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This is a comments thread about FSM CD: It's Alive
 
 Posted:   Mar 6, 2012 - 11:15 AM   
 By:   .   (Member)

Ordered, of course.
But I'm hoping the sound quality will be a bit better than the clips suggest.

 
 Posted:   Mar 6, 2012 - 12:25 PM   
 By:   David Sones (Allardyce)   (Member)

Watching the movie right now, and ya know... this is a pretty good movie, relatively speaking. Obviously it's not an artistic triumph or a critical darling, but it's a low-budget creeper with some thoughts in its head. Given the genre, that it even attempts those two is commendable, but it makes a pretty effective film. Then again, I was raised on movies like this, so maybe I'm biased. big grin

And the music's great! I really, REALLY love the bass. Can't wait til I have the money to order this puppy.


When I first saw it, I was impressed/amazed by the emotional depth of the piece. There are some scenes of genuine sadness that were really effective and unexpected.

 
 Posted:   Mar 6, 2012 - 2:16 PM   
 By:   KOP   (Member)

Anybody happen to know when this will begin shipping?

I received my shipping notice ten minutes ago.

 
 Posted:   Mar 6, 2012 - 3:03 PM   
 By:   Moonie   (Member)

just got my shipping notice smile

 
 
 Posted:   Mar 6, 2012 - 5:15 PM   
 By:   RM Eastman   (Member)

Mine was shipped, I ordered this because I'm a Herrmann completist not becase I like this ordinary Herrmann.

 
 
 Posted:   Mar 7, 2012 - 12:20 PM   
 By:   Francis   (Member)

As an impressionable teen, this movie scared me and made me sad for the misunderstood killer demon baby at the end.

I remember this scaring the **** out of me back in the days of video rental places where all you had to go on where the vhs covers. No reviews on the internet or imdb, only what's on the box. I never did rent it, but saw it broadcast on the bbc once and it freaked me out. I'll probably react differently today but it's fun to have those memories of these titles smile

I haven't ordered the FSM yet but am waiting to pair it up with some other goodies.

 
 Posted:   Mar 7, 2012 - 12:28 PM   
 By:   Freejack   (Member)

Ordered this title today.

A little fun trivia:
Herrmann's score for IT's ALIVE was used in the workprint for the unfinished film GRIZZLY 2 (1983).
Thought I recognised the music when I watched the print. wink

 
 Posted:   Mar 8, 2012 - 9:36 AM   
 By:   Moonie   (Member)

Something in my mail box today and you know what, ITS ALIVE!!

 
 
 Posted:   Mar 8, 2012 - 11:57 AM   
 By:   Jim Doherty   (Member)

Right off the bat, let me thank FSM for finally getting this Herrmann score out there. It's always nice to fill another gap in the ol' Herrmann collection. Nice booklet too.

On the other hand, here comes the big "however" section:

Musically, this is not top-drawer Herrmann. It’s a score which works very well within the film to increase suspense and add to the overall oppressive feeling of despair the story exudes, but, except for a handful of cues, it does not really make for compelling listening.

It really pains me to say this, but sonically, I would have to rank this as the worst-sounding FSM CD I own (and I have about half of them). I remember Lukas apologizing in the ON DANGEROUS GROUND booklet for the sound quality of that CD. Most of the problems there were brought about by acetate surface noise, but at least the music, on a giant percentage of the cuts, still had a nice, full range to it. To me, it’s an audio masterpiece next to IT’S ALIVE. I don’t know what shape those mono tapes from Warners were in, but I truly feel a better transfer job could have been done. First of all, some unfortunate time-delay-type of fake stereo processing has been applied which gives most of the cuts a hollow sound as if they were recorded through a cardboard tube. Plus, the EQ seems WAY off, like somebody cranked up the treble until the music sounds like it’s playing over a portable radio. It’s unpleasantly and annoyingly shrill. If this was really the best possible sound extractable from the tapes, that would be one thing, but by applying massive amounts of EQ correction to the CD, I was able to come up with a much more pleasing, smoother-sounding result (although it’s still far from perfect, at least it’s not assaulting your ears). It’s a shame the mastering engineer didn’t do that.

I must say that getting alternate versions of two cues was a happy surprise, but not having that one little missing 0:05 cue “How Lucky They Are”, however insignificant it may be, is just one of those niggly little “Aw!, it was ALMOST complete” details that leaves one a little itchy, especially when it’s been floating around amongst collectors for years.

Once again, when all is said and done, thank you FSM for putting this out, but, buyer beware.

 
 
 Posted:   Mar 8, 2012 - 12:39 PM   
 By:   roy phillippe   (Member)

I'm sad that it isn't OBSESSION, but IT'S ALIVE was in my top-five Herrmann wants, so I will order it shortly. Good, but not great news, for me.

Obsession, the album version, was released on CD in 1994 by Unicorn Records. It also contained Herrrmann's suites "Welles Raises Kane' and "The Devil And Daniel Webster".
I too would like to see an expanded version.

 
 
 Posted:   Mar 8, 2012 - 4:18 PM   
 By:   Robert0320   (Member)

Got mine today...prime Herrmann. It's so ncie to finally have this. I have placed it next to the Herrmann at Fox. Hopefully soon, I can lean CAPE FEAR against the other side.

 
 
 Posted:   Mar 8, 2012 - 4:55 PM   
 By:   .   (Member)

It really pains me to say this, but sonically, I would have to rank this as the worst-sounding FSM CD I own (and I have about half of them).

I had hoped the sound quality of the clips might be misleading and the sound of the actual CD would be a lot better. After reading the above, I'm not so hopeful. Still, when mine arrives I'm sure I'll be pleased to have what's there, rather than not have it. A previously-unreleased Herrmann is always a prize.

 
 
 Posted:   Mar 8, 2012 - 5:07 PM   
 By:   RM Eastman   (Member)

Gave this a listen, first impression is that the score is mighty boring. Certainly one of Herrmann's weakest efforts. Repeat listening value= 0. Who knows maybe after a few listens I will like it?

 
 Posted:   Mar 8, 2012 - 5:12 PM   
 By:   MerM   (Member)

If anyone is unsatisfied with the CD, I'd be willing to take it off your hands for a reasonable price (see my post on the trading board).

 
 
 Posted:   Mar 8, 2012 - 7:28 PM   
 By:   dan the man   (Member)

I tell you Herrmann's music to It's alive was so important and help made the film, but yes the wonderful score of God told me to by Frank Cordell would have been even more more wonderful, film and music is much underrated.

 
 
 Posted:   Mar 8, 2012 - 7:33 PM   
 By:   OnyaBirri   (Member)

I'm happy with "It's Alive 2," based on what I'm reading. Much as I love Herrmann, I'm not a completist with regard to any artists.

 
 
 Posted:   Mar 8, 2012 - 7:37 PM   
 By:   GoblinScore   (Member)

Ah hell - if Doherty writes something like the above, then....

STILL, glad I have a copy on the way, will surely enjoy it
regardless. I hated It's Alive 2 on first listen, but grew to
like it, love it, then appreciate the subtleties - the band is
so close to what he used on TAXI DRIVER, I always likened
it to 'if Travis Bickle had kids, It's Alive would be there lullaby
nursery music'. Hey, whatever gets ya by.....

 
 Posted:   Mar 8, 2012 - 11:36 PM   
 By:   MerM   (Member)

Well, I just moved some funds around, so I placed my order! Sound quality be damned, I love the movie and the music that's attached to it. Definitely looking forward to the liner notes.

 
 Posted:   Mar 10, 2012 - 2:02 PM   
 By:   RR Aitken   (Member)

I'm listening to It's Alive for the first time as I write this thread post reply. If this is the best release available to purchase and listen to, I am thankful and happy. If the choice is between no legitimate cd release of the music and what FSM has provided, I vote for FSM. Thanks again Lukas and company. I love what you all have released over the years, and I appreciate the hard work.
All of the other Herrmann music that is currently unavailable, the holy grails that we want to purchase should come out eventually. We should be happy with all of the stuff that has arrived in just the last few months of the centennial. Bernie Herrmann LIVES!

 
 Posted:   Mar 10, 2012 - 6:07 PM   
 By:   Steve Johnson   (Member)

I just opened and played it, and by God, it's way better than I remembered. That old Hypnotic Herrmann magic in many cues.

Grazi, Senor Lukas, grazi!

 
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