Memoirs of a Geisha - First Listen!

Dan Goldwasser at SoundtrackNet has recently added his "first listen" feature for JOHN WILLIAMS' upcoming score to MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA.

Based on the brief clips presented, it sounds like MEMOIRS is standard, contemporary JOHN WILLIAMS fare. Of course, it goes without saying that "standard fare" from Williams is generally pretty good stuff. In other words, MEMOIRS will lkely be satisfying enough, but will probably not have the online music forums burning up.

Now, with the inclusion of both YO YO MA and ITZHAK PERLMAN, my expectations of the performance of Williams' score have certainly risen. From what I hear, looks as though the two virtuosos have delivered. Interestingly, this score sounds as though it will have more in common with John Williams' classical works than his body of film music. We shall see about that.

From the brief audio-glimpse provided at SoundtrackNet, I'm fairly confident that MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA's score will hardly disappoint. Head on over and check out the clips for yourself - here.

Or head over to Amazon to secure your copy.

Medal of Honor: European Assault by Christopher Lennertz

The legacy of MEDAL OF HONOR game music is now well established thanks to the efforts of composer Michael Giacchino. After Giacchino's departing from the Medal of Honor game series, composer Christopher Lennertz stepped in and took the reigns - his first project being MEDAL OF HONOR: RISING SUN. While there was some trepidation regarding whether or not the feature-film-level of score would be carried on by Lennertz, he quickly laid such fears to rest with the release of the promotional album for RISING SUN.

Christopher Lennertz's second installment in the series is MEDAL OF HONOR: EUROPEAN ASSAULT (formerly entitled DOGS OF WAR) and thanks to the phenomenon of iTunes, fans can now obtain, not only the score for EUROPEAN ASSAULT but for almost the entire series of Medal of Honor games released!

MEDAL OF HONOR: EUROPEAN ASSAULT is another wonderfully powerful, musical sweep through WWII era yet is hardly a mere derivative of the previous Medal of Honor scores. This score does receive its own main theme (Track 1 - Dogs of War), distinct yet familiar. The famous Medal of Honor theme written by Giacchino does make several appearances throughout the score as well. Notable tracks include the somber "Casualties of War," the brass-laden "Redball Express," and the climactic "One Man Can Make a Difference."

While only 33 minutes in length, the soundtrack is definately worth the download and price. While brief, Lennertz serves up another strong dose of compelling action music and inspirational themes. Fans of the previous Medal of Honor soundtracks will find this a must-have!

Tracksounds Rating: 9/10


Available from iTunes for $9.99 (Soundclips available!)


(button will launch iTunes player)


Check out the interview with composer Christopher Lennertz: Taking the Reigns of Honor

KA - Cirque du Soleil by Rene Dupere

Over the years, the music from the eclectic, circus-shows of CIRQUE DU SOLEIL have, musically speaking, kept pace with the vividness and texture of the performances themselves. Enter Cirque du Soleil's latest production, KA, composed by Rene Dupere's score for .

KA is cleary apart of the Cirque du Soleil soundtrack family. KA along with Varekai, Dralion, The Journey of Man, Allegria, Solarium, Quidam and a host of others share that almost intangible quality that is the end result of CIRQUE DU SOLEIL's musical blend. Keeping with the world-beat meets Hindi meets chill-out of many of it's predecessors personality, KA does manage to forge a place for itself in much the same way The Journey of Man did - its feature of a symphony orchestra.

There are, of course, memorable, vocal tracks such as: "O Makunde," which serves as the KA's main theme, "Koudamere," and "Fores" - all of which are constructed with light, chill-out, rhythms and synthesized instrumentation.

Interspersed are truly dramatic pieces like "Storm," "Pursuit," and "Battlefield." Such pieces are more reminscent of modern-day film (or even video game) scores and yet have enough personality to keep from falling into the "canned music trap" and maintain the listener's undivided attention.

Lastly, Rene Dupere's KA interjects some moments of wonderous beauty. "Deep," "Shadowplay," and "Flight" all offer rapturous melodies which help round out this soundtrack release.

If you are looking for a little audio-diversion this Autumn, CIRQUE DU SOLEIL's KA will certainly do nicely.

Tracksounds Rating: 6/10


Available for download now! (The button will launch iTunes)



or Purchase yours now!

The Beautiful Country by Zbigniew Preisner released by Screen Archives

THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY by Zbigniew Preisner is a captivating score for this visually stunning film directed by Hans Peter Molland. Covering the lands of the Far East all the way to America, Preisner's score continues his eclectic tradition of instrumentation and arrangement. The sumptuous main theme is reason enough to get this soundtrack and now Screen Archives has made it available for only $16.95.

Purchase THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY at Screen Archives. (Soundclips available)

Dreamer by John Debney

One of Hollywood's most versatile and prolific composers, John Debney, releases his latest work for DREAMER.

Debney capitalizes on the story of a young girl and her desire to see her long-shot horse race again. DREAMER's score ranges from the pastoral to the invigorating and while it isn't hard to hear the influence of Danny Elfman's BLACK BEAUTY, a nod to a plethora of James Horner, Thomas Newman or Rachel Portman scores, and, of course, Aaron Copland, Debney keeps the score just fresh enough to warrant the listeners full attention.

While the movie could turn out to be a retread of a horse-story we've seen countless times, the score keeps ahead of most by a full length or two. At the time of this review, only the 7 track promo was available. The full soundtrack will have some 24 tracks. Be that as it may, the 7 tracks provided are more than enough to know that at least Debney's score for DREAMER will outpace the overhyped SEABISCUIT and is likely a worthy buy.

Tracksounds Rating: 6/10

Order DREAMER from CD Universe ($13.95)

Read Tracksounds Interview with John Debney regarding "The Passion"

A History of Violence by Howard Shore

For those of you who have been looking for something fill the gaping whole left by the completion of the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy...musically speaking that is, then Howard Shore's latest release, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE might just do the trick. Who knows what Shore's collaboration with Peter Jackson for KING KONG will bring, but A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE delivers a nice Shore-snack that, while one would hate to over-generalize the entire score by such a categorization, it certainly brings back memories of his most famous work to date.

A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE offers tidbits of shire-like innocence, the force and nobility of the Rohan, and still at other times the ambivelance of Gollum.

Suffice it to say, that this work is immensely more embraceable than THE AVIATOR and is one of this Fall's best dramatic scores.

Tracksounds Rating: 7/10