Top Stuff from 2007 #1 - Peter Jackson and The Hobbit

1 - PETER JACKSON and THE HOBBIT

The questions and rumors floated around for months. Would there be a Hobbit feature film and would Peter Jackson and New Line Studios ever work out their differences just in case there a film was green-lit?

Finally at the close of 2007, a great shout of joy swept across the kingdoms of this world as news hit the net that Peter Jackson would indeed be involved with New Line's THE HOBBIT. And not only THE HOBBIT but another film to boot! Oh yes this was indeed the coolest news of 2007.

Ok. So it wasn't perfect news. While it looks like PJ will only be producing and not directing, just having him involved at all brings buoyancy to the hopes of many... not only those who want to see these films done and done properly, but to many who want more from composer Howard Shore. Peter Jackson's involvement has all but cemented the fact that Howard Shore's music will sing out from Middle Earth again. Sure there are a mountain of legalities and contracts and other things that most fans don't care about that could get in the way, but come on! Who could even try to follow up Shore's monumental work for THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY? Only Shore could possibily live up to the ultra-high expectations that will be on music for these two films.

As you may remember, way back in 2006, Howard Shore mentioned to Tracksounds that he had already starting playing with themes and music for a Hobbit-film. Just think about what he's been doing (unofficially) since then?

So why is the Coolest news of 2007? Think about it with me. Now for the next 2 or 3 years, at the very least, we will be fully engaged in clamouring for every bit of HOBBIT movie news we can get ahold of and for every bit of score news as well. Fans can set their sites on 2010...their expectations again on the highest of settings...delighting in their sweet agony of patience. Then, with the release of movies come the original soundtracks. Then, the extended editions of the films will come to DVD. Then, the complete recordings of each score will follow. That single announcement has just set soundtrack-aholics up for the next 4 years.

So there you have it. The Coolest Stuff of 2007. You see, 2007 didn't suck so bad afterall.

Top Stuff from 2007 #2 - Video Game Scores

Top Stuff from 2007 #2 - Video Game Scores

It's no secret around that video game music is receiving increased coverage here at Tracksounds. I'd have to say that 2007 was one the best years ever for the genre. Releases such as GOD OF WAR II, ASSASSIN'S CREED, CALL OF DUTY 4, CRYSIS, BIOSHOCK and LAIR were just about as highly anticipated as some of the major feature films of 2007. For those who continue to brush this genre of music aside, all I can say is that you won't be able to do that for much longer.

The sort of score that used to be quite common in Hollywood feature films, is now starting to dominate the video game genre. The game developers aren't so much looking for intricate subtlety as much as invigorating substance. Some of the best stuff of all of 2007 came from the world of video games. Garry Schymann's BIOSHOCK and JOHN DEBNEY's LAIR could easily be matched up with the best action film scores of 2007. I have even gone as far as saying that Jamie Christopherson's score for the tie-in game out-classed Alexandre Desplat's work for the film, THE GOLDEN COMPASS and I don't think that will be such a strange thing franchises include both films and games together.

In a year that some consider a "down" year for film music, the genre of video game music has taken another few steps forward and that trend looks as if it will move right through 2008.

Top Stuff from 2007 #3 - Radiohead and Online Release of In Rainbows

Top Stuff from 2007 #3 - Radiohead and Online Release of In Rainbows

Radiohead's move to allow their fans/customers decide the value of their latest CD release, IN RAINBOWS, - and pay whatever amount they chose - was one of the most discussed (and still is) marketing/sales moves of 2007. I've posted a few times on this in 2007, believing that it marked a turning point for the industry. The actual sales numbers of their downloadable CD vary depending upon who you ask. Radiohead has claimed 1.2 million download-sales, in its first day, when IN RAINBOWS was made available online in October. In December for the UK, and January, here in the USA, the actual, physical CD went on sale...and both the album and the first singles released have done very well on the charts. In addition, they have released a special edition set with bonus discs, vinyl record versions, and a book.

My initial reaction to this concept was, as you likely read, not too good. The disposal of the compact disc at the hands of the more convenient, digital-download, was and is not something I am looking forward to. However, Radiohead's bold move, with the addtion of releasing the physical CD and then a special collectors package is EXACTLY what I can get behind. And I'm actually pulling for their move to be a success!

Coming from a background of working in the non-profit sector - RADIOHEAD's move isn't innovative at all. Non-profs have done it for decades...offering a product as a "thank you" for someone's donation. Seeing it happen in the cut-throat world of the entertainment business has proven more than a little intriguing to me. Somehow my gut tells me, regardless of who's stats you believe, that Radiohead has tapped into something...something that I think we will see happening more and more over the next few years. As long as we get nice, physical packages along with the early digital versions - it's a win-win scenario.

So that bold move comes in at number #3 in our countdown of 2007's top stuff.

Top Stuff from 2007 #4 - The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King - Complete Recordings

#4 - THE LORD OF THE RINGS: RETURN OF THE KING - COMPLETE RECORDINGS

Now how could you not agree that this one of the top soundtrack releases of 2007? You might even be mildly offended that this doesn't rank higher than #4. (Trust me, my fine Middle-Earth-friend, you'll likely be ok, when we get to numero uno). Now, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: RETURN OF THE KING COMPLETE RECORDINGS only slides to #4 because the first release of the "complete recording" series, THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, was the release that redefined our collective expectations on special release CD sets. With this release, we knew what to expect...and we got it. Other franchises have tried to step up to the plate, with the STAR WARS 30TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTORS EDITION and the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN COLLECTORS set, but neither have come even close to the LORD OF THE RINGS COMPLETE RECORDINGS series. This last installment of the trilogy continued the tradition of high quality packaging, insightful notes, and of course, so much of the music missing off of the original soundtrack release - and then the DVD-AUDIO disc for you audiophiles. This was one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year and Warner/Reprise delivered.

Top Stuff from 2007 #5 - AmazonMP3 and the Death of DRM

#5 - AMAZONMP3 and the Death of DRM!

DRM has been dying a slow death...but its dying. That alone was worth cheering about in 2007. With Amazon.com's unveiling of AMAZONMP3, the world of online music continued its rotation back to warming rays of light and away from the darkness that is DRM-locked music. EMI and Universal Music Group and Warner have been off the DRM train for a bit and now SONY/BMG has announced that it too will bury the cursed "feature."

Oh yes...this is good stuff. The dominos are falling and soon iTunes will have little choice but to let DRM go. iTunes is said to have something like 80% of the music download market, but if they hold onto their little idol of DRM, that stat won't hold for long. Steve Jobs has said that they will happily embrace a world without DRM...let's see how much he meant it.

Amazon's annoucement followed by Sony/BMG (I know. Sony's annoucement came in Jan. 08), is some of the best news of 2007...and we will see the repercussions long into 2008 and beyond.

Top Stuff from 2007 #6 - Beowulf in 3D

Beowulf in 3D

3-D feature films have been around since the 1950s, but for decades they have been terrible to view. I avoided the recent 3-D releases of SUPERMAN RETURNS and HARRY POTTER like the plague, but something about BEOWULF told me to give it a shot. I finally decided to try the 3-D experience after a 20 year personal haitus and was I shocked by the improvement in quality. It took me several minutes to train my eyes to relax and not try to focus on things, but when I finally did...what a world to behold. In the end, the film experience was served well, not only by Alan Silvestri's aggressive score, but by the 3-D effects which managed to stay away from the realm of the "gimmicky." Judging by the number of trailers for 3-D enhanced feature films coming, it looks like the genre is going to see its resurgence continue. With home theater systems and oversized computer monitors serving up more and more of the public's moviegoing experiences, Hollywood would be smart to further invest in the advantages the big screen affords them. BEOWULF in 3D was simply one of the most memorable theater experiences of 2007 and if future projects match its quality of implementation, I foresee myself and other moviegoers dawning those big, nerdy glasses a lot more often.

Top 5 Stuff from 2007 is around the corner...

Top Stuff from 2007 - #7 Nintendo's Wii

The Rise of the Wii

Nintendo's WII stormed in front of the Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3 in 2007. While there haven't been any exclusive games for the WII that has caused much of a stir in terms of their scores, the game system itself has gotten young and old off their duffs and swinging controllers wildly through the air. (Actually, I don't know what is so unique about this...my Xbox controllers have been flying through the air with the greatest ease for some time now, but I guess they weren't designed to be).

Anyway, WII managed a reported 350,000 units during the last week of November 2007 (the big Christmas shopping kick-off week). That was some 40k more units sold more than the Xbox360 and we won't even mention the third-place running PS3 numbers (pssst they are between 150k and 200k). Wii's were in big demand for the holidays and many kids (and adults) were saddened at the lump of coals they got instead.

The WII certainly doesn't match either the Xbox360 or Playstation 3 in terms of graphics, but graphics aren't everything. The WII is flat-out a blast to play. and it's not very often that you can combine your Christmas list with your New Years resolution to burn away some excess pounds. Getting and playing the Nintendo Wii can do just that for you and that's good stuff!

More Top Stuff coming soon...

Top Stuff from 2007 # 8 - The Dark Knight Viral Marketing

Viral marketing: THE DARK KNIGHT

The only marketing campaign to outdo CLOVERFIELD was that of the sequel to BATMAN BEGINS, THE DARK KNIGHT. Also delivering tidbit microsites such as http://www.thegothamtimes.com/ and http://www.whysoserious.com/, the marketeers for THE DARK KNIGHT have gone a few steps beyond by launching on online game which evetually end up in recruitment into a "real-world" organization of the Joker. In the game participants are provided addresses to real-world places that, provided you were the first to arrive, secured cell phones and other bits that then lead to further opportunities and tasks to accomplish on behalf of The Joker. Probably the coolest, most interactive, marketing ever for a film...and very cool stuff. As most of us have seen now, the trailer only provides further reason for high expectations for the film itself. Hopefully Batman's nemesis will provide Zimmer and company some great inspiration for the score as well.


Check back for #7 soon . . . (you might have to get up off your couch for this one)

Top Stuff from 2007 # 9 - High Definition Video

First of all - HAPPY NEW YEAR! . . .

HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO

The format war between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray continues...and it pretty much stinks of course, but there's been some good stuff happen in the realm of high definition in 2007 as well. First a number of great movie and TV releases were made: BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT, THE ULTIMATE MATRIX, PLANET EARTH, HEROES (SEASON ONE), and 300 to name a few. Second, Warner put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces with its announcement plans to release TOTALHD discs, a combo disc featuring of HD-DVD on one side and BLU-RAY on the other,...and then they summarily smacked those smiles right back off with their announcement of the project being put on hold. Still...the TOTAL HD idea hasn't been totally scrubbed, so the very possibility is still to be considered good stuff. Third, in late 2007, HD-DVD player prices hit the sub-$100 mark for the first time. Toshiba's HD-A2 was the barrier breaking unit and sales began to skyrocket. Blu-Ray players followed the path the higher sales via lower prices as well dipping into the sub-$400 realm. Yes...the format war does stink, but things are getting cheap enough for one to consider ponying up for both players for the time being. The format war will rage on in 2008, but that heated fight may pay some dividends to us poor little consumers who just want to see all our favorite movies and tv shows in dazzling high definition.

Stay tuned for #8 (...more viral marketing perhaps?)

Top Stuff from 2007

"2007 sucked."

You and I both have likely heard that quite a few times recently. Beyond referencing their own personal challenges faced during the last year, some have also been eluding to the year in entertainment. Granted, the year hasn't ended on not the nicest of notes with the writers strike and a sub-par-holiday-movie season, but 2007 certainly wasn't all bad.

Was there actually anything really good in 2007? Of course there was...you just have to think for a second or two. Nothing coming to mind? Ok...I'm here to help. Over the next few days, I'm going to post my list of 2007 Goodness. One note for you - this list isn't all music-specific, but good stuff pertaining to movies, tv, games and music.


So to get you started here is number 10...

Viral Marketing for CLOVERFIELD

During the disappointing Summer of 2007, some life was injected into our "expectators" (our internal organ which allows us to get psyched for some upcoming flick, game, or new technological revolution). I'm not quite sure where the expectator is located, but I've heard it's near the pancreas.... Anyway, many people's expectators got to working as an unnamed trailer was released, followed by stills and an obscure site: http://www.1-18-08.com/

Speculation has run rampant since July but most of us know now that these tidbits turned out to be some clever viral marketing for J J Abrams latest flick, CLOVERFIELD. The site ethanhaaswasright.com appeared to be more viral goodness, but was actually a game, which turned out to be ALPHA OMEGA, an rpg video game set to release the same day, 01/18/08, as CLOVERFIELD. Ah well.

Still, all of the official viral stuff was enough to get me excited at the possibilities for this film. No word on who is scoring the picture yet. The safe bet would seem to be on Michael Giacchino, but how cool would it be if Abrams got really innovative and had no score at all? Wait...what am I saying????

Check back soon for the #9 top stuff of 2007