Joel McNeely, 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: just music-no story!!!!
Hit: 1 Stars
when i typed in a search for this audiobook, this is what came up. nowhere on the cover does it say soundtrack. i wanted to listen to the audiobook on cd like i did 10 years ago on cassette.Free Music Review: Necessary for those who love film scores and Star Wars fans should pick this up too!
Hit: 5 Stars
A superb achievement in a brilliant marketing campaign that was an overall success. Few campaigns of this nature ever work on the level in which they are conceived, but this exceeded many expectations. Given the fact that many people weren't jaded with the Star Wars name prior to 1997 (when the Special Editions were released, and arguably fans began having their doubts about Lucas's creative choices) this soundtrack to Shadows of the Empire was a unique opportunity for Lucasfilm to try and expand the Star Wars universe with music, even though there was no film to accompany it.
As a piece of music it stands on its own. Its themes and orchestrations hold their own against John Williams original scores for the first trilogy and even comparing them to the latest trilogy, listeners will find many similarities to this particular score. (One almost wonders if Williams had some of these themes in mind when he scored the Prequel trilogy.)
But what is done best by Joel McNeely and the orchestra is that they weren't afraid to push things in different directions and wisely so, for as the composer himself notes in the liners of the album jacket, Williams scores are considered something of a hallowed tradition and to alleviate the pressure of having to live up to, or risk damaging a flawless score, he decided to venture elsewhere. And as listeners we have all benefitted from this choice. A great listen, with strong themes and orchestrations that only compliments John Williams official scores, and is worth the accolade of having the Star Wars title.
Free Music Review: Awe-Inspiring! An Exquisite Departure From Williams!
Hit: 5 Stars
One of my top favorite scores...and it isn't even to a film!
This soundtrack has more originality to it than anything I've heard experimented on Williams' Star Wars music. McNeely, the underrated and overlooked film composer has once again struck gold...BIG TIME!!
I could rant and rave about how good this score is, but the truth is you just have to find out for yourself. There are so many things happening that just aren't "Star Wars"-sounding...and yet, just the opposite is true.
"The Destruction of Xizor's Palace" is the best song on the album. This 10-minute (wow!) track is quite exciting but my favorite part is the incredibly moving climax (in which I usually find myself holding back a tear or two as I turn up the volume).
Between the choral work, exotic percussion, violin solos, brilliant brass and lovely lyrical themes, I perceive elements of Jerry Goldsmith, 40's Hollywood music, modern Classical music, Batman: The Animated Series, Bernard Herrmann, and of course, John Williams!
This is definitely Joel McNeely's finest work to date...
Take a chance and buy it.
You won't be disappointed, trust me.
Free Music Review: Pretty Good
Hit: 4 Stars
Though it doesn't quite meet John Williams's standards, but it is nonetheless worth a listen. I enjoy it because I used to be a star wars nut and I read the Shadows of the Empire novel, played the n64 game, read the comic book, and collected the cards. This soundtrack is nostalgic because it's heard throughout the game. But if you're looking for something you've heard in the movies, this isn't it. This is only for Star Wars fans, unless you're a Joel McNeely fan.Free Music Review: Wonderful, a work of it's own.
Hit: 5 Stars
As a big fan of John Williams, I was skeptical at first at the possibility of having a Star Wars soundtrack done by someone else, even if there is no movie to back it up. Now I have no doubt that this music stands up to the best of what Mr. Williams has to offer. Not only is the music enticing and outstanding, there are moments of great beauty thrown in at the right moments. Simply wonderful. I, deep down, almost wish Joel McNeely had gotten the chance to do the music for the prequel movies. I know, it would be sacrilegious, but I think he might have done a better job, (not that Williams' score is that bad.) Excellent CD. Great for any fan of film music.