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| There are 528 Reviews Done |
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Yiruma - Doggy Poo
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| Pianomusic! |
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This is a really good ST even though it has a scary-special-funny-strange title. I promise! haha.
It's made by a guy named Yiruma. He is from South Korea and he makes his own lovely music. This is the only ST from him so I thought it must be on here to help us out through the piano days later on. Thanks all for voting and rating it so high.
Nearly all tracks are only soft piano, though there is one or maybe 2 kind of annoying voice tracks. Just try this one out and you won't be disappointed!
If you want to listen to more of his music (this isn't really his best pieces at all), go to his MySpace site. Just type in Yiruma last.
http://www.myspace.com/yiruma
Or search Youtube for some live performances. He is soooo gooood!!
If you want to know more about him, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yiruma
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4 of 4 found this review helpful |
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Miklos Rozsa - Spellbound
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| Yes! I am Spellbound! |
| By: |
PeteC
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| Date: |
3 Oct 2008 |
| Rating: |
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For years, I waited for this score to be officially released and now, it's here! It's here!! Spellbound!! Treat yourself to this Hitchcock wonder on film and then, when you hear this, your jaw will drop at the perfection of Miklos Rozsa! Oh, what a film! Oh, what a score! Epic wonder, intrigue, suspense and romance!! You will be spellbound, too!!
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2 of 2 found this review helpful |
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Franz Waxman - Rebecca
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| Floors Need Waxing? |
| By: |
PeteC
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| Date: |
3 Oct 2008 |
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Enter cinematic history!! Enter the epic Rebecca!! An iconic score, it has everything you could ever want from a score!! It's no wonder the great scorers of our day look back and point to Franz Waxman for their inspiration. You will be swept off your feet and by the time you get to Fire and Epilogue, your resistance to the classics will fall to the ground in pieces and submission. All Hail Franz!! Franz!! Franz!!
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3 of 3 found this review helpful |
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Stephen Schwartz Alan Menken, Alan Menken - Enchanted
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| Cute or Cheesy? |
| By: |
Zgurl49
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| Date: |
1 Oct 2008 |
| Rating: |
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The verdict is: CUTE! The movie and songs take you back to childhood when you dreamed of being a princess, the songs are addictive and Amy Adams voice is so pure that you can't help singing along! Adults and kids will really enjoy this fun soundtrack!
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8 of 9 found this review helpful |
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Howard Ashman Alan Menken, Alan Menken - Little Mermaid, The
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| Formulaic Fishy Fun |
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Disney Soundtracks are an interesting bunch. Fun but formulaic. Each soundtrack will have a song setting up the story, a song of longing from the main character often referred to as an "I Want" song, a song of conflict (that is not always the villain's song but often is,) and a song of love.
Now, this may sound like I am trivializing Menken's efforts and Ashman's lyrics. I'm not. This method of score writing goes all the way back to Snow White.
What Menken and Ashman did with the Little Mermaid is take a formula and turn it on its ear to set the standard for Animated Disney films to come.
The first song, Fathoms Below, is the set up song. It not only tells about Triton and his daughters but also hints at what his relationship with the surface world. The Daughters of Triton is another set up song showing Ariel's tendency to be headstrong and not think about her responsibilities and duties. These two songs, despite their length, set up the entire movie.
The "I want" song from this album is "Part of Your World" and its reprise. This song shows Ariel's yearning for the surface world and Eric. An interesting point of trivia, this song was almost cut from the movie because a child in the test audience showed more interest in picking up his spilled popcorn than the song. Thankfully the director and composers were able to convince the producers that the song was necessary. Since it has become an integral and memorable part of the movie and score.
The Song of Conflict is also in two forms on this album. Since the conflict that Ariel faces is not just from Ursula alone but from herself as she battles with the choice of chasing her love and losing her home or playing it safe "Under the Sea." People might argue that this song is not a song of conflict but from the very first phrase you can tell that it is. Sebastian is doing everything in his power to keep Ariel out of trouble and at home. While in "Poor Unfortunate Souls" Ursula is doing everything in her power to get her tentacles into her. It is a nice duality.
Finally we come to the song of love, "Kiss the Girl." Sung by Sebastian to aid Ariel in her quest to stay human for Eric. It is not a love song in the truest sense since it is a little tongue in cheek, but it is still lovely.
The purely instrumental parts of this ST are part of what set The Little Mermaid apart from its predecessors. The score incorporates several of the melodies from the core songs into it - most notably with parts of "Part of your World" showing up multiple times and the melody of "Poor unfortunate souls" being used as the main battle music later on.
This score deserves all of the praise and awards it was given. Since it truly revolutionized the Disney Formula.
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6 of 6 found this review helpful |
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Ennio Morricone - Once Upon A Time In The West
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| Ennio's Masterpiece |
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Ennio Morricone is a great composer, of that there is no doubt, but Once Upon A Time In The West stands out as a pinnacle of his career not only for its originality but also for its beauty.
The movie itself is both an homage and eulogy to the old western of years past and its soundtrack reflects that. In many of the cues, there is some similarity to Morricone's earlier collaborations with Leone and some glimpses from the scores that were featured in the films by John Ford. He also encouraged Leone to use natural sound as a part of the film's soundtrack.
One of the most groundbreaking things that Morricone did was assign each of the 5 main characters a theme. Each theme gives the viewer an audio hint about the character and their characterization.
Jill- the prostitute cum Widow McBain - has one of the most beautiful themes found in cinema. The soprano's soaring and meandering song illustrates her role as the water-bearer and the spoke that all of the other characters circle around. Her theme can be heard in the following tracks: C'era Una Volta Il West, L'America Di Jill, Jill, Nascita Di Una Citta’, Finale.
Harmonica - the protagonist with a vendetta - The character's signature is the harmonica that he plays when he should be talking. Morricone took that concept and ran with it. The harmonica is both sardonic and sad - the perfect personification of the character. His theme can be heard here: Armonica, L'Uomo Dell'Armonica, & Duello Finale.
Cheyenne - the rascally outlaw - a gangly banjo is at the core of his theme. It fits that this light hearted character would get the most upbeat theme of the movie. His theme can be heard on: Cheyenne & Addio A Cheyenne.
Frank - this is primary villain of the movie - this heartless character's theme is pure morricone played on a electric guitar. It is harsh, abrasive, and utterly cruel. The theme can be heard on: Il Grande Massacro, Frank, & Duello Finale.
The Train - while some might argue that this isn't a character it is for the purposes of this review. Morricone created a theme just for the train and what it represents. Morton's theme feeds into this but it is the railroad and the train herself that is important not the man behind it. The train's theme can be heard on: Sul Tetto Del Treno, Ritorno Al Treno, Morton, & Finale.
These five themes will show up briefly in other tracks on this album But it is these themes that made the movie one of my favorites of all time and its soundtrack truly one for the ages.
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5 of 5 found this review helpful |
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Joss Whedon, Christophe Beck, Nerf Herder - Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Once More, With Feeling
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| Not as Bad As Everyone Seems to Think It Is. |
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The majority of this album is taken from the Buffy Musical Once More With Feeling which took place as an actual plotty episode in the sixth season. Joss Whedon wanted to do a musical episode as early as the first season but could not convince network heads to go for it. Then, according to the DVD commentary, the idea really took flight when Joss realized that several of the cast members were accomplished singers, specifically James Marsters, Anthony Head, and Amber Benson.
Joss Whedon wrote all of the songs himself - melodies and lyrics and Christophe Beck fleshed out the rest. Each song is a tribute to some musical quality or staple.
Track Breakdown:
1. Overture / Going Through The Motions - The Overture is a mixture of the main melodies of the musical that plays while setting up the episode. Going Through the Motions sung by Buffy sets up many of the themes for the coming season - mainly her desire to feel something, anything, after being brought back from the dead. The song is sung in a style similar to the typical Disney "I want" song like "Belle" or "Part of Your World."
2. I've Got A Theory / Bunnies / If We're Together - This song sung by most of the cast, and it is really just one song, sets up the problem of the episode along with various solutions to the problem. The stand out part is when Anya breaks out into her rock opera rant about bunnies.
3. The Mustard - done in the style of old 1940s musicals this is a little blurb to show that the rest of the town is affected. It is sung by David Fury, one of the shows producers.
4. Under Your Spell - the sweetest song of the album and very double entendre filled. It is sung by Tara to Willow and is a pure love song. It is most similar to the love songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber.
5. I'll Never Tell - Xander and Anya's "Book Number that will never be a break away pop hit." This song is also done in the style of the old 1940s musicals and sets up one of the main subplots of the season.
6. The Parking Ticket - sung by Marni Noxon, another producer of the series, it is the "protest" song of the episode similar to the various reprises of the "I want" songs in Disney.
7. Rest In Peace - Sung by Spike in the style of a power ballad the song lays on the table his feelings for Buffy and how he feels used and abused by her. Setting up their relationship for the rest of the series.
8. Dawn's Lament - this is a hint back to the "I Want" song. But is cut off. Interestingly the actress playing Dawn did not want to sing but rather Dance leading into...
9. Dawn's Ballet - If anyone has seen "Funny Face" with Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn then they should recognize the similarities.
10. What You Feel - The Bad Guy appears and reveals his plans. Sung by Tony award winning actor, Hinton Battle, this song is very fifties/sixties.
11. Standing - Sung by Giles this is a Lament similar to several found in Les Miserables or Miss Saigon. The song immediately leads into...
12. Under Your Spell / Standing- Reprise - Both Giles and Tara have come to a realization about their loved ones and have decided that they need to leave them. The song is heartbreaking and a beautiful counter point of two voices blending.
13. Walk Through The Fire - Similar to "Tonight" from West Side Story or "One Day More" from Les Mis, this is the climax song. All of the pieces are in place for the great fight and there are several counterpoints and melodies being rehashed here.
14. Something To Sing About - Buffy's confrontation with Sweet, the villain, it shows her despair and it also leads into the big reveal that Buffy was in heaven and her friends pulled her out of it.
15. What You Feel - Reprise - Before he leaves, Sweet reveals what the whole spell was about, having the characters admit their secrets, fears, and feelings. The good guys won, but at what price?
16. Where Do We Go From Here - Wrapping up the story but nothing is resolved. They still haven't worked through the issues that the episode revealed. But the curtains close on kiss between Buffy and Spike setting up the next arc of the story.
17. Coda - this is just what it says it is.
18. End Credits (Broom Dance/Grr Arrgh) - different credit music with Joss singing the Grr Arrgh at the end Opera Style.
Thus Endeth the Musical. The remaining 5 tracks on the album include the opening theme and a demo of Something to Sing About Sung by Joss Whedon and Marni Noxon.
The two suites are a mix of music from their respective episodes. The Hush suite is very creepy and great for a lead up to Halloween. The Restless Suite is kinda there.
The final track The Sacrifice from The Gift is very poignant and when taken in context can be a tear jerker.
It doesn't get full stars from me - because while I appreciate what Joss did not everyone is a great singer and a lot of the tracks are kinda just there.
Still this isn't as bad as people seem to think it is. ^_^
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4 of 5 found this review helpful |
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Joe Hisaishi - Kikujiro No Natsu
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| Simplicity at its finest |
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Sometimes the simplest melody can make or break a soundtrack. Kikujiro no Natsu is one of those scores whose melodies are immediately recognizable, memorable and beautiful all in one. And it truly makes the album.
The core two melodies can be heard in their entirety on the the track Summer one a simple, almost childlike, refrain that has amazing depth to it while the other is subdued and darker. Played on the piano, each theme represents the two main characters in the film - a forgotten child and a lost man. Many times the two themes will merge and blend into one another.
The two themes are often repeated on the other tracks of this album, bringing the listener back to the core of what the movie is about. On tracks like Angel Bell you can hear the bell that the man buys for the little boy. And on the track The Rain, the piano aptly imitates the sound of falling water.
This is an album not to be missed and one that can bring a smile to the listeners face.
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10 of 10 found this review helpful |
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Steve Jablonsky - Transformers
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| Steve Jablonsky Owns |
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Steve Jablonsky is a very inquisitive composer. He has a great sence of theme and dynamics.
A protegy of Hans Zimmer, Steve may be the one who may be able to possibly take over the Zimmer legacy and create a Jablonsky Legend.
Steve Jablonsky also did additional work on the soundtrack to the first Pirates of the Carribean: the Curse of the Black Pearl. (not many people know this.)
He use of choir and percussion. As compared to anybody in Remote Control productions you can say this composer has made his name know with this very soundtrack.
He has created a great amount of very simple but emotional themes for Transformers so that you can't get enough of it. It can also be said that the tracks can definately be redone or expounded upon in Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.
The story of this CD is a very crazy one. It was released by petition from many fans who loved the soundtrack in 2007 of October. I was one of those very petitioners for the release of the soundtrack. The only other soundtrack that was available before this soundtrack was the very badly made: Album which included many tracks that weren't in the film.
What is also interesting is that the soundtrack is only a hour long and many of the themes from the movie are still missing. We can only hope that we will hear them in the next soundtrack.
All in all this soundtrack has probably replaced the whole I love Pirates of the Carribean furvor for a Transformers one. This is one soundtrack that can for the most part never get old.
This definately a soundtrack leaveing people wanting more. And will definately have great replay value.
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12 of 15 found this review helpful |
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Kenny Loggins - Footloose
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| This movies soundtrack rulz |
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I like this soundtrack. It always allows me to move and groove as I work in my day.
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0 of 3 found this review helpful |
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| Events & Birthdays |
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Johnny Mandel (99)
Krzysztof Penderecki (91)
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