Royal Scottish National Orchestra - Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire [Enhanced CD]
![Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire [Enhanced CD]](/images/Star-Wars-Shadows-Of-The-Empire-Enhanced-CD-B0000014YD-L.jpg)
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Free Music Notes for Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire [Enhanced CD]
Free Music Review: Very, very pleasing!
Hit: 5 Stars
I always liked this soundtrack. But until I heard the Phantom Menace soundtrack I felt that the choral work seemed out of place in the Star Wars universe with the exception of the Emperor's theme from Jedi. Don't get me wrong, I loved the strong vocals, they just seemed not Star Warsish. Then Williams came out with the music for the Phantom Menace and chorals now had a happy and very welcome home in the SW universe! McNeely's work is actually almost like a predecessor to TPM in a way. The music seems similar. I especially like track 10 - Destruction of Xizor's Palace with it's powerful climax and SUPERB variation of Vader's theme! I have heard his theme used as a march, fanfare, intro, close, and even played sad and soft (see Darth Vader's death on the RotJ soundtrack), but until now I had never heard it as pure battle music. A treat to be sure. A new theme found it's way into Star Wars in this soundtrack: Xizor's theme. Although the actual Williams-like theme doesn't appear until the end of the track (with the first part being more of a trip inside Xizor's mind) when it hits it is truly remarkable. It is also used throught the score after it's intro. Although McNeely mainly stays clear from thematic material, he makes exceptional use of the Force theme in track 8. It takes us back to Binary Sunset (ANH)and Light of the Force [Alternate] (RotJ). Beggar's Canyon Chase is another enjoyable and fast-paced peice. It perfectly complements a fast paced chase through the infamous Tatooine canyon (think of the pod race scene in TPM)! The Seduction of Princess Leia introduces another idea entirely new to SW - a waltz. It is a very welcome addition :) The Battle of Gall is remenicient of the Battle of Endor from RotJ in that it covers multiple scenes in one track. Although the battle itself isn't scored, the events leading up to it are. The only thing I would change about this CD is that I would give the new character Dash Rendar a more prmoinent theme. It only makes a short cameo in Beggar's Canyon Chase. It's so small that until I read the liner notes I mistook it for a heroic cresendo. In all, an enjoyable CD. If you don't like the fact that it doesn't seem like SW enough, then just enjoy it as it's own thing because this really is enjoyable listening!Free Music Review: amazing
Hit: 5 Stars
this cd was short but great I bought it a year ago i still listen to itFree Music Review: Better than The Phantom Menace soundtrack in some areas
Hit: 4 Stars
Now that the new Star Wars soundtrack is out, it helps to lend a better persepective on what has come before. Joel McNeely was signed on to do something that has never been done before and something that I wish there would be a lot more of: score a book. This was the biggest non-event ever, because back when this came out, people were so desperate and hungry for anything that was new Star Wars, that for some reason, this mediocre book got special treament. First of all, why didn't Timothy Zahn's books or some of the other more superior books get the treatment? Anyway, despite that, McNeely turns in what is still far and away the best work of his career. I wish he would do more work like this. If he did, he would definitely be one of the big players on deck today. Obviously, if you come into this expecting John Williams, you will be disappointed. However, if you take this on its own merits, you will find that it has a lot of beautiful themes, and in fact, is more thematic and almost seems more inspired than the TPM soundtrack. What does that mean? It means Maestro Williams, as good as he still is and will always be, has gotten so used to scoring mellow and sappy music, that he is "out of practice" from writing full fledged, powerful work. (With the exception of Duel of the Fates, which, it seems to be another take on Carl Orff's Carmina Burina) This score is definitely a successful experiment. I would love to see more of this scoring books being done. Imagine if Goldsmith did a few, or Williams himself? Bring on more of these, and Joel, go back to doing work like THIS!Free Music Review: Terrible
Hit: 1 Stars
This is an awful soundtrack. It doesn't come near Williams' score. The orchestration turns the brilliant theme into a mush of jumbled string sounds. A huge disappointment.Free Music Review: Shadows of the Empire Rules!
Hit: 5 Stars
I played the game, and I loved it! The music was the best. I have to get this soundtrack! I can't wait until wed. of next week, for the new Star Wars movie to come out. George Lucas, and John Willams RULEZ!