What got me curious about all of this was an interview I heard with Chris Douridas on All Things Considered yesterday. The process of how he put together a music score for a film was fascinating.
And I was initially looking for best movie scores, but like skmdc said, it's interesting to hear peoples choices either way.
Speaking of film composers, could anyone have predicted that the frontman of 'Oingo Boingo' would become one of the leading composers of our time?
i was really suprised danny elfman hadn't been mentioned yet, also anne dudley from "art of noise" has done some good work too.
Danny Elfman hasn't written a new soundtrack since the original Batman.
John Williams writes the same score over and over again too, but he's so talented, that it's totally forgiveable (much like the Ramones).
those are my thoughts exactly, except that i think it's easy to get like that in the score business. i'm sure williams and elfman sit with directors all the time hearing "i want something similar to what you did in the blah blah scene in blah blah."
jean michel jarre is a pioneer of the "big gig" or extravaganza if you will. but he is not a pioneer of the synthesizer.
Sigh. OK, to rephrase...replace the word "synthesizer" with "electronic music". In 1977 when he released "Oxygene" JMJ was one of a small handful of composers using the synthesizer as the main medium for writing and performance....at least commercially anyway.
Sigh. OK, to rephrase...replace the word "synthesizer" with "electronic music". In 1977 when he released "Oxygene" JMJ was one of a small handful of composers using the synthesizer as the main medium for writing and performance....at least commercially anyway.
i didn't have a problem with the word synthesizer, i had a problem with the word pioneer. jean michelle jarre blazed no new trails. mind you i'm not saying he's bad, i was one of the gazillions in the audience in houston.
he's not a pioneer or a trailblazer of synthesizers or electronic music.
he's not a trailblazer of commercializing it either. walter/wendy carlos, tangerine dream, isao tomita, vangelis all sold huge quantities way before jean michel plugged in. i enjoy his music, but he's not a pioneer.
Of the scores that have been mentioned above, Taxi Driver (probably my all time favorite), Psycho, Planet of The Apes, Patton, Blade Runner and Jaws all get my vote.
I don't think any of the following have come up yet...
The original Akira score by the Geinoh Yamashirogumi collective was fantastic. I believe its been updated for the re-issue, but haven't had a chance to check it out yet.
Gabriel Yared's score for Betty Blue (37'2 Le Matin for you Francophones) is kind of dated and 80s sounding now, but it still compliments the film perfectly.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly has to be the quintessential Ennio Morricone score.
I don't think soundtracks are nearly as interesting. Too often they end up being little more than cynical reissues of tired old hit records. At their best they are generally just good compilation tapes, although sometimes something a little more worthwhile comes along. Quentin Tarrentino has a good knack of uncovering lost classics. Honorable mentions to Danny Boyle and Wes Anderson for doing this with obscure contemporary artists. The Judgement Night soundtrack was an interesting, albeit poorly executed, experiment (matching up hip-hop and rap with indie and grunge - Sonic Youth and Cypress Hill were the only memorable pairing to come off it). Not as much of a disaster as the movie though. Two of my favorites are Gremlins II (or using 'Angel of Death' by Slayer in a mainstream Hollywood movie) and Funny Games (for most appropriate use of music by John Zorn's Torture Garden - it highlights a scene where the two serial killers are trying to scare a young boy).
i wonder if this counts, as it was written for an opera: Tommy by Pete Townshend and the gang. maybe not the best movie (nor opera), but i like a lot of those songs. and his version of "We're Not Gonna Take It" is so very much better than the (different song same name) one by (dee snyder?).
and, while i'm on rock-opera-movies, Roger Waters' The Wall is pretty kickass too. not his best work (imo), but damned wonderful.
Comments
Blade Runner
Singles
Desparado (movie-bad!, sundtrack--good!)
Originally posted by 709
What got me curious about all of this was an interview I heard with Chris Douridas on All Things Considered yesterday. The process of how he put together a music score for a film was fascinating.
And I was initially looking for best movie scores, but like skmdc said, it's interesting to hear peoples choices either way.
Speaking of film composers, could anyone have predicted that the frontman of 'Oingo Boingo' would become one of the leading composers of our time?
i was really suprised danny elfman hadn't been mentioned yet, also anne dudley from "art of noise" has done some good work too.
Originally posted by 709
damn me and my opposable thumbs. i didnt notice that. that's learn me to trust a page search for 'space'.
Originally posted by ena
Desparado (movie-bad!, sundtrack--good!)
desperado? bad? oh man!
desperado is one of my favorites! el mariachi as well.
rodriquez's early indi films are groundbreaking!
John Williams writes the same score over and over again too, but he's so talented, that it's totally forgiveable (much like the Ramones).
Originally posted by Gizzmonic
Danny Elfman hasn't written a new soundtrack since the original Batman.
John Williams writes the same score over and over again too, but he's so talented, that it's totally forgiveable (much like the Ramones).
those are my thoughts exactly, except that i think it's easy to get like that in the score business. i'm sure williams and elfman sit with directors all the time hearing "i want something similar to what you did in the blah blah scene in blah blah."
Originally posted by thuh Freak
Clockwork has some nice songs too. that lighthouse song always surprises me.
And of course..."I'm singing in the rain...KICK!...I'm singing in the rain..KICK!!!!
Originally posted by superkarate monkeydeathcar
desperado? bad? oh man!
desperado is one of my favorites! el mariachi as well.
rodriquez's early indi films are groundbreaking!
el mariach----I gotta agree, and on that budget! Great film!
Menace II society
Blue (european movie)
Amelie
Reservoir Dogs
And Enino Moricone ofcourse. Shame on you for not mentioning him!
Originally posted by superkarate monkeydeathcar
jean michel jarre is a pioneer of the "big gig" or extravaganza if you will. but he is not a pioneer of the synthesizer.
Sigh. OK, to rephrase...replace the word "synthesizer" with "electronic music". In 1977 when he released "Oxygene" JMJ was one of a small handful of composers using the synthesizer as the main medium for writing and performance....at least commercially anyway.
Originally posted by sammi jo
Sigh. OK, to rephrase...replace the word "synthesizer" with "electronic music". In 1977 when he released "Oxygene" JMJ was one of a small handful of composers using the synthesizer as the main medium for writing and performance....at least commercially anyway.
i didn't have a problem with the word synthesizer, i had a problem with the word pioneer. jean michelle jarre blazed no new trails. mind you i'm not saying he's bad, i was one of the gazillions in the audience in houston.
he's not a pioneer or a trailblazer of synthesizers or electronic music.
he's not a trailblazer of commercializing it either. walter/wendy carlos, tangerine dream, isao tomita, vangelis all sold huge quantities way before jean michel plugged in. i enjoy his music, but he's not a pioneer.
tiersen !
or maybe this:
www.endederzeit.net
http://homepage.mac.com/ibeni/soundtrack.mp3
I'M ABOUT TO BLOW A HUNDRED BUCKS ON SOUNTRACKS---I NEVER THOUGH IT WOULD COME TO THIS!!!
DAMN YOU ALL!!!!
.....oh yea,
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Originally posted by ena
DAMN YOU BASTARDS!!!!
I'M ABOUT TO BLOW A HUNDRED BUCKS ON SOUNTRACKS---I NEVER THOUGH IT WOULD COME TO THIS!!!
DAMN YOU ALL!!!!
.....oh yea,
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
"it's DAMN YOU! goddamn you all to hell!"
unless you weren't quoting charlton heston's final scene in "planet of the apes"
I don't think any of the following have come up yet...
The original Akira score by the Geinoh Yamashirogumi collective was fantastic. I believe its been updated for the re-issue, but haven't had a chance to check it out yet.
Gabriel Yared's score for Betty Blue (37'2 Le Matin for you Francophones) is kind of dated and 80s sounding now, but it still compliments the film perfectly.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly has to be the quintessential Ennio Morricone score.
I don't think soundtracks are nearly as interesting. Too often they end up being little more than cynical reissues of tired old hit records. At their best they are generally just good compilation tapes, although sometimes something a little more worthwhile comes along. Quentin Tarrentino has a good knack of uncovering lost classics. Honorable mentions to Danny Boyle and Wes Anderson for doing this with obscure contemporary artists. The Judgement Night soundtrack was an interesting, albeit poorly executed, experiment (matching up hip-hop and rap with indie and grunge - Sonic Youth and Cypress Hill were the only memorable pairing to come off it). Not as much of a disaster as the movie though. Two of my favorites are Gremlins II (or using 'Angel of Death' by Slayer in a mainstream Hollywood movie) and Funny Games (for most appropriate use of music by John Zorn's Torture Garden - it highlights a scene where the two serial killers are trying to scare a young boy).
is very nice, though
and, while i'm on rock-opera-movies, Roger Waters' The Wall is pretty kickass too. not his best work (imo), but damned wonderful.
Hanz Zimmer - Gladiator Soundtrack, beautiful orchestreal score
Run Lola Run Soundtrack, good European techno
Originally posted by running with scissors
my favorites include:
last of the Mohicans ( good choice alcimedes)
WhOA Alci you thieving whore.