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!

Composer Alan Menken (Tangled) To Receive Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

ALAN MENKEN’S NEW HAIR-RAISING MUSIC TO “TANGLED”

AVAILABLE ON CD NOVEMBER 16

MENKEN AWARDED STAR ON HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME NOVEMBER 10

LOS ANGELES (November 4, 2010) – Composer Alan Menken, winner of eight Academy Awards – more than any living person, will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 10 prior to his new film “Tangled” opening in theatres this Thanksgiving. Menken has created many of the 20th and 21st century’s most memorable film and theatrical music including “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas” and “Little Shop of Horrors.” His score and original songs for Walt Disney Pictures’ 50th animated feature can be heard on the soundtrack to be released on November 16 and in the film opening November 24.

Menken will be in attendance and honored at an open to the public, star-studded ceremonial unveiling of his star next week in front of Disney’s El Capitan Theatre, site of the premieres of many of his films. The ceremony will be held at 11:30 AM at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA.

“I wanted folk rock on this,” explains Menken about the score. “I thought about Rapunzel’s long hair and the freedom she wanted. Immediately I thought about Joni Mitchell’s “Chelsea Morning” and all that folk music that I love. Cat Stevens and that energy.”

Mandy Moore (“A Walk To Remember”) voices Rapunzel, a feisty teen with 70 feet of magical hair who is joined by Zachary Levi (“Chuck”) as Flynn Rider and Tony winner Donny Murphy (“The King and I”) as Mother Gothel on the playful soundtrack. The first song written for the film was the “Healing Incantation” sung by Mandy Moore which runs throughout the movie.

“Mandy brings that wonderful quality that’s totally compatible with Rapunzel. This voice that’s light, airy, and yearning. She’s adorable, and Rapunzel is adorable.” Moore and Levi perform a duet on “I See The Light,” a sweeping, romantic ballad to make hearts swoon.

A musical theatre type song was created for Mother Gothel, performed by Donna Murphy. “I’ve known Donna for a long time; in fact she was one of our Audreys in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ way back. Donna brought that kind of exciting drama to the song.”

Menken has won four Oscars® for Best Score (“The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin” and “Pocahontas”) and four Oscars for best song (“Under the Sea,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “A Whole New World” and “Colors of the Wind”). In addition, he has been nominated 18 times, including Best Song nominations for “Mean Green Mother From Outer Space,” “Kiss the Girl,” “Belle,” “Be Our Guest,” “Friend Like Me,” “Go the Distance,” “Happy Working Song,” “So Close” and “That’s How You Know,” plus a Best Score nomination for “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” He has won ten Grammy Awards® (including Song of the Year for “A Whole New World”), seven Golden Globes®, London’s Evening Standard Award, the Olivier Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award. Other notable achievements include Billboard’s number one single (“A Whole New World”) and number one album (“Pocahontas”), an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts from New York University and induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Pre-Order TANGLED soundtrack at Amazon.com

Tron: Legacy. Remember Tron? Not like this, you don't!

One of the big "to dos" at Comic-Con has been coverage for the upcoming sequel to the classic TRON. TRON LEGACY is set to debut next year and this Disney release will be in 3D as well. I can't hardly think of a film better suited for this new trend.

Recently released was some video-effects, concept footage that is absolutely breathtaking! What you see above is a low-res version, so I high recommend you view and/or download the high def versions, offered up at Firstshowing.

The soundtrack for TRON LEGACY is to be provided by the electronica group DAFT PUNK. While I was initially disappointed by this announcement, given DAFT PUNK's retro-electronica sound, it's hard to argue that they aren't a good fit for this film.

Check the high def footage here | Check out the official Tron Legacy site here