Some splendid breaking news from Mutant. A follow up 10 disc CD set for series 2 (just like the first season) is currently with Bear's team for proofing and they hope to have it up for pre-order while Mr Mc is on his tour this summer. WOOT!!
YESSSSS... thank you for sharing the amazing news, Kev! (Was this via email? I don't see anything obvious on their website.)
IMO the Season 2 highlights album was rather a disappointment compared to the Season 1 album, so much shorter and leaving off so many highlights for seemingly little reason. So the episodic score albums for Season 2 are even MORE essential than the Season 1 ones were, and I can't wait to get another amazing CD box set!
I don't know why the second season score left me so cold. The new themes (apart from the catchy Bombadil melody) didn't grab me, and while the level of craft is still high, it leaned so hard (understandably) on existing themes that it felt like a retread. It needed a more notable new theme that would actually get some mileage in the body of the score. The forking story, which seemed even more fragmented than Season 1, did McCreary no favors in this department, but even the returning themes seemed very similar in their applications and orchestrations. I wanted to love this score as much as I did the first, but the highlights album didn't justify an album purchase for me, and I got a little lost in deja vu in the episode albums. Do the episode albums have counter-examples anyone can point to? What did people think was the best stuff in the season?
Some splendid breaking news from Mutant. A follow up 10 disc CD set for series 2 (just like the first season) is currently with Bear's team for proofing and they hope to have it up for pre-order while Mr Mc is on his tour this summer. WOOT!!
That's such good news! Been hoping to hear a confirmation of this all year. I was lucky enough to pick up one of the 10-CD sets in the brief time it was available before selling out and have been holding out for news of the 2nd season one. I wonder if they'll make more sets this time around, or if it will be like the land race at the end of Far and Away?
YESSSSS... thank you for sharing the amazing news, Kev! (Was this via email? I don't see anything obvious on their website.)
IMO the Season 2 highlights album was rather a disappointment compared to the Season 1 album, so much shorter and leaving off so many highlights for seemingly little reason. So the episodic score albums for Season 2 are even MORE essential than the Season 1 ones were, and I can't wait to get another amazing CD box set!
Yavar
I haven't seen Season 2 yet and While I did buy the season 1 box set. I'm not sure if Ill be getting this 2nd season. I dont how how great the overall score is given the feedback on the highlights release. Any more elaborations anyone?
IMO the Season 2 highlights album was rather a disappointment compared to the Season 1 album, so much shorter and leaving off so many highlights for seemingly little reason. So the episodic score albums for Season 2 are even MORE essential than the Season 1 ones were, and I can't wait to get another amazing CD box set!
Yavar
Interesting. I find the Season 2 album even better than the Season 1 album. It is more varied and a more satisfying listening experience as a whole. I really loved the Season 1 highlights album but even to my own surprise the Season 2 album managed to improve on it. As for the episodic albums, I have tried to listen to them on Spotify but there's simply too much music and it became boring after a while. I do prefer the highlight albums even if there are some wonderful tracks missing.
I haven't seen Season 2 yet and While I did buy the season 1 box set. I'm not sure if Ill be getting this 2nd season. I dont how how great the overall score is given the feedback on the highlights release. Any more elaborations anyone?
There's an awful lot of very good music left off the season 2 album. For some episodes, the individual albums are far stronger.
I thought the season album was too heavy on vocal performances and a few character/culture themes that don't stand out for me given the entire score. I don't like the song version of Tom Bombadil, plus the Damrod concert piece in my humble view was a misstep - the associated score cue is leagues better. Given the material available, it feels like an inferior OST to the first.
Definitely hope I'm around when this box comes out, as I've got the first and love it.
I haven't seen Season 2 yet and While I did buy the season 1 box set. I'm not sure if Ill be getting this 2nd season. I dont how how great the overall score is given the feedback on the highlights release. Any more elaborations anyone?
There's an awful lot of very good music left off the season 2 album. For some episodes, the individual albums are far stronger.
I thought the season album was too heavy on vocal performances and a few character/culture themes that don't stand out for me given the entire score. I don't like the song version of Tom Bombadil, plus the Damrod concert piece in my humble view was a misstep - the associated score cue is leagues better. Given the material available, it feels like an inferior OST to the first.
Definitely hope I'm around when this box comes out, as I've got the first and love it.
I suppose I better catch up with season 2 first but Its likely I will go for the 2nd thereafter. My first set is currently languishing at a family house in USA waiting for a transit. LOL
I held off buying the 2CD edition for Series 2, just in case this scenario emerged. It's expected that there is/was re-use of material from S1, but the existing music is so good, it's like having to put up with all that repeated Williams/Goldsmith/Horner music from their fantasy/sci-fi sequel scores. And the Tom Bombadil music is amongst THE BEST new music I've heard in years...so I'm ALL OVER that stuff.
The one thing worse than not having the 10-CD set of season one (like me) is having the season one set but then being beaten to getting the second season set. Or even worse, having both season sets but then missing out on the third season set when that comes out.
I really hate these limited-edition sell-outs, especially when primarily only available in the US anyway. UK fans get shafted or fleeced on eBay.
I have a 63-minute playlist, whittled down from the (excessive) highlights disc of the first season, and I'm thinking that is all the music I need from this series, ever. But if there's a considerable amount of new and different music on Vol. 2, of a similar calibre, I might - just might - consider making my own Vol. 2, whittled-down version of that as well. But at some point I need to say enough is enough.
Then that means you don't have ANY of the Tom Bombadil Theme/Song, Thor, which is amongst the best of the best stuff he's written for the series thus far.
Although often-times full of madness...sometimes the comments on YouTube can be quite beautiful and touching too. These are some responses to the Tom-Bom song...
The Tolkien fan in me is in tears, this is such a treat. I want to dance among the trees and wade in clear water. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
@mubarakmsjigirya886 7 months ago (edited) Episode 4 brought me here. I wish my late brother could hear this. ?? See you in Valinor.
@Tarek_altair 7 months ago It feels like I miss a place that I've never been
@Purplesquirrel31 6 months ago My 11 year old daughter has been falling asleep to this song for weeks now. She says it brings good dreams.
@YourFeaturePresentationPodcast 7 months ago Say what you will about the rings of power Bear Mccreary GETS Tolkien
My Mum loved Tom Bombadil. She would have loved this too. Whichever distant shore she walks now, I hope she can hear this song.
My wife played this song close to her belly while she was pregnant for our son, and since he was born a week ago, it has calmed him down every time we've played it for him. He just sits there calmly, listening intently.
Such a beautiful song makes us feel like nature loving, and a time full of adventures and happiness, and it has also tears of joys and hope.
I think Bear McCreary is the Ennio Morricone of the new millennium. Very difficult text to put into music, and Bear did it, creating an impressive atmosphere
Listened to the song -- it's okay. Kinda top-end Eurovision stuff, although I've never been a fan of Rufus Wainwright's singing.
The version in the 12-minute suite works better. Has a Gaelic tinge, he no doubt pulled on his OUTLANDER experience. I still think a lot of McCreary's music for this series just "sits there" - being pretty and all - but rarely with any depth, dynamic range and hooks. My 53-minute whittle works, though.
