1894 replies to this topic

[MattofSteel]

MattofSteel- i love your sentiments and you express your thoughts very well, plus you seem to know your stuff. Its a shame therefore that i just can't hear any of the uniqueness or freshness you keep mentioning. But i admire the positivity! I wish i could transfer some of it to myself.

That's the funny part. It's only fresh because it's new. The sound itself isn't really fresh - as Shark, and others have complained - it's all rather run-of-the-mill for contemporary action score. Generic is a valid criticism. And yet I literally feel like I'm ironically defending the philosophy of what some of us claimed to want (that I was recently generally opposed to) without having the content to back it up.

I just appreciate that Newman's score is an interesting hybrid of the two sounds, has the requisite "Bond-ness" to keep me happy, and isn't the cluster[censored] of a disaster that I was expecting. We can't have it ideal every time, and this isn't. But it's fairly great.

Not uniformly great. The "Adrenaline" sample is 30 seconds of crap, and "The Bloody Shot" certainly sounds like something I could have written in an afternoon ten years ago with the old NoteWorthy MIDI composer. But there are too many cool highlights, even in the samples, to fall generally on the side of "disappointed."

EDIT: Like, "Shanghai Drive" for example. Given my personal preferences for good Bond music, that track/sound is - on paper - something I should absolutely hate. But I don't. I actually find it really cool. If there's a way to make pure techno sound badass, that's it.

Or "Jellyfish." Someone on the boards (Pussfeller?) once described Newman music as being all "weaksauce tinkly piano." Jellyfish is technically that, but with the drum backing and feeling of oncoming build, it just sounds cool. And Bond.

And then you have "Tennyson." Talk about building tension. And there's a particularly Bond-sounding turn of the strings at 0:22 that gets me every time I hear it. I wish there was more of it.

And the first 10 seconds of "Breadcrumbs" and "Komodo Dragon" are...I mean, they're both exactly what I want to hear. Exactly.

[deth]

freshness doesn't mean goodness...

[MattofSteel]

freshness doesn't mean goodness...

Exactly! But the overwhelming premise of the anti-Arnold argument seems to be that it does. All these requests for freshness and higher quality, and yet no specific ideas about what such an approach would actually entail.

[PeteNeon]

So basically you're saying we should be happy it's not as bad as you thought it would be?

[marktmurphy]

I like it for the simple fact that it's not Arnold.

Yes, me too. That's not to say I've not enjoyed Arnold's stuff over the years, but his sound and choices have become a bit predictable and some of his writing is a bit simple.

[MattofSteel]

So basically you're saying we should be happy it's not as bad as you thought it would be?

That is almost exactly what I'm saying, yes.

But that's just for me, from my perspective. I wouldn't dare presume that I'm the most right or that everyone should agree with me. The boards are here for us to express our individual thoughts about Bond and compare them against others'. I'm satisfied Newman's work is a solid effort and not a disaster. Others clearly don't feel the same way, and that's what will make the next two years of debate interesting before the first samples from Arnold's Barry-infused "Risico" score are released.

[Skull Kid]

And the first 10 seconds of "Breadcrumbs" and "Komodo Dragon" are...I mean, they're both exactly what I want to hear. Exactly.

You see thats the interesting thing. These two highlights just sound like what Arnold has done previously. I mean ones just the Bond theme (fine) and Komodo sounds like the instrumental versions of the 'You know my name' theme but with a Batman chord change thrown in at 9 seconds instead of a Bond one. Also a bit like Arnolds numerous 'villain' themes, (Die another Day for example). I dunno.

[PeteNeon]

So basically you're saying we should be happy it's not as bad as you thought it would be?

That is almost exactly what I'm saying, yes.

But that's just for me, from my perspective.

Yes, well exactly, so why do you keep rebutting everyone's comments? Are you trying to find another "sparring partner" ?

[MattofSteel]

So basically you're saying we should be happy it's not as bad as you thought it would be?

That is almost exactly what I'm saying, yes.

But that's just for me, from my perspective.

Yes, well exactly, so why do you keep rebutting everyone's comments? Are you trying to find another "sparring partner" ?

It's a discussion board, is it not?

(And incidentally, I really don't recall being the one who came into this looking for a fight). This, way back when, started when I displayed apprehension about Newman and vocally missed David Arnold - only to be lambasted for having ever liked his work in the first place.

[Skull Kid]

I want to add i'm not exactly an Arnold lover either, though i think he is unfairly maligned for the most part.

• If the producers truly want to take a chance though, and go outside the box, i'd love to see someone like Jonny Greenwood given a chance, perhaps with Radiohead doing the theme that was musically inserted through out the film. It could be a trainwreck but it would certainly be different.

[Ace Roberts]

One thing I have learned after years of listening to movie soundtracks is to not over react to a first listening, especially if I have not heard the score in the context of the film itself. My initial thoughts after hearing the sample tracks was "this sounds like a typical action soundtrack - along the lines of a Taken or The Tourist". But James Bond? Not after an initial listen. That said, I'll wait to pass final judgment after purchasing the entire score and seeing the film.

[delfloria]

I would have loved to hear the comments about samples from FYEO if the internet had existed at that time. Let's face it, the overall sample are way too short to really get an idea of what the tracks contain and how they will play in the film. The last card is far from being turned over. (So far I do think the score has potential.) It would be interesting to hear what some of the other earlier scores would have sounded like using 30 second samples.

[junkanoo]

I would have loved to hear the comments about samples from FYEO if the internet had existed at that time. Let's face it, the overall sample are way too short to really get an idea of what the tracks contain and how they will play in the film. The last card is far from being turned over. (So far I do think the score has potential.) It would be interesting to hear what some of the other earlier scores would have sounded like using 30 second samples.

At Amazon, I suspect you should be able to do that with a decent number of the Bond scores, if you wish.

Edited by junkanoo, 11 October 2012 - 06:27 PM.

[deth]

I would have loved to hear the comments about samples from FYEO if the internet had existed at that time. Let's face it, the overall sample are way too short to really get an idea of what the tracks contain and how they will play in the film. The last card is far from being turned over. (So far I do think the score has potential.) It would be interesting to hear what some of the other earlier scores would have sounded like using 30 second samples.

Here:
http://www.amazon.co...k/dp/B000087DRL

Actually, it sounds amazing, even from the samples.

[The Dove]

Having listened to the samples of all tracks now, one word springs to mind for regarding Thomas Newman's score...DELICIOUS!!

[FredJB007]

I'm willing to pass judgement until I see the film.
We all have our opinions...doesn't make any of us right or wrong.
I am old school and think John Barry can do no wrong.....there
wasn't any of his 007 soundtracks that I did not like.
Arnold did an ok job. I didn't dislike any of his scores.
George Martin, Bill Conti and Michael Kamen all did good scores.
Marvin Hamlisch's wasn't my taste....I hated disco and the "Bond '77"
track I disliked, but the rest of the score I thought was overall decent.
The only one I disliked then and still do now is Eric Serra's GoldenEye.
I try to revisit it and give it another chance...but I still have the same feeling
about it. Its a shame, because I like the movie itself and think it would have
been so much better if Barry or Arnold had done the score.
As far as Newman, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. After I see
the film and if I decide I don't like it, you'll hear about it on these forums.

Edited by FredJB007, 11 October 2012 - 06:57 PM.

[bonded56]

I was out walking my rat and seem to have lost my way. Oh wait, track 22 has a snippet of the James Bond theme. I didn't notice the SKYFALL theme woven into any of the clips. Either a bad choice of clips, or a bad choice of...whatever. Perhaps the movie itself will show us a more Bondian soundtrack. LET'S HOPE.

[junkanoo]

Or "Jellyfish." Someone on the boards (Pussfeller?) once described Newman music as being all "weaksauce tinkly piano." Jellyfish is technically that, but with the drum backing and feeling of oncoming build, it just sounds cool. And Bond.

I'm not sure about the Bond part, but I thought the snippet sounded promising.

I want to add i'm not exactly an Arnold lover either, though i think he is unfairly maligned for the most part.

• If the producers truly want to take a chance though, and go outside the box, i'd love to see someone like Jonny Greenwood given a chance, perhaps with Radiohead doing the theme that was musically inserted through out the film. It could be a trainwreck but it would certainly be different.

Welcome aboard Skull Kid! Often a producer will defer to the director, allowing him or her to bring about the collaborators they are comfortable and trust. This is a double-edge sword as it can lead to Spielberg/Williams collaborations or it can lead to cronyism at its worse.

Thomas Newman is a fine composer. He was a fine composer before the Bond assignment and he will be a fine composer after it. With any composer and their assignments ... the thing that I would wish for them is that - to borrow a sport's metaphor (whether your sport might be baseball, cricket or Bond's game (golf) - is that no matter what, you took your cuts/swings - regardless of the outcome. My initial sense of the snippets I heard were largely the question ... was his heart into this assignment?

Edited by junkanoo, 11 October 2012 - 07:13 PM.

[QOS4EVER]

Gave it a listen,
was surprised to hear that alot of tunes had a Middle Eastern Vibe to it
I dont think that there is any truth in the statement that Newmans tracks are simillar to Arnolds

I didnt like the majority of the previews,might be since these are just samples.I am sure it will sound better as a whole

That being said I still preffer Arnold!
Regardless if its called Generic, it fits with Bond,Listening Arnold gets you in the mood! Not this, Definately not this!

What is the general reaction of the forum to these snipets ?

[MattofSteel]

I'm going to make a concerted effort not to listen to these again until the full album's available. I mean, these samples literally constitute about 19% of the film's entire score. There's plenty of stuff we haven't heard yet, and I'll bet a handsome chunk of it is fairly Bond theme-inspired.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Grown a bit on me, buit not much.
Hope sby could get the samples in mp3 so I could listen to it better

[FutureJamesBond]

It's not showing up on the link for me. Is there another place where I can get the tracks because i'm sort of going insane.

[DamnCoffee]

[Leon]

I'm scared to say anything negative about this now, having scanned these pages and been listening through all the samples.

It's alright.. I can't say it's anything outstanding in any way. To be frank, it reminds me of some sort of mixture of same old Arnold style from the last two films and the general trend lately that can be heard in the new Batman scores, Bourne etc - particularly the style of deep brass, rhythmic synths and that type of upbeat percussion. It's not really anything special is it. Some nice little bits of guitar here and there.

I am sure it'll do the job fine, of course, and there are one or two little snippets that I liked very much - the softer stuff. Hopefully for me though, most of these samples just happen to be from samey parts of the score and the rest is much more fresh, original and with more memorable melodies than just a lot of flat and repetitive action beats.

[junkanoo]

It's not showing up on the link for me. Is there another place where I can get the tracks because i'm sort of going insane.

http://www.amazon.de...49949848&sr=8-2

The tracks are listed down a bit ... if you don't see them, you might try another browser ...

Edited by junkanoo, 11 October 2012 - 08:28 PM.

[QOS4EVER]

,
the only thing that i felt strongly enough about to entice me out of the lurking woodwork was my disappointment at this score.
The action material in particular is just really bad, and i think people should be able to express that. As someone to whom film scores mean a lot, they seem to be becoming a lost art generally, just walls of meaningless noise with no individual personality. This score so far to me is the first major blemish to Skyfall's credentials.

Well put!
Welcome to the board

Edited by QOS4EVER, 11 October 2012 - 08:45 PM.

[Harmsway]

To be frank, it reminds me of some sort of mixture of same old Arnold style from the last two films and the general trend lately that can be heard in the new Batman scores, Bourne etc - particularly the style of deep brass, rhythmic synths and that type of upbeat percussion. It's not really anything special is it.

Yeah.

The initial tease of the score was a bit more interesting. Now... I dunno. I can't judge without listening to the whole thing, but while there are nice bits in those samples, there's a lot that is also pretty generic.

[univex]

To be frank, it reminds me of some sort of mixture of same old Arnold style from the last two films and the general trend lately that can be heard in the new Batman scores, Bourne etc - particularly the style of deep brass, rhythmic synths and that type of upbeat percussion. It's not really anything special is it.

Yeah.

The initial tease of the score was a bit more interesting. Now... I dunno. I can't judge without listening to the whole thing, but while there are nice bits in those samples, there's a lot that is also pretty generic.

My impressions as well. Although, if we go by the soundtrack on that digger clip, there are a couple of sound dinamics we are yet to hear.

One thing I found interesting was it being sometimes reminiscent of Raiders and Star Wars. Deep Water makes me think there´s more to these than it meets the ears, the way at the end the Skyfall theme starts to build is very interesting. Breadcrumbs is definitely the gunbarrel. Chimera and Close Shave seem interesting as well.

[Matt_13]

I thought it all sounded a bit like the Bourne soundtracks as well, but seeing how much I like those scores, it's not an issue for me. That said, as others have pointed out, this is hardly a thorough representation of what Newman has cooked up. Patience gents!

[univex]

this is hardly a thorough representation of what Newman has cooked up. Patience gents!

I firmly believe that as well Matt.