THE OSCAR NOMINEES

BIG FISH - Danny Elfman, Sony Classical SK 93094
Only having seen the movie did I get into this album. And for a Tim and Danny collaboration, that’s a first. Of all their films, this score works the least as a standalone. Usually there’s some wonderful big themes or crazy melodic cues to keep the listener going. Here, you begin with 7 songs, and then flit all over the place stylistically and geographically in territories that have already received the Elfman touch. But, once lost in the film’s colourful world and its emotional father-son tale, the music breathes so much more. And yes – it deserves its Oscar nomination, more so than MEN IN BLACK did! Likelihood of Oscar Gong: SECOND

COLD MOUNTAIN - Gabriel Yared, Sony
You don’t get much Yared on this compilation of archaic Americana. What you do get is softly splendid, but not really indicative of the better emotional punches thrown by the score within the movie – those almost certainly in part responsible for the Oscar nod. I mean, this couldn’t be another FULL MONTY where it’s somebody else’s sourced songs and music production chores being mistakenly attributed to the composer – could it? Likelihood of Oscar Gong: FOURTH

FINDING NEMO - Thomas Newman,
Already reviewed (here). Likelihood of Oscar Gong: THIRD

HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG - James Horner, Varése Sarabande VSD-6532
Hmmm. Well, a year or so ago, I stood by my conviction that whatever the arguments about Horner’s self-plagiarism, you knew every score would impress with at least one thing different from its predecessors. The back-to-back of RADIO, BEYOND BORDERS, THE MISSING and this Oscar nominee have made me question that. I’ve listened to each without any such pleasing discoveries. Instead, just finishing off phrases and instrumental developments in my head. Despite being the most intimate work from Horner in 2003, this score is similarly reminiscent of earlier works. Unlike IRIS from a couple of years back, this hasn’t inspired a more intimate instrumental palette – it’s the long chords for piano and synths we know of old. Likelihood of Oscar Gong: FIFTH

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING - Howard Shore, Warner Sunset / Reprise
Already reviewed (here). Likelihood of Oscar Gong: FIRST

OTHERS

TIMELINE - Brian Tyler, Varése Sarabande VSD-6531
Sheesh – really wish I’d paid attention when I played this album. Er – I did actually play it, didn’t I? I mean, I remember looking at all the pretty booklet photos while something was playing. Personally, unlike director Richard Donner, I’ve yet to be blown away by new guy Tyler. I know he’s getting the good gigs, but I do hope he’s not merely going to merge into the expanding backdrop of Hollywood Composers Who Can. Go nuts on a BUBBA HO TEP sequel – that’s the key!

TRINITY AND BEYOND (THE ATOMIC BOMB MOVIE) - William Stromberg, Visual Concept Entertainment VCECD 01
I was introduced to this album some years ago now, and getting this spanking new edition and thereby an opportunity to re-visit it was most welcome. Simply put – it’s the perfect soundtrack fans’ album. Bold, rousing melodic stuff dominates every cue. Unmissable.

ATOMIC JOURNEYS / NUKES IN SPACE - William Stromberg and John Morgan, Visual Concept Entertainment VCECD 02
The first score contained – ATOMIC JOURNEYS – is a delicious serving of the Herrmannesque. Anyone familiar with the great man’s music will delight in spotting stylistic homage at every turn. NUKES IN SPACE meanwhile is a grand standalone of orchestral bombast. As a 2 for 1, these two releases represent the very best of what drives soundtrack fans. So as I said a couple of Columns ago, roll on STARSHIP TROOPERS II!

ONE FROM THE HEART - Tom Waits, Columbia / Legacy / Sony Music Soundtrax COL 515130 2
A little over two decades later, this Musical classic comes to DVD and CD at the same time. Waits and Crystal Gale sing throughout the smoky cabaret experience, easily recalling the dazzling neon of Coppola’s Vegas vision.

PETER PAN - James Newton Howard, Varése Sarabande VSD-6534
I’ve come to respect that there are extremes in the Newton Howard palette. At one end is the small scale, intellectually-accomplished works in collaborations with the likes of Shyamalan. Then at the other end are these fun-for-all-the-family extravaganzas wherein no personal style shines through the enormous wall of noise. This score goes in every traditional direction you’d expect. What it lacks in surprise invention, it makes up for in mark-hitting conformity.

SECRET WEAPONS OVER NORMANDY - Michael Giacchino, LA-LA Land Records LLLCD 1013
No better way of ending a Column than by plugging something you were involved in. This project was a very happy couple of weeks in Seattle and Los Angeles for me last year, during which I had the pleasure of lunching with site Top Brass, Mr. Chris Ryall. But there was some hard work snuck in amongst all the glad-handing and happy-go-lucky lifestyle. The results of which became the extensive booklet notes in this beautifully turned out 2-disc set. Lest I be accused of favouritism, I shan’t make a review of the truly exciting and fantastic music. But now that it’s all in the open about Michael scoring THE INCREDIBLES, I can’t recommend this disc enough to demonstrate the swooping heights to which this composer can make a hero fly.

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