackles that question...

READ THE FULL REVIEW

New Danny Elfman Project - IRIS from Cirque du Soleil - A Journey through the World of Cinema

IRIS FROM CIRQUE DU SOLEIL - A JOURNEY THROUGH THE WORLD OF CINEMA


IRIS brings together dance, acrobatics and video to portray the illuminating history of cinema and its genres, taking audiences into the heart of the movie-making process. The show will play at the Kodak Theatre and will feature a stellar musical score by world-renowned composer DANNY ELFMAN.

There is no official word on a soundtrack release, but as most Cirque du Soleil projects do, I would expect one to be forthcoming.  Danny Elfman and Circque du Soleil seems like a perfect match.  Keep your ears tuned for more coverage of this project, but if you are thinking about going out to Hollywood to see this new production out, check out the special offer below.


SPECIAL OFFER FROM THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL

When guests book 2 or more nights at the Hollywood Hotel, they will receive a $50 credit for tickets to see IRIS!

Near the Kodak Theatre and centrally located to all the best the city has to offer, the stylish Hollywood Hotel is the perfect Los Angeles haven. It boasts lavish European décor and utilizes cutting edge technology to ensure guests have all that they need. The hotel has a sparkling new pool and sun deck, three indoor saunas, and a lush garden/fountain area available for weddings. The newly renovated 1930’s themed bar and lounge allows guests a relaxing place to drink and enjoy live music, comedy, and cabaret. The hotel is gay-friendly and pet-friendly, and even offers a few special amenities for pet owners! Whether visiting to attend the exciting IRIS show, for business, or pleasure, the Hollywood Hotel will allow you the perfect relaxing and worry-free getaway!

GET MORE INFORMATION

Hunted: The Demon's Forge Composed by Kevin Riepl

HUNTED: THE DEMON'S FORGE™ SOUNDTRACK FUSES ORCHESTRAL BOMBAST AND DARK SOUNDSCAPES COMPOSED BY KEVIN RIEPL

May 23, 2011 (Los Angeles, CA) - Award-winning genre music composer Kevin Riepl (Gears of War, Clemency, Huxley) has created the original score for Hunted: The Demon's Forge™, a third-person co-op fantasy action game developed by inXile Entertainment for Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3 and Games for Windows. Hunted is scheduled to be released in North America on May 31st by Bethesda Softworks.

A renowned music composer and recording artist (aka Damage Vault) for multiple entertainment genres, Kevin Riepl's engaging and atmospheric scores have enhanced numerous indie horror films such as "Clemency," "New Hope Manor" and "Broken Moment." In video games, he previously created the rousing signature scores for several blockbuster franchises including Gears of War and Huxley.

To enhance the visual intensity and energetic gameplay of Hunted, and immerse players in the dark fantasy action adventure, Kevin Riepl has crafted an emotive, rhythmic score blending orchestral bombast with modern percussion; electric and bass guitars; ethnic instrumentation; and evocative vocals.

"Kevin Riepl was a blast to work with during the production of Hunted. He is totally committed to delivering music that fits the scenes perfectly," said Chris Keenan, Design Director, inXile Entertainment. "His early compositions even helped to inspire our internal team with some of the level design. The dark and haunting style of Kevin's music made our world that much more intense."

"Collaborating with inXile has been an immensely creative and rewarding experience. Their creativity, passion and attentive involvement throughout the process made my 'job' a real pleasure," said composer Kevin Riepl. "From the very early stages of development, when I received the first concept art, it was clear that Hunted required a sonic signature. The detail in the illustrations played a major role in inspiring the creation of customized sounds and instruments to enhance the dark unrelenting environments and eerie atmosphere of the game."

Set in a dark fantasy world, Hunted is an epic cooperative action game, pitting you and your partner against waves of vicious enemies. Taking control of either E'lara, a ranged weapon expert, or Caddoc, a master swordsman, you must use a variety of weapons, powerful spells, and cover tactics to battle your way through menacing dungeons, overgrown ruins, and downtrodden towns. Discover secrets and complete co-op-based puzzles whilst exploring the sinister world to discover answers to the game's deep, dark mysteries.

For more information visit: www.huntedthegame.com.

For more information on composer Kevin Riepl visit www.kevinrieplmusic.com.

To learn more about inXile Entertainment visit www.inxile-entertainment.com.

Thor (Soundtrack) by Patrick Doyle - Gang Tackle Review

Doyle and Thunder!
Review by Tracksounds Gang

The translation of THOR from Asgard to the big screen may prove to be the biggest challenge that Marvel Studios will face in its ambitious AVENGERS project. Granted, getting a human hunk of flying iron, a gamma-green behemoth, and genetically altered hero of WWII all into the same contemporary world is no small feat, but we are talking about a mythological god here.

The announcement of director Kenneth Brannagh as THOR’s director was met by a good deal of surprise and countless questions. Not the least of these was whether he’d bring along his long-time collaborator, PATRICK DOYLE, back into the breach. The thought of it was just full of the most electric of potential.

In THOR, Brannagh delivers a distinct Shakespearean edge to the Nordic triangle of power: Odin, Thor, and Loki, while simultaneously providing an approachable, contemporary world of New Mexico, which has just seen its first visitor from another world (at least outside of Roswell). We're then left with the question, "Just how well does Patrick Doyle's score perform in, as well as connect, those worlds?"

The Tracksounds staff gang-tackles that question...

READ THE FULL GANG-TACKLE REVIEW

Cars 2 Soundtrack by Michael Giacchino: Live-Tweet-First-Listen Recap

For our third first-listen-live tweet, I took on Disney/Pixar's upcoming animated feature, CARS 2. Admittedly, I found CARS to be the weakest effort from Pixar and found Randy Newman's score equally "blah." So it was with restrained hope that I dove into the CARS 2 soundtrack with score provided by the ever-busy MICHAEL GIACCHINO.

So what was my first time through the soundtrack like? Read on...


(oh...I spared you the first 5 tracks which were nothing but forgettable pop-song inclusions)

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Cars 2 Track 6 - Turbo Transmission - Guitar, bongos, drums, strings...feels like classic surfing fare. #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 7 - It's Finn McMissle - Two note guitar and then brass motif? 60s vibe w/ hammond b3, congas, drums, brass #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 8 - Mater the Waiter - Banjo, brass, country/bluegrass, comical only 43 seconds long #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 9 - Radiator Reunion - A bit more playful honky-tonk, mouth-harp, trans to new piano theme #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 10 - Cranking Up the Heat - Sounds like we've got r villainous element; low piano; strings jab, heroic brass #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 11 - Towkyo Takeout - Return to central 60s theme; ominous brass w/ guitar, chase/action cue #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 12 - Tarmac the Magnificent - Soft theme starts, builds to central theme again w/ bold brass, strongest piece #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 13 - Who's Engine is this? - Slow tempo central theme; strings and b3 organ; ominous low strings #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 14 - History's Biggest Loser - Pensive harp and strings; low brass; dark mysterious tone, #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 15 - Master of Disguise - Funk groove + banjo? Another short track at 48 seconds #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 16 - Porto Corsa- Big brass fanfare, an anthem by full orchestra #cars2firstlisten



Cars 2 Track 17 - The Lemon Pledge - Big dramatic opening; returns to 60s groove; drum runs, brass accents, villain theme? #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 18 - Mater's Getaway - Dramatic launch turns to new 60s rhythm w/ a ton of brass again...short #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 19 - Mater Warns McQueen - Pensive, methodic rhythm, quirky tension building piece, #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 20 - Going to the Back Up Plan - A march; snare, heavy brass, interchange btwn strings, banjo and back to march #cars2firstlisten



I'll interject here that I'm pretty disappointed by what I've heard thus far. #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 21 - Mater's the Bomb - Methodical start turns to 60s rhythm w/ low strings; more quick tempo brass exchanges, action cue #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 22 - Blunder and Lightning - Two note motif on brass; banjo; rhythm guitar; ...and back to the 60s central theme again. Bold ending #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 23 - The Other Shoot - Quick tempo variation and arrangement of main theme. Refreshing. #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 24 - Alexrod Exposed - Brass accents; vibraphone; methodical motif returns; think Twilight zone + Jaws, light, string ending #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 25 - The Radiator Springs Grand Prix - Triumphant piece w/ much brass, and that main theme again, turns to woodwinds, strings, nice close #cars2firstlisten




Cars 2 Track 26 - The Turbomater - Well, central theme yet again at even faster tempo. Par for the Cars 2 course. #cars2firstlisten




Done. Disappointed here. Short tracks. Poor mix. Repetitive, surprisingly flat. Nothing like Incredibles. #cars2firstlisten

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Well, there you have it.  Despite measured expectations my initial reaction to the CARS 2 soundtrack was clear disappointment.  There's always hope that the film and the score within it will be a vastly better experience, but as of now, my motor just isn't revving very high for this.

Look for more coverage of CARS 2 in the coming weeks!

Win 1 of 5 DC SHOWCASE Soundtracks by The Track Team!

A few days ago we reached 1000 followers on our twitter account (@tracksounds)!  To celebrate this milestone, we've parternered with the composing duo, THE TRACK TEAM to bring you this unique opportunity to be 1 of 5 winners of The Track Team's recent project, DC SHOWCASE which includes music from

Superman/Shazam:  The Return of Black Adam
Jonah Hex
The Green Arrow
The Spectre

It could hardly be easier to enter, just tweet the following:

RT @tracksounds: I've entered to win 1 of 5 DC SHOWCASE soundtracks by @thetrackteam. RT to enter! (US Res only) #tsoundscontest

The contest will conclude on Friday, May 27, 2011.  Five winners will be randomly selected from those who have made the above tweet/retweet!

The contest is open to US Residents Only.  Make sure you tweet the phrase exactly as you see above and Good Luck!

Go to you twitter account and enter.

SoundCast Interview: Brian Tyler (Fast Five, Transformers Prime)

Interview: Brian Tyler

Composer Brian Tyler talks about his latest effort for FAST FIVE, TRANSFORMERS PRIME. He shares about how he came to work with director Justin Lin, his treatment of the Hawaii Five-0 original theme, what superhero he'd most like to write a score for, and what he has coming in the near future.

Episode Highlights

00:34 — Introduction and welcome
03:00 — Meeting and working with director Justin Lin
06:56 — A new main theme and musical progression for the franchise...
18:08 — Musical progression within the franchise
14:10 — One upping yourself
16:00 — Twitter questions #1 "Which is more difficult drumming or conducting?"
20:23 — Hawaii Five-0
26:23 - Talking Transformers Prime
31:03 - What can a fan do to help get a score released?
32:30 - Twitter question #2 "Where you inspired by Steve Jablonsky's music for Transformers?"
37:16 — What superhero film would you like to score?
44:19 — Final Destination 5 and Expendibles 2 and more upcoming scores

Music Clips (Select music clips contained in this podcast)


00:00 — "Fast Five" (Fast Five) by Brian Tyler
06:06 — "The Perfect Crew" (Fast Five) by Brian Tyler
13:50 — "Cheeky Bits" (Fast Five) by Brian Tyler
25:53 — "Transformers Prime" (Transformers Prime) by Brian Tyler
34:20 — "Lego Universe Coda" (Lego Universe) by Brian Tyler
36:55 — "The Touch" (Transformers: The Movie) by Stan Bush
46:36 — "Remote Intel" Fast Five) by Brian Tyler

Download the episode here

Subscribe and more info here

Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales (Game Soundtrack) by Yury Poteyenko - Review

Fair Seas
Review by Marius Masalar

It’s probably fair to say that not many of you are familiar with too many of Akella Interactive’s games. The Russian company, while prolific, has not yet enjoyed a huge surge of attention in the west, and as a result some truly interesting titles have escaped the notice of many folks on this side of the ocean. Ironically, oceans have come closest to bridging this gap, as the titles that you probably are familiar with come from the SEA DOGS series, published by Bethesda Software, who you recall because of the ELDER SCROLLS series. Clearly appreciators of the organic touch, Akella have furnished both games in the SEA DOGS series with a fully orchestral score, and YURY POTEYENKO is responsible for both of them — for some perspective, not even MORROWIND, which was released shortly after the first SEA DOGS, was granted a live orchestra.

The latest in the series, AGE OF PIRATES: CARIBBEAN TALES, is a pleasure to listen to, though its appeal may vary depending on your tolerance for non-standard western moods. It is, you see, a very subdued score for the most part.

READ THE FULL REVIEW

Rio (Soundtrack) by John Powell - Review

Is Powell's Score the Rio Dio?
Review by Tracksounds Gang Tackle

After the overwhelming success of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, expectations on the prolific composer could hardly be any higher. Somewhat stealthily, composer JOHN POWELL slid in an early 2011 project, MARS NEEDS MOMS and the effort was met with a general coolness. Perhaps it was because the marketing budget for the film was comparatively meager and people simply didn't have much advanced notice in which to let expectations build to an unfairly feverish pitch, or perhaps it was because Powell-fans were still stinging over the Oscar let-down. Whatever the case, by April most had moved on and were well into the music and movies of the new year. Unlike MARS NEEDS MOMS, Blue Sky's RIO has seen its share of publicity and so expectations on both the film and score are notabley higher.

In RIO, POWELL puts his talents behind the story of Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), a rare blue macaw, who ends up being snatched from his colorful world of the Brazlian jungle and tumbles into the slightly less colorful world of Minnesota. Domesticated and flightless, Blu is paired with a female blue macaw (Anne Hathaway) with the goal of propagating the species.  Snatched yet again and chained together, the two end up back in Brazil, but they must survive the dangers of the streets over the dangers of the jungle...

Read our first Gang Tackle review with thoughts from the entire Tracksounds review staff!

Super (Soundtrack) by Tyler Bates - Review

Super or Duper?
Review by Richard Buxton

16 minutes. That’s all the score you’ll get if you decide to part with the cash required to purchase SUPER’S soundtrack. Of course, if TYLER BATES’ 16 minutes of original music were to revolutionize film scoring as we know it, this could potentially be forgiven. Instead, SUPER offers listeners the chance to hear what is surely one of the most incomprehensibly structured scores in recent memory.

SUPER will inevitably be subject to countless comparisons to the excellent KICK ASS, and critically it is certainly suffering in the shadow of the 2010 comic-book-action flick. A lack of originality is obviously not something that should be condemned instantly, otherwise very few modern films would see the light of day, but it does set up certain expectations that need to be met to avoid a legacy of failure. One trait that SUPER is entirely original in is the TYLER BATE’S score, and the “Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”. The originality on display here is not heard in the music itself, but in how poorly the soundtrack is presented. The 35 minutes or so of licensed music, almost apologetically punctuated by the odd score track, makes for a painfully stilted listening experience, and ensures that SUPER will remain a bastion of the inexplicable in soundtrack history.

Read the full review here

The SoundCast - Ep. 25 - Thor and Patrick Doyle

Thor and Patrick Doyle



Recorded May 12, 2011
Published May 13, 2011

THOR and the music of Patrick Doyle are the central topics for Marius, Tom, Helen, and Christopher for milestone episode 25 of the Soundcast.

Episode Highlights

00:45 — Introduction
03:51 — What we have been listening to
15:27 — How you can support The SoundCast
18:08 — Thor - the movie
25:03 — The score on CD
38:37 — Thor subdued?
38:01 — Thor and the Globet of Fire
42:26 — Has Thor been Remoted Controlled?
51:17 — How did Brian Tyler get in here?
57:27 — Top Patrick Doyle Scores
67:08 — Our own post-credits tease...


Music Clips (Select music clips contained in this podcast)


00:00 — "Main Theme" (The Mighty Thor [1966]) by unknown
00:18 — "Thor Kills the Destroyer" (Thor) by Patrick Doyle
04:00 — "A Forceful Intelligence" (Doctor Who Series 4) by Murray Gold
06:00 — "Half pint boards" (Soul Surfer) by Marco Beltrami
06:37 — "New York" (Crysis 2) by Borislav Slavov
08:28 — "Fast Five" (Fast Five) by Brian Tyler
10:00 — "Priest" (Priest) by Christopher Young
12:44 — "A New Hope" (Age of Heroes) by Richard Michael Plowman
14:00 — "Ancient China- Story of Shen" (Kung Fu Panda 2) Hans Zimmer and John Powell
17:29 — "Frost Giant Battle" (Thor) by Patrick Doyle
24:35 — "A New King" (Thor) by Patrick Doyle
35:34 — "Forgive Me" (Thor) by Patrick Doyle
38:01 — "The Story Continues" (Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire) by Patrick Doyle
40:23 — "Detonators" (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1) by Alexandre Desplat
41:46 — "Hammer Found" (Thor) by Patrick Doyle
43:31 — "Eistein's Wrong" (Transformers:  Revenge of the Fallen) by Steve Jablonsky
44:37 — "Earth to Asgard" (Thor) by Patrick Doyle
46:44 — "Setting The Trap" (Outlander) by Geoff Zanelli
56:46 — "The Thunder Storm" (Indochine) by Patrick Doyle
57:58 — "The Road to China" (Indochine) by Patrick Doyle
59:33 — "Estella's Theme" (Great Expectations) by Patrick Doyle
61:42 — "Eragon" (Eragon) by Patrick Doyle
65:05 — "To Jotunheim" (Thor) by Patrick Doyle
67:08 — "Title Theme" (Captain America [1966]) by unknown

Download the episode here

Subscribe and more info here

Kung Fu Panda 2 by Hans Zimmer and John Powell - First Listen!

To quote the Dragon Warrior, "I love Kung Fu......!"  or more appropriately, I loved KUNG FU PANDA both the film and score.  Still, believe it or not, I had some trepidation whether the duo of Zimmer and Powell could provide a fresh and exciting experience with the sequel, KUNG FU PANDA 2.  Well, did they?

If you weren't on twitter last Friday night, you can still join me on as I live-tweet my first listen through to Varese Sarabande's upcoming release of the official soundtrack.  Now, you'll forgive me for inaccuracies regarding certain theme names and motifs.  I've tried to make as clear of reference to the original themes presented in the first Panda score.

Here we go...


#kungfupanda2firstlisten 1: Ancient China/ Story of Shen - Beautiful, slow statement on erhu of original themes b4 intro of Shen theme?

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 2: Dumpling Warrior - Reverent title theme before funky upbeat interlude; village celebration motif; Po's theme.

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 3: Inner Peace - Solo shakuhachi leads to harp; reflective performance title theme on flute and strings

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 4: Musicians Village - First action piece; rapid tempo; strings and brass battle before title fanfare is unleashed.

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 5: Save Kung Fu - Oogway/master motif ; playful Po motif on woodwinds; new arrangement of training-montage music.

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 6: Daddy Issues - Variation on Po's theme; builds to dramatic action cresc.; menacing low orch. vs. chorus & strings

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 7: Stealth Mode - Mischievous jazzy perf. of east/west instrumentation; new motif? w/ allusions to Po's motif;

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 8: Gongmen Jail - Ha! Shaft-like parody interspersed w/ big Powell orchestral accents. Oogway/master statement.

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 9: Rickshaw Chase - Action piece; var. of training montage...but ever increasing tempo! Head spinning.

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 10: Po and Shen/ Face to Face - Shen's dark motif; heavy percussion; low brass; var. east. strings; concl = wow!

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 11: More Cannons! - Action piece; barrage of familiar motifs; builds to full orch. title theme with bright chorus.

#kungfupanda2firstlisten - Let me just interject here that a tweet just can't contain all these tracks have! So far an amazing score.

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 12: Fireworks Factory - Contemplative and moody start. Turns militaristic. Pizzicato Po. Orchestral eruption! Pow

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 13: Po Finds Truth - Reprise of motif from track 6? Much different feel to mid section. Wonder who wrote it? ;)

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 14: Invasion Begins - Menacing Shen's motif; percussion interjects then full chorus and orch. Battle is on...

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 15: Zen Ball Master - Climactic action setpiece; Motif-palooza! 9:12 of Zimjitsu and Powellsanity. Nuff said.

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 16: My Fist Hungers for Justice - And the insane action continues; Slows w/ Oogway theme; Beautiful Po arrangement

#kungfupanda2firstlisten 17: Dumpling Warrior Remix - Po quote; Po's theme remixed; not great but at least you can still recognize it.

#kungfupanda2firstlisten - That's it folks. It literally wore me out...but in a good way. Great score! Get it. http://amzn.to/iI1NOi


So there you have it.  What your expectations for KUNG FU PANDA 2's original score are.  As you likely gathered, I found it a great first listen and am looking forward to the film all the more now.

SoundCast Vault: Vincent Diamante and Steve Johnson - FLOWER

In this original interview from 2009, composer Vincent Diamante and sound designer Steve Johnson talk extensively about their collaborative effort for the award winning video game for the Playstation 3, FLOWER.

Thanks to SoundCloud's new beta podcasting program, you can listen to this interview excerpt:

1) By following this blog

2) Following us at our official SoundCloud page 

3) Subscribing to our dedicated RSS Feed

(Of course you can still follow our original SoundCast podcasts here.)

 
The SoundCast Vault: Vincent Diamante and Steve Johnson (Flower) by tracksounds

Last Day to enter to win FAST FIVE by Brian Tyler!

If you were waiting to make a last second entry to win Brian Tyler's excellent score for FAST FIVE, well that second is upon you!

Just submit a review for one (or more) of the following titles and you could win!

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift by Brian Tyler
Copernicus' Star by Abel Korzeniowski
Water Horse: Legend of the Deep by James Newton Howard


GET ALL THE DETAILS TO ENTER HERE

Listen to 10 tracks from Transformers: Prime Soundtrack by Brian Tyler

UPDATED: 8:12 AM ET - 5/5/2011

Unfortunately, Hasbro has asked that these tracks be removed.  Not only from our site but from Brian Tyler's own site!  Double unfortunately, the soundtrack is not being released.  I say, let Hasbro know that you want this excellent music released!

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While some of you may be waiting, with bated breath, for Steve Jablonsky's score for Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and others of you are feeling the heat of FAST FIVE, composer BRIAN TYLER offers you some of his own "transformic" work from the animated tv-series, TRANSFORMERS PRIME.  The series began airing back in November of 2010 on The Hub Network in the USA (does anyone actually have this channel?)  If you missed the airings, like me, you can roll on over to The Hub's site and watch the episodes there. (And therewith yet another reason for me to cancel my cable subscription).

Anyway, enjoy the 10 tracks that Brian Tyler has made available.  They will, at the very least, tide you over until Dark of the Moon is available, but I say it will do more than just that.  Well, let's have a listen and then post a comment on what you think of the music.

You can get more Brian Tyler musical goodness at his official site (which has apparently been redesigned).

Scream 4 (Soundtrack) by Marco Beltrami - Reviewed

A Mid-Level Scream
Review by Richard Buxton


When looking back at the various franchises that have seen revivals in recent years, SCREAM may not have been one that stood out for the sequel treatment, a treatment that is becoming all-too familiar. Having previously left us with the less than critically successful SCREAM 3, WES CRAVEN’S slasher series had quickly “become what it originally spoofed” (Rotten Tomatoes, 2011), a somewhat disappointing ending to what was once a fresh and entertaining idea. Despite this, it’s never too late for a sequel in Hollywood, and so Ghostface has returned in SCREAM 4. Revisiting Woodsboro after 10 years, NEVE CAMPBELL’S SID must once again face the terrors of the masked killer.

Also returning to the fray is series composer MARCO BELTRAMI. Having composed all three previous SCREAM films, BELTRAMI’S name suggests a continuation to the relatively adequate music heard previously. Never did the music of the franchise threaten to stun the ears of listeners, but it provided sufficient thrills to support the murderous efforts of Ghostface.

Read the full review

The Ghent International Film Festival Presents “Film Music Masterpieces: Maestros of Suspense” concert on October 12, 2011

The Ghent International Film Festival Presents “Film Music Masterpieces: Maestros of Suspense” concert on October 12, 2011

Ghent, May 2, 2011 -- The 38th Ghent International Film Festival will present “Film Music Masterpieces: Maestros of Suspense” at Music Centre De Bijloke on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 8 p.m. The concert features film music by legendary composers Bernard Herrmann and Franz Waxman, who are both inextricably linked with the iconic Alfred Hitchcock, and managed to put the “thrill” in thrillers for countless films. The programme includes, among other pieces, Herrmann’s music for Psycho, Vertigo and Taxi Driver, as well as Waxman’s music for Rebecca, Rear Window and Sunset Boulevard. The works will be performed by the National Orchestra of Belgium, conducted by Dirk Brossé. Scenes from these exciting classics will be projected on a big screen. Suspense guaranteed!

The shrieking strings accompanying the chilling shower murder in Psycho are just as well-known as the scene itself. Initially, director Alfred Hitchcock had decided against background music during what would become the most famous film murder of all time, but for once the undisputed “master of suspense” had to give in to composer Bernard Herrmann. The latter was proven right and film history was written.

Hitchcock had an unrivalled ability to create suspense, and he was well aware of the role that music plays in this process. It comes as no surprise that Herrmann was one of Hitchcock’s favourite composers. He wrote scores for The Trouble With Harry (1955), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), The Wrong Man (1956), Vertigo (1958), North By Northwest (1959), Psycho (1960), The Birds (1963) and Marnie (1964).

German composer Franz Waxman was also on the same wavelength as master manipulator Hitchcock. They made a strong team, joining forces for the soundtracks of Rebecca (1940), Suspicion (1941), The Paradine Case (1947) and Rear Window (1954), which prove that Waxman was not averse to a good dose of suspense.

Herrmann and Waxman worked on 12 of Hitchcock’s instant classics, but both also earned their reputation through other unforgettable and moving works.

Herrmann composed the soundtrack for films such as Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane (1941); William Dieterle’s The Devil And Daniel Webster (1941), which earned him an Oscar; Robert Wise’s The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951); John Lee Thompson’s Cape Fear (1962); François Truffaut’s Fahrenheit 451 (1966); Brian De Palma’s Obsession (1976) and Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver (1976).

Waxman also wrote numerous scores, such as James Whale’s Bride Of Frankenstein (1935); George Cukor’s The Philadelphia Story (1940); Victor Fleming’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941); Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950), which earned him his first Oscar; George Stevens’ A Place In The Sun (1951), for which he received his second Oscar, and Billy Wilder’s The Spirit Of St. Louis (1957).

Herrmann and Waxman’s musical heritage spans more than 35 years and continues to inspire new generations of film music composers. The importance of these two artists cannot be underestimated. By joining forces with some of the greatest directors of all time, they gave us some nail-biting moments and set the course for exciting film music for decades to come.

The Ghent International Film Festival, which is considered one of Europe’s most respected fall film events and the largest in the Benelux countries will run October 11 – 22, 2011. This annual gathering attracts over 125,000 visitors including 60,000 students and screens over 150 films, shorts, and documentaries in and out of competition.

Tickets for this concert can be purchased beginning Monday, May 2, 2011 at www.filmfestival.be

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides by Hans Zimmer and Rodrigo y Gabriela - Live-Tweet Review

Friday night, I was able to have my first listen through of the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES original score by Hans Zimmer and Rodrigo y Gabriela.  I live-tweeted my experience as I listened through the entire release.

My final review of the score will certainly contain much more detail, but, before you check out those tweets below, I'll quickly give you my initial impressions of Disney Records 18-track release. First, Zimmer's portion of score feels slightly subdued in comparison to the previous scores of the franchise, but admittedly, I am already starting to love his theme for Blackbeard with each successive listen.  Second, Rodrigo y Gabriela's contributions unsurprisingly bring some unique personality to the score...and their treatment of some of the famous "pirates" motifs is, at times, clever.  Third, as you likely know, there is a healthy dose of remixology to close out this release (as in 7 tracks-worth).  Rather than fall into some aggressive state of "rantism" here and now, I think you can pick up my vibe regarding these remixes via my tweets.

My opinion is still evolving with successive listens and, of course, I have not yet experienced the score within the film itself, so there remains much room for my opinion of the score to rise or fall; nevertheless here are my gut-reaction-tweets.  And below my tweets you'll find the official press release from Disney regarding the soundtrack release.


Track 1 - "Guilty of Being Innocent of Being Jack Sparrow" - Short track. Lively start with Jack Sparrow's theme. #potconstrangertides

Track 2 - "Angelica" - Wonderful tango w/ guitar by Rodrigo y Gabriela! A fresh sound for POTC. #potconstrangertides

Track 3 - "Mutiny" Latin flair continues, aggressive action cue, male chorus appears, doesn't compare to POTC:AWE #potconstrangertides

Track 4 - "The Pirate That Should Not Be " -- Multiple layers of guitar, main pirates motif like u've nvr heard. #potconstrangertides

Track 5 - "Mermaids" - Ethereal, female voices , same motif as "At Wit's End" but expanded. Lil DaVinci flair 8 min. + #potconstrangertides

Track 6 - "South of Heaven’s Chanting Mermaids " - Another Gabriela guitar fest. Surprisingly serious feel. #potconstrangertides

Track 7 - "Palm Tree Escape " - Another action variation Sparrow and pirates theme; strong guitar; somewhat restrained #potconstrangertides

Track 8 - "Blackbeard" - part 1...Deep, dark, dank, methodical...oh and electric guitar, more DaVinci like chorus. #potconstrangertides

Track 8 - "Blackbeard" - part 2...2nd half great string interlude, full orchestra finally gets going like POTC should #potconstrangertides

Track 9 - "Angry and Dead Again" - More Gabriela guitars, 2nd half w/ driving rhythm, sneaky pirates motif to close #potconstrangertides

Track 10 - "On Stranger Tides" - reprise of 3-note motif from "Mermaids", new action/choral segment #potconstrangertides

Track 11- "End Credits" - Ye 'ol classic Pirates theme, but w/ a Spanish flair. Just not as strong as previous. #potconstrangertides

Track 12 - "Guilty of Being Innocent ...(Remix by DJ Earworm) " - Oh...no. Daft Punk meets Jack Sparrow? #potconstrangertides

Track 13 - "Angelica (Grant Us Peace Remix)" - Is this really a remix? Hardly recognizable ... or enjoyable. #potconstrangertides

Track 14 - "The Pirate That Should Not Be (Remix by Photek) " - House beat but original piece not obliterated. too long #potconstrangertides

Track 15 -  "Blackbeard (Remixed by Super Mash Bros & Thieves )" - 8bitty, 16bitty, soundeffecty destruction of original #potconstrangertides

Track 16 - "South of Heaven’s Chanting Mermaids (Remixed by Paper Diamond)" - Gabriela's beautiful work is eventually swallowed up by Tron, man. #potconstrangertides

Track 17 - "Palm Tree Escape (Remix by Adam Freeland) " - If this came out 25 years ago, I'd headspin to it. #potconstrangertides

Track 18 - "Angry and Dead Again (Remix by Static Revenger) " - A test of audio endurance...which I just failed. #potconstrangertides


If you want to get such music-tweet-goodness all the time, just follow us on Twitter @tracksounds.


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Official Press Release


WALT DISNEY PICTURES AND JERRY BRUCKHEIMER FILMS’
“PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES”
SOUNDTRACK SETS SAIL WITH

OSCAR®-WINNING COMPOSER HANS ZIMMER AT THE HELM
WITH ACCLAIMED GUITAR DUO RODRIGO Y GABRIELA
ALBUM TO BE RELEASED MAY 17th

(April 26, 2011 -- Burbank, CA) - Walt Disney Records will release the original motion picture soundtrack for Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides on May 17, 2011.  Oscar® winner Hans Zimmer (“Inception,” “The Lion King”), composer for the three previous “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, once again captains the musical ship, in collaboration with acclaimed guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela, and featured performances by legendary trumpet-player Arturo Sandoval.  The soundtrack album also showcases songs re-mixed by top DJs (including Adam Freeland, Photek, and Static Revenger).

Hans Zimmer is one of the film industry’s most respected and sought-after composers with a career that encompasses more than 100 film and television scores.  An Academy Award® winner for his score for “The Lion King,” Zimmer has also received eight additional Oscar® nominations for his work including “Inception,” “Sherlock Holmes,” “Gladiator,” “The Thin Red Line,” “Rain Man,” “As Good as It Gets,” “The Preacher’s Wife,” and “The Prince of Egypt.”  Other recent credits include “Rango,” “The Dark Knight” and “Batman Begins.” Among his many honors, Zimmer has also won two Golden Globes® and four Grammy Awards®.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has a distinctive Latin flavor.  Zimmer said, “We have Penélope Cruz playing Angelica, who’s Spanish, so I felt that there could be some Latin influences in the score for On Stranger Tides.”

To achieve this, Zimmer reached out to Rodrigo y Gabriela.  “I’ve been a big fan of Mexican guitarists Rodrigo y Gabriela for years now,” said Zimmer, “and I asked them if they wanted to come and play with us.  We’ve been having a really great time with them being part of the musical world this film gets to inhabit.”

Rodrigo y Gabriela are considered the premier guitar-playing duo in the world.  They have sold over one million albums, have sold out arenas and headlined festivals worldwide, and in 2010 they were invited to share the stage with Beyoncé for a state dinner at the White House. The collaboration with Hans Zimmer is their first film score—an exciting and defining moment in their career.  Their willingness to explore musical expression and to embrace new sounds irrespective of fashion or trends, as well as their point blank refusal to be pigeonholed as any particular genre, is the very foundation of Rodrigo y Gabriela.

For a key scene in the film, featuring a highly choreographed Tango between Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz, Hans Zimmer collaborated not only with Rodrigo y Gabriela but also Eduardo Cruz —Penélope’s brother, an up-and-coming composer/songwriter.   Also imparting a Latin flavor to the music is legendary jazz great Arturo Sandoval.  The Cuban born, four-time Grammy® Award–winner is the featured trumpet player for the score.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” captures the fun, excitement and humor that ignited the hit franchise—this time in Disney Digital 3D™. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in this action-packed adventure that finds him crossing paths (and swords) with the enigmatic Angelica (Penélope Cruz). When she forces him aboard the “Queen Anne’s Revenge,” the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected journey to the fabled Fountain of Youth. Along the way Jack must use all his wiles to deal with the barbarous Blackbeard and his crew of zombies, Angelica, the ravishing pirate with whom he shares a dubious past, and the beautiful, enchanting mermaids whose masterful cunning can lure even the most seasoned sailor to his doom. The international cast includes franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the indestructible Captain Hector Barbossa and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack’s longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Bergès-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid.

Walt Disney Pictures’ and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” opens in theaters May 20, 2011, in Disney Digital 3D™, with screen story and screenplay by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, based on characters created by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio and Stuart Beattie and Jay Wolpert, and suggested by the novel by Tim Powers.


Track listing

1. “Guilty of Being Innocent of Being Jack Sparrow” -- (written by Hans Zimmer)
2. “Angelica” -- Featuring Rodrigo y Gabriela
(Written by Hans Zimmer, Eduardo Cruz, Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero)
3. “Mutiny” -- (written by Hans Zimmer)
4. “The Pirate That Should Not Be” -- Rodrigo y Gabriela
(Written by Rodrigo Sanchez, Gabriela Quintero and Hans Zimmer)
5. “Mermaids” -- (Written by Hans Zimmer and Eric Whitacre)
6. “South of Heaven’s Chanting Mermaids” -- Rodrigo y Gabriela
(Written by Rodrigo Sanchez, Gabriela Quintero and Hans Zimmer)
7. “Palm Tree Escape” -- Featuring Rodrigo y Gabriela
8. “Blackbeard” -- (written by Hans Zimmer)
9. “Angry and Dead Again” -- Rodrigo y Gabriela
(Written by Rodrigo Sanchez, Gabriela Quintero and Hans Zimmer)
10. “On Stranger Tides” --
(Written by Hans Zimmer, Geoff Zanelli and Eric Whitacre)
11. “End Credits” -- (written by Hans Zimmer)
12. “Guilty of Being Innocent of Being Jack Sparrow” -- Remixed by DJ Earworm
13. “Angelica (Grant Us Peace Remix)” -- Remixed by Ki:Theory
14. “The Pirate That Should Not Be” -- Remixed by Photek
15. “Blackbeard” -- Remixed by Super Mash Bros & Thieves
16. “South of Heaven’s Chanting Mermaids” -- Remixed by Paper Diamond
16. “Palm Tree Escape” -- Remixed by Adam Freeland
17. “Angry and Dead Again” -- Remixed by Static Revenger

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides original motion picture soundtrack will be available wherever music is sold on May 17, 2011. For more information on Walt Disney Records’ releases, please visit Disney.com/music, become a fan at Facebook.com/disneymusic or follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic.