Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:00 am

Python wrote:: I was afraid they were simply going to use the same old recording from CR, but I guess Newman just took the most recent arrangement of the Bond theme and worked it into his own score. I like the use of the guitar better than CR's.

Yeah, I thought they were going to do that, too.

Seems like Newman only really used the opening notes of Arnold's track. The rest is just his working of the Bond theme, if you ask me.

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:02 pm

Control wrote:: His arrangement of "The Name's Bond... James Bond" is around 30 minutes in the first installment.

I like it better than Arnold's version. Sounds more Barry-esque.

Python wrote:: I was afraid they were simply going to use the same old recording from CR, but I guess Newman just took the most recent arrangement of the Bond theme and worked it into his own score. I like the use of the guitar better than CR's.

Sure does. I like it, though I do wish they'd come up with their own arrangement.

Listening to some of these tracks in full, the score sounds like less of a Thomas Newman pastiche than it did in snippet form.

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:48 pm

Largo's Shark wrote:

Good news for fans of Serra's GOLDENEYE and the anti-Arnold gang - Musical reactionary (and Arnold fan) Christian Clemmensen of filmtracks.com (who dislikes many of my favourite scores) is disappointed.

Quote :: Christian Clemmensen - "Skyfall: Initial reaction to full listen"

Some early notes about the Skyfall score album:

1. Very long album that drags in several places. Significant downtime and vaguely exotic atmospherics occupy entire tracks. The score cue "Skyfall" is damn near inaudible for its 2:33. Same with "Modigliani," "Enjoying Death," "Voluntary Retirement," "Close Shave," and "Someone Usually Dies." That's a lot of nearly dead airtime.

2. Bond theme not utilized fully or hinted more than a few token insertions. Only one full statement of the theme in "traditional" form (first minute of "Breadcrumbs"). Pacing in that one performance is hurried. The full fanfare for brass is not heard once on the album.

3. Tom Newman has lost the ambitious jazz and pop elements of the franchise's past and sticks to more linear action structures closer to post-2000's Hollywood norms, including standard ostinatos.

4. Action cues are largely tepid. Too few lines of activity in the orchestra on many occasions. The exception is "She's Mine," which is the Bond theme-infused cue we've heard in the train sequence, I believe.

5. There are serious flow issues with the score. The action stumbles through spurts and does not sustain itself in David Arnold fashion. The electric guitar-laden "Grand Bazaar, Istanbul" tries to emulate the usual kick-[xx]censored[/xx] Arnold opening, but it doesn't feature enough ball-busting force to be effective.

6. The Adele "Skyfall" song melody is heard in masked fragments throughout (though that's possibly attributable to its close adherence to the Bond theme itself, which Newman might instead be hinting at). Only one obvious reference exists; "Komodo Dragon" is this throwback "location cue" to the Barry/Arnold formula and is, not surprisingly, the highlight of the score.

7. The mixture of symphonic, electronic, and exotic elements is very good, an action cue like "The Bloody Shot" balancing them well despite sputtering through its sequences. The lack of fluidity is a bit baffling.

8. A lot of tapped cymbal rhythms... the best alternative to the outward jazz to infuse some ambient coolness. Newman tries to use a solitary, thumping electric bass for the same purpose, but it's too muted to have much effect.

9. The score lacks its own dominant theme, and it does not clearly reference any of Arnold's ideas from the Quantum-related films.

10. Noble horn interludes, possibly for "queen and country," are an almost awkward diversion in "Voluntary Retirement" and "Mother."

11. No narrative development in the score whatsoever. No transitional location cues other than "Komodo Dragon" (and maybe "The Chimera") and no clear momentum swings or satisfying finale. Lots of stuttering crescendos. The album closes with the disappointing exotic rhythms of "Adrenaline," almost something Mychael Danna would write for a lesser drama.

12. The only romance in the score is "Severine," which is extremely underplayed. The violins seem undermixed in many cues, oddly.

13. Obviously no title song on the score-only album. This is simply unacceptable.

Overall, the score is sufficient. Parts are quite enjoyable. Newman has made an attempt to incorporate the franchise's sound with his own, but without anywhere near the same success as Arnold. Newman doesn't capture the established tone of his predecessors and really misses the mark in the romance department. There's none of the expressed turmoil and tragedy associated with the character, and the score is mostly devoid of truly gripping suspense. The action is not as snazzy as Arnold's (don't expect much wailing brass), but it suffices.

More interestingly, Newman doesn't really show any enthusiasm for the concept in this work. Much of his music here is procedural. He doesn't try particularly hard to leave his comfort zone, and that zone isn't exactly similar to the Bond sound to begin with. Arnold, on the other hand, slipped into the franchise without much alteration to his style necessary, and you could tell in each of his scores, even the poorer ones, that he loved what he was doing. He's a fan. Conversely, there is no passion from Newman. The lack of passion is devastating.

The title song easily out-classes the score. Don't be surprised if you find yourself enjoying about 10-15 minutes of Newman's action material and being bored by most of the rest. While Newman shouldn't be flogged for this entry (in fact, it might earn 3 stars from me), I suspect there will be significant fan demand for Arnold to return to the franchise.

I'm not sure when I'll get to a formal review of Skyfall... That's why I wanted to post these initial notes. Things are hectic here, and judging from the screaming in the attic at the moment, I do believe that one of my sons just pissed on the carpet. As Mitt Romney suggested in his rather humorous loss at last night's debate, I clearly need a binder full of women to help out around this place!

Christian

Basically it seems this guy likes Arnold's kitchen sink approach to orchestration....the jury may be out on Newman's score but a simpler and more varied approach to scoring is what I am hoping for.

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:21 pm

I can't believe Newman and EON needed to get the rights for "Breadcrumbs" from Arnold.

Did Marvin Hamlisch have to go through John Barry when he ripped-off "Stalking" from FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE?

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:26 pm

Control wrote:: I can't believe Newman and EON needed to get the rights for "Breadcrumbs" from Arnold.

Did Marvin Hamlisch have to go through John Barry when he ripped-off "Stalking" from FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE?

Glad to read somebody else noticed. I remember playing the vinyl of FRWL to friends after opening day SPY and nobody hearing the connection at all. (everybody else WAS aghast at BOND 77, even though I was okay with it.)

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:54 pm

Control wrote:: I can't believe Newman and EON needed to get the rights for "Breadcrumbs" from Arnold.

Did Marvin Hamlisch have to go through John Barry when he ripped-off "Stalking" from FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE?

I suspect this is just EON trying to give Arnold some kind of credit, they're more loyal to him than they were with Barry.

00 Agent Posts : 10588 Member Since : 2011-03-14

Complete opening cue hits Youtube.

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Sun Oct 21, 2012 8:57 pm

A review of the score:
http://www.movie-wave.net/?p=2884

00 Agent Posts : 10588 Member Since : 2011-03-14

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Wed Oct 24, 2012 2:34 am

Of all the Severine cues, I think this one is my favorite:

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Wed Oct 24, 2012 3:02 am

Severine's theme is the most gorgeous piece of music on this album. Really well done.

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Wed Oct 24, 2012 3:40 pm

Strange review of the soundtrack, of course it drags, since it's hold virtually the whole sound, not 40mn out of 120, like other soundtracks. It should be viewed as a 2 CD set, not a single LP set.

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Fri Oct 26, 2012 7:29 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYnt2prr_ow&t=1h26m58s

Any fans of "Tom Newton" here? laugh

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:07 am

Stamper wrote:: Strange review of the soundtrack, of course it drags, since it's hold virtually the whole sound, not 40mn out of 120, like other soundtracks. It should be viewed as a 2 CD set, not a single LP set.

It's appropriate you should mention LP, because Skyfall will be the first Bond soundtrack album to be given a vinyl release since 1989's Licence To Kill. The downside is that the vinyl release (surely a four-sided, 2LP affair) won't be available until late November. It should be a fine way to present such a long and track-heavy album though, because it obviously breaks the score up into four sections. A nice move would be to include the title song on this version, as the single will have done all of it's commercial business by this point, but HMV quote the tracklisting as being identical to the CD release.

Guest

Largo's Shark wrote:: Reminds me of Portishead, which is never a bad thing.

Portishead does sound good. Looking forward to hearing the score in the film.

Control wrote:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYnt2prr_ow&t=1h26m58s

Any fans of "Tom Newton" here?

Well, I guess she was pretty stressed out. laugh

Potential 00 Agent Posts : 2801 Member Since : 2011-08-22

Sharky, I'm sure you were paying attention to this: where do the Arnold excerpts come into play in SKYFALL?

00 Agent Posts : 10588 Member Since : 2011-03-14

"The Name's Bond... James Bond" appears in the final scene, and segues to the gunbarrel, 50th Anniversary logo and end credits. Nowhere else in the film.

There's a fair amount of unreleased music. Give a me moment to re-listen to the score and work it out.

Potential 00 Agent Posts : 2801 Member Since : 2011-08-22

Largo's Shark wrote:: "The Name's Bond... James Bond" appears in the final scene, and segues to the gunbarrel, 50th Anniversary logo and end credits. Nowhere else in the film.

Gotcha. There's been a lot of confusion on that point, so thanks for clarifying.

Largo's Shark wrote:: There's a fair amount of unreleased music.

Given the length of the album release, I'm surprised. Any unreleased cues that you found to be particularly striking while watching the film?

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Sun Oct 28, 2012 11:23 pm

I held on to the film to 'listen' to the soundtrack, an odd tradition of mine and it seemed alright first off. I'm giving the OST a breeze through now. Glad to hear at any rate the theme in places of the film though it wasn't strictly Newman's own. I suppose if Mendes isn't back for Bond 24, neither will Newman as I got the impression the two went together.

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:12 am

I hope Newman returns. His score was nothing really special, but it just had a much more accomplished, mature and natural sound to it, never resorting to the cheap cliched flourishes of Arnold. It sounded masculine and full, the work of a pro and a much better fit for Craig's Bond. None of his Bond themes sounded unwelcome or cheap and the whole thing sounded a lot more international as opposed to the cheaper sound of Arnold just sat in his bedroom knocking up unmemorable wannabe-fanboy stuff on his computer. I liked how he used the opening of the gunbarrel music over the end of the final scene so that the gunbarrel felt like a natural extension of (or coda to) the final scene instead of the gunbarrel just seeming like apologetically tacked-on fanboy-service the way it was done in QOS. The scoring of the PTS alone makes me want Newman back at all costs if it's a choice between him and Arnold.

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Mon Oct 29, 2012 7:43 am

I can only see Newman coming back if he's interested and that EON really loved his work enough to ask him back first. Otherwise, they'll likely return to their regular favorite unless the next director demands to bring in his own composer. One thing is for certain, if EON works out a deal with Christopher Nolan then that might mean we get a Bond film with the Zimmer touch.

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Mon Oct 29, 2012 10:53 am

Python wrote:: One thing is for certain, if EON works out a deal with Christopher Nolan then that might mean we get a Bond film with the Zimmer touch.

Please no.

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Mon Oct 29, 2012 4:46 pm

something about Tennyson, the last half minute or so, that chimes quite well. Maybe it's taking into account what's going on as the music plays or I'm a sucker for that kind of dramatic type music.

Subject: Re: Thomas Newman will score SKYFALL Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:00 pm

This tracklist should be more or less close to how they're presented in chronological order:

01. Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
14. The Bloody Shot
Adele - Skyfall (abridged version)
02. Voluntary Retirement
15. Enjoying Death
03. New Digs
10. Day Wasted
05. Brave New World
06. Shanghai Drive
07. Jellyfish
08. Silhouette
09. Modigliani
17. Close Shave
31 Old Dog, New Tricks (probably unused)
13. Komodo Dragon
12. Someone Usually Dies
04. Severine
16. The Chimera
11. Quartermaster
18. Health & Safety
19. Granborough Road
20. Tennyson
21. Enquiry
22. Breadcrumbs
23. Skyfall
24. Kill Them First
25. Welcome To Scotland
26. She’s Mine
27. The Moors
28. Deep Water
29. Mother
End Credits Medley:
Gunbarrel / The Name's Bond... James Bond (abridged re-recording), then fades into...
30. Adrenaline, which fades into...
14. The Bloody Shot (abridged version), which fades into...
13. Komodo Dragon (abridged version)

00 Agent Posts : 10588 Member Since : 2011-03-14

For Harms, who doesn't give a rats arse about spoilers, and probably the only one here who's as geeky about film scores as me. Read at your own peril.

Spoiler:

» Thomas Newman's Skyfall Score.
» Rate Thomas Newman's SKYFALL Score
» Thomas Newman to return?
» Thomas Newman Scores SPECTRE
» Thomas Newman's SPECTRE Soundtrack