Well two thirds of a score anyway. Some very wonderful tracks on this album. And no way anyone can call this background music. Intertwining Western and AmerIndian music styles he comes up with some lively tracks. A few bummers too, and the obligatory gonzo track. Still the majority of the music is exciting. And fun.
And most of the tracks are long, too! I know. Shocking! There is only 1 track under 3 minutes. A couple over 4 minutes, two about 5 one around 7 and the finale at 10 minutes.
Speaking of the finale. It's a wonderful ten minute riff on the William Tell Overture with enough variation to absolutely make it the best track on the album.
(My only problem with the William Tell Overture, and this sure ain't Zimmer's fault - I keep hearing intermixed with the overture OOOOOOOOO-klahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain).
Great score. Been listening to the Finale a lot. Z's new themes perfectly weave in and out of the overture - especially the main, heroic one. I was really hoping the first action cue from the train derailing / bad guy escape scene would be included, but it doesn't seem to be there. Hopefully the Intrada version might have it.
Also really liked the lite Morricone flute motif that popped up here and there.
For me, Zimmer is one of those "broken clock is right twice a day" composers, and, thankfully, this is one of the correct times. The music was certainly the highlight of this generally wretched movie, and the arrangement of the William Tell Overture during the (actually well-done) train climax was terrific. I don't have the album, but I liked what I heard in the movie.
(My only problem with the William Tell Overture, and this sure ain't Zimmer's fault - I keep hearing intermixed with the overture OOOOOOOOO-klahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain).
Usually the other composers get credit, but it's inside the booklet. "Additional music by..." Only Zimmer's name seems to go on the front, with some exceptions like "Zimmer & Balfe" from time to time.
I don't get this about Zimmer. He seems to routinely get credit for a complete score even when significant portions weren't done by him.
This credit system is probably just a marketing scheme to get more people to go and see the film and pick up the album. I am sure credit is given where it is due within the industry.
Although I found the movie a colossal disappointment, this is probably the best Zimmer score I've personally heard in over a decade. I liked the use of the "William Tell Overture" when the climactic action started, even if it was a little out of place with the film's (wildly scattershot) tone, but he did overuse it as the big finale continued to play out. The impact of it was also lessened a little bit by its brief appearance at the beginning of the film, which kind of spoiled the surprise.
Still, it was a fun score and the first new Zimmer work since the early-2000s that I would consider buying.
Anyone know if Zimmer's score (not the wretched "songtrack") is going to be released on CD? Found it on iTunes, but nothing on Amazon or the likely label sites.
I've only seen the film, I haven't heard the soundtrack yet -- but YES! What a great score. I can't wait to explore it on its own. The music was one of the sole virtues of the film.
Then again, I'm a Hans Zimmer fan to the bone, and also enjoyed the much-hated MAN OF STEEL (more now than in the beginning).
Anyone know if Zimmer's score (not the wretched "songtrack") is going to be released on CD? Found it on iTunes, but nothing on Amazon or the likely label sites.
I think Intrada is going to release it on CD, since they now have a partnership with Disney. There's even a page for the CD version listed on Amazon that says "Currently Unavailable," but lists Walt Disney Records/Intrada as the label.
Obviously, Intrada had high hopes that this would be another high-profile smash like "The Avengers" was last year. But alas, the film is a monumental flop. Probably not a big problem for Intrada -- they don't have to make up hundreds of millions of dollars. But a shame for them that they can't hitch their wagon to a smash film.
Doug has this posted over at the Intrada site (not sure how I missed it):
7/2/13 In anticipation of seeing Disney's epic The Lone Ranger over the 4th of July holiday period, I simply could not resist telling people that our album (coming out on the 23rd) is fabulous. Biased, yes. But it is Hans Zimmer in his most kinetic, melodic, exciting mode! And that is something worth talking about. There are shades of the "spaghetti western" melded into Zimmer-style action that certainly does excite. And a nearly ten-minute long cue, launching with the familiar William Tell strains and morphing into Zimmer's thematic material is a genuine highlight. In the other direction, some tender and moving violin solos keep everything rooted in darker, more serious melody. I sure hope you Zimmer fans enjoy this one!
