Do I have SARS (Soundtrack Adoration Reversal Syndrome)???

Symptoms:
(1) I haven't bought a new score for months
(2) I haven't listened to one for weeks
(3) I no longer suffer withdrawal symptoms if I don't hear a score for a few days.
(4) My MP3 player used to have a 3 week rotation but now 'The Hours' and 'Road to Perdition' is still on it.

I need some sort of remedy. Is there any new score out there that can awaken me from the dead? Should I rush to a CD score and dramatically throw myself upon the soundtrack section in a final bid of desperation?

Agggghhh Aaaaghhhh...am I transforming to the unknown...creature from the 'songs from the film' lagoon??

Help me....help me...

Rochelle Rochelle
p.s while I have tried to pass this off with weak humour...my score interests have seriously dwindled and I must be saved...where for art thou Mr McKenzie...

Surely there is one score out there that can breathe life into me....

I've been reading a series of articles over on FSM the past few weeks that rehashes the controversies of scores nomiated for the Oscars in the early 80s.

The number of REALLY good scores released in a year made it terribly difficult to select the best score. Even with five nominations, there were at least a handfull of REALLY good scores that didn't make the cut.

Lately, the most score-buying I've done is replace my vinyl records with CDs. If it hadn't been for Howard Shore, I doubt I would have bought any new score over the past two years.

I was recently turned on to the music of Brian Tyler. And while some of his stuff is hit or miss with me, I have been listening to Children of Dune pretty much non-stop the past week. I am amazed at the depth of this score. If you haven't heard this or some of Tyler's other work you might want to check them out (especially you being a James Newton Howard fan).

"Gods and Generals" and "X2" rock!

I agree with my home boy Audacity, "Children of Dune" is a powerhouse. "Finding Nemo" is also good of you are a Tom Newman fan.

--Brian

1) Return to those scores that you have always loved...that breathed life into your original first love of film music.

2) Listen to scores you've never heard before. Pick, on a whim, some score to a film you think might interest you that you haven't seen. For example, on a whim, I went out and found Dinotopia, simply because I have enjoyed many of Trevor Jones' scores in the past and this seemed like an interesting genre (that JNH did really well with a few years ago, and Horner a decade ago!!). IT BLEW ME AWAY! Gorgeous, intense, melodic...I went out on a limb and purchased LXG from Varese due solely to that...and went and saw the film last night (again, on a whim)...and REALLY enjoyed myself (both film and score). This just revitalizes me in so many ways.

There...the long winded response to your query.

To paraphrase that, I think "Familiarity breeds apathy." (Though apathy and contempt go hand in hand around here--many of those who do not particularly care for scores would rather express contempt, perhaps merely in the interests of being heard....)

That said, perhaps we can all make a "top 10 favorites" list, except some can feel free to make it a top 11, or top 12 if they can't make up their mind....or we can debate composers qualities until blue in the face, or just reminisce on the dearly departed actors and actresses of late and play Christopher Gordon's "Moby Dick" in their honor......

* * * *

I apologize, Rochelle. I do know how you feel and it is entirely frustrating. Loving scores as much as I do, I find myself gravitating towards a specific type/genre of scores...not exclusively, but noticibly: namely, the "Swashbuckler" score--not all of which are crammed narrowly into what you think that genre might entail. Whether it be "Cutthroat Island" or "The Sea Hawk", or "Star Wars" or "Crouching Tiger"--any film music where a duel is prominent.

Recently, I had the good fortune to stumble into a locale in Northern Virginia that deals in used CDs. Some unfortunate individual had parted with two Varese-lable Korngold recordings, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, and The Adventures of Robin Hood. Finding these two scores in excellent, virtually unused condition--(but marked down to used prices!)--reminded me why I enjoy the adventure of film scores.

Happening upon these two jewels made me appreciate scores like the recent Sinbad and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Pirates of the Caribbean all the more. I love all the variety of film scores, and the universality of music.

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Originally posted by Audacity:
Rochelle Rochelle - from Milan to Minsk,

I was recently turned on to the music of Brian Tyler. If you haven't heard this or some of Tyler's other work you might want to check them out (especially you being a James Newton Howard fan).

Audacity

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Thanks for having the audacity to reply (ughh you've probably heard all the puns before). I will seek out Tyler and see what it can do for me.

I remember Joan once saying that recommendations were very hit and miss due to the objcetive nature of taste but I don't mind giving suggestions a try.

Its been so long since I've been here...I wonder if the beautiful Joan is still here these days. If so...hello Joan.

Now Mr Audacity....how did you know that I was a JNH fan?

Rochelle Rochelle...a young girl's strange erotic journey from Milan to Minsk.

Interesting responses:

Look to the past for revitalisation (the safe)

or

Look to the future to seek out discovery (the adventurous)

or

Select on whim (the chance)

Perhaps its a hybrid remedy of all three.

To be honest...all I have done is choosen whim. The last score I listened to was 'Affair of the Necklace'. Nice nice but not much more.

What on earth has JNH been up to lately? Maybe I should I go hunting tommorow. Although I hate the way my fave CD store has re-stacked the soundtrack collection.

How odd.

Despite the statements about nothing but crap lately, there has been some nice work produced in the last 12 months:

Far From Heaven
Frida
Children of Dune
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
LOTR: The Two Towers
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Finding Nemo
Signs
Seabiscuit

If you are willing to look at movies older than you, there are some nice recommendations on the Golden Age on another thread right now.

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Originally posted by MWRuger:

Despite the statements about nothing but crap lately, there has been some nice work produced in the last 12 months:

Far From Heaven
Frida
Children of Dune
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
LOTR: The Two Towers
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Finding Nemo
Signs
Seabiscuit

There is also exploring lesser known works by composers that you know you like.

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Thank you. I have most of the scores you have mentioned. Out of all of them 'Signs' and 'LOTR: TTT' were the ones that got the highest rotation. In fact, I blasted them to death.

'Children of Dune' seems to be a popular mention.

any Delerue, Rozsa, Trevor Jones, Friedhofer, JNH, Alex North, Newman, Shore, Williams, and to a lesser extent, Carter Burwell (Rob Roy is fabulous ya know) will get a spin and priority when it comes to purchase consideration.

Other stuff I could just care less about, and am thinking seriously of auctioning off someday soon. One must separate the wheat from the chaff...

Joe, where does one acquire Dinotopia?
Are there any other copies floating about San Diego?

oh, and I'll continue to ramble:

I'll tell you one thing that would renew my spirit is a series of releases featuring the music of Bronislau Kaper. Seems like the last 5 or 6 times I've flippd on Turner Classic Movies, each movie features a STELLAR Kaper score. These are older movies, like from 1941 or so, so I don't know if I'd ever be able to hear them apart from film, but it'd sure be nice to have them.

It's been awhile since a score in a recent movie really perked up my ears. Shore's LOTR scores have been excellent in context, but not my cup 'o tea for listening to at home (probably have been missing something).

Sombre and/or very Melodic:
Thirteen Days (Trevor Jones)
Alien* (Jerry Goldsmith)
The Ghost And The Darkness (Jerry Goldsmith)
Band Of Brothers (Micheal Kamen)

Vivacious and/or Powerful
Star Trek VI (Cliff Eidelman)
The Good, The Bad,
And The Ugly (Ennio Morricone)
Cutthroat Island (John Debney)

Compilations (These are GREAT for finding new gems):
Goldsmith Conducts Goldsmith
The Great Fantasy And Adventure Album
Varese Sarabande: A 25th Anniversary Celebration.

*-Alien is only commercially available as "The Alien Trilogy", a superb re-record of 7 cues from the score by Cliff Eidelman. He captures the spirit and eerie grace of the original perfectly. This is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

Hope this helps and that I haven't listed anything you've heard!

I have about fifteen linear feet of classical that I haven't listened to in quite a while, but last week I dug into some of it and was delighted, like meeting old friends.

My conclusion is that your brain is demanding a rest from this particular thing and when it is ready it will let you enjoy it as you did before. There is, doubtless, a fully described psychological effect demonstrated in all this, but the "familiarity breeds contempt" reference is apt.

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Originally posted by Beatty:

My conclusion is that your brain is demanding a rest from this particular thing and when it is ready it will let you enjoy it as you did before. There is, doubtless, a fully described psychological effect demonstrated in all this, but the "familiarity breeds contempt" reference is apt.

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Hi, cine-sin. I think Beatty hit it on the head here. I find very often that I will become "saturated" to the point where I find myself wondering why I'm not enjoying this genre as much as usual. What I usually do is switch to something completely different for a while...classic rock, jazz/blues, etc. And when I come back, I come back refreshed, and ready to eagerly listen again. I love Alexborn007's suggestion of Varese's 25th Anniversay compilation. There is such a variety, and I don't necessarily feeled compelled to listen to an entire CD either. How I enjoy this collection!

CAT

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Originally posted by cine-sin:
Now Mr Audacity....how did you know that I was a JNH fan?

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I thought I remembered you listing him as one of your favorites in your member profile. I always seem to remember when someone else shares in my love of this fine composer.

Or maybe I'm just all-knowing.

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Originally posted by Beatty:
I have about fifteen linear feet of classical that I haven't listened to in quite a while, but last week I dug into some of it and was delighted, like meeting old friends.

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1. Till Human Voices Wake Us (Dale Cornelius) - Score for the Australian film starring Helena Bonham Carter and Guy Pearce is a wonderful piece for quartet and piano. Very stripped down, quite austere in parts, but altogether lovely.

2. Solaris (Cliff Martinez) - Great ambient score. Nothing to complain about in the synthesized deluge here. THIS IS HOW YOU DO ELECTRONIC MUSIC IN FILM.

3. Samsara (Cyril Morin) - Score for German/Tibetan film of a monk who confuses sexual awakening for spiritual enlightenment has a theme that is so gorgeous... I think I'm going to get Don Juan De Marco out of my CD player now and replace it with... THUMP... CLAMOUR... that beautiful descending third.... Gorgeous score. It's a shame about the occasional dialogue excerpts.

I've actually found this to be a pretty good year for soundtracks actually. In between Matrix Reloaded, Ned Kelly, Star Trek Nemesis, The Hours, After the Deluge, Travelling Birds, Frida, 25th Hour, Solaris, The Hours, Far From Heaven and the goodness I've yet to hear in complete form of Hero, Hulk, Beyond Borders, The Good Thief, Tears of the Sun, Finding Nemo, Cold Mountain, Matrix Revolutions, Return of the King (aka the point at which the world may safely end without me being disappointed), I reckon this is a great time to be alive for those filmgoers who realise that the emotional response they feel to a film has more to do with music than they think.

NP Samsara

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Originally posted by Graham Watt:
So Rochelle, I'd say you need a break. Deprive yourself of film music for a while. Read books, go out to the mountains or the sea, listen to pop music on the radio, and then when the real notion to stick on a score becomes a real pressing desire, you'll love it as before.

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If all else fails, this is the BEST thing to do. It works splendidly, and not inundating yourself with the music allows you to grow in certain ways and even let you appriciate it and enjoy even more when you return.

Good luck!

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Originally posted by Graham Watt:
Rochelle, there's another possibility which nobody has mentioned - you're depressed. If that really seems to be the case, go see the doc. If he's good, he'll talk to you and prescribe a way out. No big deal. Docs can be amazing.

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"Residents, this is an interesting case. Young professional woman complains that she has a lowered interest in ..."
"Thorazine! That'll do her up a treat!"
" ... um, no. As I was saying, lowered interest in her hobby of soundtrack music."
"Morphine drip!"
"No."
"Electroshock!"
"No, it's a trick question; she's fine. Please return to perusing pamphlets provided by pharamaceutical manufacturers."