Summer Movie Soundtracks 2013

As you know, I've always loved movie scores.  It was a great pleasure to find a man - and eventual husband - who loves them just as much, and possibly more, than me!  

We're always on the lookout for good soundtracks.  Sometimes, Mr. Higgins will buy a soundtrack without first seeing the movie!  And sometimes that musical score will convince us to see the movie it accompanies (funny, I know, but it's happened more than once).

Here are some of the scores we've listened to.  I will say, to start, that these are mostly all action movies.  I have little motivation to see the pathetic rom-coms that are being produced these days......and Mr. Higgins has no motivation.  So excuse us our genre-bias.  

(In order of release...)

1.  Iron Man 3, Brian Tyler


The Iron Man soundtracks have suffered by not having one composer for the entire trilogy.  Brian Tyler composed the music for the third movie.  Outside of the various themes for the movies, there is little good music to save.  The third installment did not disappoint in the way of theme (appropriately entitled "Main Theme"); it's a keeper.  Another track I added to my playlist: "Stark."  


2.  Star Trek Into Darkness, Michael Giacchino

I was so looking forward to this movie - and the soundtrack, since I loved the first one so much.  The movie did not disappoint.  The soundtrack was a bit of a letdown since most of the music merely played off the themes established in the first movie.  Michael Giacchino's "Main Theme" for the second movie is still good, though it only added to the first theme - a great piece of music.  "London Calling" is a nice piece with a bit of piano in the beginning.  "Sub Prime Directive" is great and incorporates the old Trek theme.

3.  Before Midnight, Graham Reynolds


I've told you about this movie and the previous two, all of which are excellent films.  There isn't a lot to this soundtrack but the theme, played throughout the movie, is lovely.

4.  Man of Steel, Hans Zimmer


Mr. Higgins did not like the movie or the soundtrack.  I liked the movie (mostly) and like the soundtrack.  Mr. Higgins complained that there was no one good solid track of the main theme.  I'm not so concerned about having one perfect track and so I've enjoyed listening to the entire score.  Hans Zimmer used a lot of drums for this soundtrack and it works - mostly.  There is one track of only drums that I could definitely do without.  All in all, it was a risky score to write but I think it works, as a whole.

5. World War Z, Marco Beltrami

Mr. Higgins bought and kept a few tracks from this score.  To be honest, even though I liked the movie (and really liked the book), I still haven't managed to listen to the score yet.  It just didn't catch my attention.

6.  Lone Ranger, Hans Zimmer

I asked Mr. Higgins to buy this score after seeing a preview of the movie.  If it's anything like Pirates of the Caribbean, I thought, it must be good music - and it is!  Neither of us had any interest in the movie but we got the score...and now we eventually want to see the movie.  The score is that good - and fun! The "Finale" - all ten minutes (!) of it - includes the Tell Overture and is epic.  Every time it comes on, I smile.  Other notable tracks: "Absurdity," "The Railroad Waits for No One" (perhaps my second favorite track), and "For God and for Country." 

7.  Pacific Rim, Ramin Djawadi

Mr. Higgins and I both like some of this music, but we disagree on one thing.  I love the theme - "Pacific Rim."  After the movie, I had that thing stuck in my head for weeks!  Mr. Higgins doesn't like the track because it starts with an electric guitar.  Since violins eventually take over the theme, I'll keep it. For some reason, I love it.  Mr. Higgins goes around whistling "2500 Tons of Awesome," which is alright, in my opinion.  For some reason, I've let the entire score play for hours on end at work.  The movie, in general, really caught me by surprise.  I had no interest at all in it; I just went with my husband and his friend.  But I liked it.  Who would have thought?

That about rounds out my movie adventures of the summer.  The Game of Thrones, Season Three soundtrack came out in the early summer and is very good.  I've also recently purchased some "Downton Abbey" tracks. 

TNP

One of my favorite bands, The New Pornographers, was in town on Saturday night. We were so excited, me and my friends bought tickets when they first became available.

Ironically enough, despite listening to this band for a very long time, I've never even seen a picture of them! So, it was great to put faces to all the voices I'd heard. I even liked Neko Case more than I thought, despite her recent solo success. (And yes, I broke down and downloaded her album the other day.)

TNP is very unique as they're so big! There are four lead singers that take turns and harmonize (two women and two men) and no one person is responsible for their sound. Instead, they have several songwriters in their group. As a result, their sound is something like I've never heard before and I've always liked it. They did not disappoint in person either!

Their two opening acts, however, left much to be desired. By the time TNP came along, my eardrums ached along with every inch of my body after having stood for three hours. I don't think I'm cut out for such concerts. I need the old people kind where you sit down! Ha!

Mahler's 2nd

This weekend was an exciting one for several reasons, not the least of which being my first full weekend back in the big city! About two months ago, Mr. Higgins and I bought tickets to see one of my favorite symphonies, Mahler's 2nd "Resurrection" symphony, on Saturday. The date fell very close to our four month anniversary so we used this outing to celebrate.

Mahler's 2nd means a lot to me. It was the first piece I sang with a "real" chorus back in college and it was the first time I sang with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra at the spectacular Bass Hall. For five years, I've been dying to see it performed again! I would have preferred seeing it with the FWSO at Bass, but I settled for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Meyerson.

The performance was, without a doubt, breathtakingly superb. I've never seen such attention to detail by a conductor. Jaap van Zweden was meticulous in handling this huge orchestra. The chorus sang without sheet music and were very good. Not perfect, but definitely above average.

But I missed Miguel and the FWSO. Jaap van Zweden lacked the warmth and charisma that Miguel infuses Bass Hall with in every performance. I've sung under the baton of Miguel Harth-Bedoya and he's truly a pleasure to work with and for. Jaap conveys....pompousness. Indeed, the performance by the DSO was one of gloating. The DSO knows it's good, Jaap knows he's good, and they seemed intent on proving it. Even the chorus showed pomp when they made an unnecessary dramatic entrance. (Someone should tell them that their consonants were weak throughout. I've sung this piece and had to strain to understand them. German or no, diction is necessary.)

I'll concede that it made for a wonderful concert...but I'll stick with the FWSO. I grew up in the suburbs of Dallas but this is one area where I can see just how much the cities differ.

Bon Jovi Pics!

Here are a few pics from my Sunday night with Bon Jovi, courtesy of SK. Above: they sang a few songs out on the circle which was very neat as they seemed a lot closer, even when we were in the rafters!


The lights and stage equipment were just incredible. It was definitely a memorable night!

Bon Jovi

SK won free tickets to the Bon Jovi concert last night in Dallas and was nice enough to ask me to go with her. I haven't listened to Bon Jovi since college and didn't even know they had a new record out. But, then again, I'm not exactly "in the know" with music these days. Ha!

The American Airlines Center was packed and our seats were in the rafters. Honestly, this didn't bother me in the least. We didn't have to stand the entire time and we could watch all the crazy fans jump and bob from a high perch. It was kind of cool seeing it all from that level.

Bon Jovi was on stage for over two hours and the show was really great. I didn't know their new work, but the oldies were a blast. These guys sure do work hard in their concerts! This was the first time I'd ever been to a concert of this scale so it was cool just watching all the stage contraptions move about. The screens - moving every which way and even forming steps - were amazing!

I've never seen so many people at the AAC. The crowd was an, er, interesting mix. I had a lot of fun and left with my ears ringing. That's the way it should be, right? Ha!

Amos Lee at the Granada

I've been to one concert (of the rock variety) in my entire life. Now, after Friday night, I can somewhat-more proudly say I've been to three. The first came on Thursday...

SK, one of my best friends, had tickets to see one of her favorite singer/songwriters, Amos Lee. I'd never heard of Mr. Lee but said I'd go along; after all, my life is so exciting! After a splendid dinner near SMU, we headed to the Granada....


We chilled out, half-leaning, half-standing, as we waited for the concert to begin. The place began to fill up and I was glad we got our third-tier, stage center spots early on. The crowd was mixed with adults of all ages - some with grey hair. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect here. The opening act - Dana something - was hardly extraordinary and she was unable to hold the restless crowd's attention. I must admit to feeling sorry for her. It takes so much guts to get up there!


Finally, Amos Lee took the stage and he blew me away right off. I have no idea what song he opened with but he was alone on the stage and it was awesome. Remember, I had no idea what to expect but I was surprised: his voice was unexpectedly pleasant!


His band came on after that and the pace quickened. Thankfully, his voice stayed the same, calming and oddly comforting.


There's something for everyone in Mr. Lee's sound which is indie-rockish/folkish with hints of blues and R&B. It's a unique sound and one that I can't get out of my head. Add to that Mr. Lee's ability to put on a truly captivating show and you're in for a treat.


By the end of the night, I wanted to buy all three of Amos Lee's albums. I was well and truly blown away. The only thing missing from the performance was a bit more of the charming smile we saw too infrequently. Performing in this setting is strangely intimate and Mr. Lee seemed to think he needed to convince us of his talent. Well, sir, you did that in the first song. Relax, you're a talent for sure!