SOUNDTRACKS
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Soundtracks are a lot more than movie music...
...or so I'm ready to argue as a 30 year devotee of this sorely under appreciated genre. So, in an effort to do my part, each week
I'll be making recommendations of soundtracks current and vintage, make a fuss over long awaited soundtrack scores finally getting
a well deserved release, and in general, make some noise about this often overlooked category. Beyond my long experience as a
listener and as a pianist and songwriter, both of which I've put to use in writing a quarterly soundtrack column for the Chicago
Tribune, I can only offer my recommendations. You'll discern my taste soon enough and upfront I'd like to make it clear that I'll
focus most heavily on SCORE soundtracks. In the end, all criticism is subjective but if I can point a listener toward a little heard
soundtrack or strongly advise you to either ORDER IMMEDIATELY or SKIP ALTOGETHER, all the better.
...or so I'm ready to argue as a 30 year devotee of this sorely under appreciated genre. So, in an effort to do my part, each week
I'll be making recommendations of soundtracks current and vintage, make a fuss over long awaited soundtrack scores finally getting
a well deserved release, and in general, make some noise about this often overlooked category. Beyond my long experience as a
listener and as a pianist and songwriter, both of which I've put to use in writing a quarterly soundtrack column for the Chicago
Tribune, I can only offer my recommendations. You'll discern my taste soon enough and upfront I'd like to make it clear that I'll
focus most heavily on SCORE soundtracks. In the end, all criticism is subjective but if I can point a listener toward a little heard
soundtrack or strongly advise you to either ORDER IMMEDIATELY or SKIP ALTOGETHER, all the better.
Just time for a quick recommendation this week:
Composer Michael Giacchino was an inspired choice to compose the score for Mission
Impossible III (aka M:i:III) which is out now from soundtrack specialty label,
Varese-Sarabande.
Giacchino, perhaps best known to audiences for his terrific weekly scores for the hit TV show
Lost, unwittingly trod the path of the original Mission Impossible series with his 60s flavored
score for Disney's The Incredibles. Giacchino wrote deliciously fun musical homages to one of
my favorite periods of music and deftly took on the percussive feel of the super agent
parodies for the movie.
Giacchino returns to 60s musical territory with Mission Impossible 3. Using Lalo Schifrin's
ubiquitous original Mission Impossible theme from the late 1960s hit show as his inspiration,
Giacchino bends the theme this way and that, adds snatches of it here and there, and
utilizes his orchestra to amplify and deepen the feel of the 60s spy thriller.
I haven't had a chance to see the film yet (though a fellow critic says its the best of the trio)
but the music is a great listening experience on its own, a full-bodied soundtrack with tongue
firmly planted in cheek. This is a great action score with lots of dynamics. There's also a
bonus track that's a full-on homage to Schifrin's original theme. Action scores have become
so derivative -- most of them using those gigantic orchestras applied to pedestrian melodies
-- that I wasn't much looking forward to this. But though this has the whopper sized
orchestra Giacchino keeps some of that patented Schifrin-Mancini cool. Oh, to have one of
those two at the helm!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don't forget to check out previous soundtrack recommendations by visiting the ARCHIVES
Next Week: TBD
Composer Michael Giacchino was an inspired choice to compose the score for Mission
Impossible III (aka M:i:III) which is out now from soundtrack specialty label,
Varese-Sarabande.
Giacchino, perhaps best known to audiences for his terrific weekly scores for the hit TV show
Lost, unwittingly trod the path of the original Mission Impossible series with his 60s flavored
score for Disney's The Incredibles. Giacchino wrote deliciously fun musical homages to one of
my favorite periods of music and deftly took on the percussive feel of the super agent
parodies for the movie.
Giacchino returns to 60s musical territory with Mission Impossible 3. Using Lalo Schifrin's
ubiquitous original Mission Impossible theme from the late 1960s hit show as his inspiration,
Giacchino bends the theme this way and that, adds snatches of it here and there, and
utilizes his orchestra to amplify and deepen the feel of the 60s spy thriller.
I haven't had a chance to see the film yet (though a fellow critic says its the best of the trio)
but the music is a great listening experience on its own, a full-bodied soundtrack with tongue
firmly planted in cheek. This is a great action score with lots of dynamics. There's also a
bonus track that's a full-on homage to Schifrin's original theme. Action scores have become
so derivative -- most of them using those gigantic orchestras applied to pedestrian melodies
-- that I wasn't much looking forward to this. But though this has the whopper sized
orchestra Giacchino keeps some of that patented Schifrin-Mancini cool. Oh, to have one of
those two at the helm!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don't forget to check out previous soundtrack recommendations by visiting the ARCHIVES
Next Week: TBD
TV-feature film composer Michael
Giacchino at a premiere and the
soundtrack cover for two of his
delightful scores (above). I love the
retro tux jacket that Giacchino's
wearing -- probably because I have
worn the EXACT same jacket for
years!
Giacchino at a premiere and the
soundtrack cover for two of his
delightful scores (above). I love the
retro tux jacket that Giacchino's
wearing -- probably because I have
worn the EXACT same jacket for
years!
