Favourite Fraking Soundtracks (1995 -2014)
Part 1 of 2: Original Film Scores and their Composers (A-H)
The Heat Soundtrack
Part 1 of 2: Original Film Scores and their Composers (A-H)
Thanks to my new fraking cinefiend pal for the inspiring this post. (You know who you are music man.)
The cinematic experience has always been as much about sound as vision. Right from the silent days the Nickelodeon picture house’s musical accompaniment was played live within the venue. Whether elevating emotion, punctuating comedy, heightening tension or rousing spirits, film soundtracks have always been essential to fine tuning audience response to a scenes tone and purpose.
As varied and expressive as the medium itself, ranging from the minimalist scoring that unobtrusively laces nuanced drama to operatic overtures dictating essence, quality composing is a vital component to effectively immerse audiences in the silver screen. For proof, imagine STAR WARS without William’s space opera orchestration. HALLOWEEN with John Carpenter’s tension pulsing keyboard muted. The absolute terror in Bernard Hermann’s strained cello in PSYCHO massacred. Removing the dense ethereal atmosphere seeping from every pulse of Vangelis’ BLADE RUNNER work. The PINK PANTHER minus the sly jazz of Henry Mancini’s melodic wit or the absence of Ry Cooder’s slide guitar permeating heat in PARIS, TEXAS , any of these examples would hex cinema magic.
Rather than a greatest of all-time, (that would just be too hard) today I’ve compiled a list of scores exclusively from the last two decades. Instrumental soundtracks that have morphed my life with certain moods, and motivations, compositions that enhanced the films and echoed in my mind after the final credits exited the screen, never really leaving my consciousness since.
Note, there are 2 very distinct types of soundtrack album and so Part 1 & 2: Original Film Scores and there Composers (A-H) then (J-Z) will be followed next week by Part 3; Compilation Soundtrack Albums.
Part 1 of 2: Original Film Scores and their Composers (A-H) (In alphabetical order)
Click HERE to read Part 2 of 3: Original Film Scores and their Composers (J-Z)
Click HERE to read Part 3 of 3: Part 3 of 3; Vocal Compilation Soundtrack Albums
A.R. Rahman: Fraking Favourite: LORD OF WAR
Other Scores worth checking out: 127 HOURS
Air: THE VIRGIN SUICIDES
Alberto Iglesias: Fraking Favourite – THE CONSTANT GARDNER
Other Scores worth checking out: BAD EDUCATION, TALK TO HER, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
Alex Wurman: Fraking Favourite – CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND
Other Scores worth checking out: The NINES, THE DESCENDENTS
Alexandre Desplat: Fraking Favourite – SYRIANA
Other Scores worth checking out: TREE OF LIFE, ARGO, MOONRISE KINGDOM
Carter Burwell: Fraking Favourite – TRUE GRIT
Other Scores worth checking out: ADAPTATION, 3 KINGS, THE SPANISH PRISONER, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, IN BRUGES, THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE, BURN AFTER READING
The Chemical Brothers: HANNA
Christopher Young: Fraking Favourite – DRAG ME TO HELL
Other Scores worth checking out: WONDERBOYS, EXCORCISM OF EMILY ROSE, ROUNDERS
Cliff Martinez: Fraking Favourite – DRIVE
Other Scores worth checking out: ONLY GOD FORGIVES, SOLARIS, THE LIMEY
Clint Mansell: Fraking Favourite – REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
Other Scores worth checking out: BLACK SWAN, MOON, STOKER
Daft Punk: TRON LEGACY
Danny Elfman: Fraking Favourite – SLEEPY HOLLOW
Other Scores worth checking out: THE WOLFMAN, HITCHCOCK, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
David Arnold: Fraking Favourite – CASINO ROYALE
Other Scores worth checking out: QUANTUM OF SOLACE, A LIFE LESS ORDINARY
David Herzfelder: Fraking Favourite – SHINE
Other Scores worth checking out: ELIZABETH
David Holmes: Fraking Favourite – OUT OF SIGHT
Other Scores worth checking out: BUFFALO SOLDIERS, HAYWIRE, OCEANS 11
Dust Brothers: FIGHT CLUB
Eddie Vedder: INTO THE WILD
Elliot Goldenthal: Fraking favourite – HEAT
Other Scores worth checking out: TITUS
Glover Gill: Fraking favourite – WAKING LIFE
Graham Reynolds: Fraking Favourite – A SCANNER DARKLY
Other Scores worth checking out: BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Hans Zimmer: Fraking Favourite -THE THIN RED LINE
Other Scores worth checking out: THE DARK KNIGHT, RANGO, RUSH, THE LAST SAMURAI, HANNIBAL, GLADIATOR, INCEPTION
Harry Gregson-Williams: Fraking Favourite – SPY GAME
Other Scores worth checking out: KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, DOMINO, THE TOWN
Howard Shore: Fraking Favourite – LORD OF THE RINGS
Other Scores worth checking out: sE7EN, EXISTENZ, HUGO, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, THE DEPARTED, THE AVIATOR, PANIC ROOM, EASTERN PROMISES
Coming Soon: Part 2 of 2: Original Film Scores and their Composers (J-Z)
Cliff Martinez!
[…] Favourite Fraking Soundtracks (1995 -2014) – Part 1 […]
Cliff is a modern master!
Who else would you add from 1995 to present day?
Appreciate the comment.
[…] Favourite Fraking Soundtracks (1995 -2014) – Part 1 […]