Send to a friend

More cool movie, TV and game soundtracks than ever before are hitting score fans every month. But what should you dial into? Here’s a round up of some of the month’s best listens that go great with picture, as well as conjuring your own imaginations. Welcome to “What iF Score Picks.”


BABYLON A.D.

(c) 2008 Varese Sarabande

Price: $14.99

What is it: Score for a French Vin Diesel sci-fi vehicle that was more truncated than the star’s hairdo for its American release.

Why should you buy it?: Even if the edits rendered BABYLON nonsensical, it certainly was interesting, especially given the fresh grooves of Atli Orvarsson, a composer who continues to impress in the action arena after VANTAGE POINT.

Extra Special: Orvarsson’s combo of rhythmic head-busting and surreal religioso samples create a neat, alternate musical future onto itself- one so cool that it’s making me salivate for a possible BABYLON A.D. Director’s Cut DVD- where I can hopefully hear more music that didn’t make this cut.

---

KNIGHTRIDERS

Price: $17.95

What is it: Donald Rubinstein followed up his jazz vampire score for George Romero’s MARTIN with an equally alternative rock-orchestral score. “Medieval” scoring has never been different than for the director’s Renaissance Faire-on-motorcycle-steeds flick.

Why should you buy it?: Never before officially released, KNIGHTRIDERS soundtrack promos used to go for hundreds of dollars. Now here’s the complete score at a far more than affordable cost.

Extra Special: Liner notes featuring Rubinstein and KNIGHTRIDERS star Ed Harris talking about the film’s production, and ascent to cult film and score status, all accompanied with rare production stills.

---

TRAILERHEAD

(c) 2008 Impervativa Records

Price: $13.99

What is it: Trailer music masters Yoav Gorean and Jeffrey Fayman unleash the kind of lushly building strings, electronics and of course Carmina Burana-esque choruses that slam Hollywood’s sales pitch home. If you were left salivating to see stuff like LORD OF THE RINGS, BEOWULF and SPIDER-MAN 2, then this music was probably a big reason behind that advance ticket you bought.

Why should you buy it?: These exceptionally well produced pieces, can give your own coming attractions an extra oomph, whether you’re advertising the real deal or going for TROPIC THUNDER-like satire.

Extra Special: While this sound is the rage of studio marketing, TRAILERHEAD’s fifteen pieces also work on their own as neat musical adrenalin, sans the big titles and flash cuts flying at you in the dark.

---

WHEN NIETZSCHE WEPT (500 EDITION)

(c) 2008 Screen Archives

Price: $17.99

What is it: Ultra-limited edition score for an art flick about the head games between philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and the psychiatrist Sigmund Freud

Why should you buy it?: As a rapturously beautiful score that makes psycho-analysis sound off with more emotion than ever before, NIETZSCHE introduces Sharon Farber as a composer to watch, especially when it comes to bridging the gap between classically refined subjects and a contemporary musical approach.

Extra Special: If male-centric soundtrack fans play this for the right lady, they might end up on the couch.

---

Also for Your Consideration:
A true soundtrack geek must have everything. And if there’s money left over from the month’s copious releases, be sure to catch up on these scores.

• IGOR- After scoring Kenneth Branagh’s FRANKENSTEIN, Doyle plays creature building in a delightfully friendlier key, all with an unforgettable ode to ANNIE.
• JACK BROOKS: MONSTER SLAYER (1000 EDITION) – A nice little monster film gets an awesomely rampaging orchestral sound from Ryan Shore, whose soundtrack evokes everything from Zimmer-esque action to 1950’s monster-on-the-loose scores.
  
• THE LEGEND OF GOD’S GUN- The coolest rockabilly surf-Spaghetti western score to hit since Brian Tyler’s SIX-STRING SAMURAI, Spindrift’s ultra-hip guitar approach evokes as much Ennio Morricone as it does Brian Wilson.
  
• SOMETHING THE LORD MADE – Christopher Young’s gorgeously emotional score literally moves the heart as it depicts the struggles of an African American surgeon.
  
• SPECIES (LIMITED EDITION) – Young can be as naughty with melody as he is nice, especially with his beautifully unnerving take for a movie that might be called SEX ALIEN IN THE CITY. The composer’s synths, strings and voices lay hypnotically melodic pheromones as Sil goes through mates in this long-awaited release of another horror classic from the HELLRAISER composer.
  
• THE WOMEN – Few male composers have the touch for chick flick comedy like Mark Isham (IN HER SHOES), who jazzes up the joint of this onscreen women’s world with smoky vibes and ethereal romance.
  

Find these soundtracks at Screenarchives.com, Amazon.com and iTunes 

 

---