A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 49, Now Playing... ”Thor: Love and Thunder”, ”Nope”, ”The Woman King”, "Black Adam" and more!

Welcome back to the show! In an effort to wrap up 2022, I’m concluding with an episode of the Now Playing sub-series of the podcast. This is following on from the previous Now Playing installment (episode 47) in which I primarily covered the first half of the year, including THE BATMAN and TOP GUN: MAVERICK, with additional notable highlights from late 2021. In this episode, enjoy music from John Williams, Lorne Balfe, Junkie XL, Alexandre Desplat among others! Below are the films and composers represented here, with time index for helpful reference. 

Title playtime index:

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER (Michael Giacchino & Nami Melumad) - 00:00:00

NOPE (Michael Abels) - 00:10:29

THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING (Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL) - 00:18:53

THE WOMAN KING (Terence Blanchard) - 00:27:18

THE LOST KING (Alexandre Desplat) - 00:34:41

BLACK ADAM (Lorne Balfe) - 00:42:30

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (Ludwig Göransson) - 00:53:07

THE FABELMANS (John Williams) - 1:03:57

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. 

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring me more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again! 

iTunes

Spotify

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 48, Listening To... Music from "Predator" and "Prey"

Welcome back to the podcast! In this episode, I present and examine the music composed for the PREDATOR film franchise, from the 1987 original through to the latest installment, PREY, released via the streaming service Hulu in August 2022. My goal is to identify the themes, motifs, instrumentation and approach applied by composer Alan Silvestri (BACK TO THE FUTURE, MOUSE HUNT, THE AVENGERS) to PREDATOR (1987) & PREDATOR 2 (1990) and how this symphonic model was subsequently interpreted in the sequels and spin-offs (or not). Later, PREY eschews much of the previous musical language and charts new sonic territory, with a subtle nod to Silvestri. Additional composers represented in this pulse-pounding episode include John Debney, Brian Tyler, Henry Jackman, Harald Kloser and Sarah Schachner. 

Title playtime index:

PREDATOR - 00:00:00

PREDATOR 2 - 00:26:25

ALIEN VS PREDATOR - 00:37:10

ALIENS VS PREDATOR: REQUIEM - 00:44:36

PREDATORS - 00:51:52

THE PREDATOR - 1:04:48

PREY - 1:19:23

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. 

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring me more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again! 

iTunes

Spotify

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 47, Now Playing... ”The Batman”, ”Death On The Nile”, ”The King’s Man” and more!

Welcome, everyone, to the next episode of the podcast! In this episode, I revisit a sub-series of the show called "Now Playing", during which I showcase recent soundtrack albums to which I’ve been listening. This can include music for both current film releases and classic scores newly issued on album. Below are the titles (and artists) that I present, mostly from the end of last year and the first half of 2022:

VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE - Marco Beltrami

ARMY OF THIEVES - Hans Zimmer & Steve Mazzaro

THE KING'S MAN - Matthew Margeson & Dominic Lewis

DEATH ON THE NILE (2022) - Patrick Doyle

UNCHARTED - Ramin Djawadi

DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS - Danny Elfman

THE BATMAN & JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION - Michael Giacchino

TOP GUN: MAVERICK - Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga, Hans Zimmer & Lorne Balfe

FIRESTARTER (1984) - Tangerine Dream

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. 

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring me more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

iTunes 

Spotify

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 46, The Evolving Sound of Science Fiction Cinema, Part 6 - The 1980's cont

Hello again and welcome back to the podcast! In this somewhat "super-sized" installment of my multi-part trek through the music of Science Fiction cinema, I attempt to close out the decade of the 1980's. The previous installment in this series focused on titles from the years 1980-82. Here, I cover the remaining years of the decade with examples of the competing and sometimes collaborative film music trends - pop & electronic and orchestral. 

The 1980’s were a peak time of musical surprises, somewhat akin to the 1960’s when we heard a mix of traditional orchestral scores, jazz, pop & rock-based colors as well as avant garde music derived from concert techniques. Following its revival, the large scale orchestral approach continued reigning over much of cinematic Science Fiction, now bolstered by electronic and choral elements. Parallel to this were the experiments in synth and pop styles, connecting the genre to present day (for the time) musical trends. To help identify these unique sonic qualities, I'll sample music from TERMINATOR (Brad Fiedel), 2010 (David Shire), ENEMY MINE (Maurice Jarre), KRULL (James Horner), SPACEHUNTER: ADVENTURES IN THE FORBIDDEN ZONE (Elmer Bernstein) and THE ABYSS (Alan Silvestri), amid more!

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. 

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring me more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

*Correction - During this episode, I mistakenly attributed the theme song for the TV series "Cheers" to composer Craig Safan. In fact, while Safan provided the series bumpers and underscore cues, the theme was composed by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo.

iTunes

Spotify

 

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 45, Guest Neil S. Bulk, soundtrack album producer and editor, 2021 in review

Welcome to the next new episode! I am pleased to be joined once more by soundtrack album producer and editor, Neil S. Bulk. As heard in previous years, which long-time listeners may recall, I’ve invited Neil back to reflect on his notable projects from the prior year, in this case 2021, for the various soundtrack record labels such as La La Land Records and Varese Sarabande. Topics range from work continuing during lockdown, rescores, film score presentations vs original albums and guessing as to what was happening in 1989 with recorded cues now missing. 

Titles discussed in this episode include:

 

THE NEXT KARATE KID (Bill Conti/William Ross)

STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, GLORY, FIELD OF DREAMS (James Horner)

STRIPES (Elmer Bernstein)

CABOBLANCO, THE STRIPPER, S*P*Y*S, TORA! TORA! TORA!, ACE ELI AND RODGER OF THE SKIES (Jerry Goldsmith)

THE TIME TUNNEL (1960's TV series) (John Williams, various)

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (Alfred Newman)

LOVE ACTUALLY (Craig Armstrong)

DANTE'S PEAK (James Newton Howard/John Frizzel)

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. 

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring me more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

iTunes

Spotify

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 44, The Evolving Sound of Science Fiction Cinema, Part 5 - The 1980's

Welcome to 2022, everyone! In this first podcast episode of the year, my multi-part journey into the music of Science Fiction cinema and its evolving soundscape through the decades continues. We’re now crossing over into the 1980’s, following on from the seismic shift in film scoring which occurred with the unexpected arrival of STAR WARS in 1977 and its John Williams-penned symphonic score, hearkening back to the sounds of the classical Hollywood era. This symphonic shadow loomed large over Sci-Fi movies of the 80's, as heard here in music composed by James Horner (BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS, STAR TREK II), John Scott (THE FINAL COUNTDOWN) and Elmer Bernstein (SATURN 3, HEAVY METAL).  However, the incorporation of synthesizers into soundtracks increased, both combined with large orchestras and also in solo efforts, such as John Carpenter's ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981) and the inimitable Vangelis score for BLADE RUNNER (1982).

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. 

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring me more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

iTunes

Spotify

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 43, The Evolving Sound of Science Fiction Cinema, Part 4 - The 1970's cont

Greetings everyone! In this new episode of the podcast, my sonic journey through the music for Science Fiction cinema through the decades continues, by closing out the 1970's. This will focus on titles from the 1977-1979 years, and more specifically STAR WARS and the ripples created by that seismic shift of its musical score composed by John Williams. The electronic and avant garde sounds of the genre heard during the early Seventies found themselves supplanted by the return of those of the Golden Age of Hollywood, being the more traditionally symphonic soundscapes.  

John Williams features prominently as expected, by way of not only STAR WARS but both CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND and SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE, along with titles by Jerry Goldsmith (DAMNATION ALLEY, ALIEN, STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE), John Barry (STARCRASH, THE BLACK HOLE), Laurence Rosenthal (THE ISLAND OF DR MOREAU, METEOR), Brian May (MAD MAX) and others.

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. 

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring me more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

iTunes

Spotify

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 42, The Evolving Sound of Science Fiction Cinema, Part 3 - The 1970's

Hi again everybody! In this episode of the podcast, my multi-part deep dive into the malleable soundscape of Science Fiction cinema continues, with the focus today being the 1970’s. Well, to be more specific, this episode focuses on the first half of the 1970's. It was a period when the sweeping symphonic sound of the Golden Age had briefly faded, mostly supplanted by either pop inflected scores and songs, tracked in classical works or experimental, often electronic tones. Sci-fi film scores (and composers) represented here include COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT (Michel Colombier), THE OMEGA MAN (Ron Grainer), SILENT RUNNING (Peter Schickele), SOYLENT GREEN (Fred Myrow), LOGAN'S RUN (Jerry Goldsmith) and a suite of music from the four PLANET OF THE APES sequels.

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. 

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

iTunes

Spotify

 

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 41, The Evolving Sound of Science Fiction Cinema, Part 2- The 1960's

Welcome back to the podcast! In this episode I continue on to the next chapter of a multi-part deep dive, into the evolving music of Science Fiction cinema through the decades, with my focus today being the 1960’s. Thus far, we’ve journeyed through the 1950’s scores which were brimming with electric violins, theremins, Novachords, jarring stinger chords and harsh onslaughts of brass and percussion.

Now, as we advance into the 1960's, we'll hear sumptuous symphonic scores for THE TIME MACHINE (1960) and MASTER OF THE WORLD (1961), pop and jazz influences in PANIC IN YEAR ZERO! (1962) and BARBARELLA (1968) and avant garde concert techniques expressed in the music for FANTASTIC VOYAGE (1966) and PLANET OF THE APES (1968). Composers represented here include Bernard Herrmann, Jerry Goldsmith, Les Baxter, Russell Garcia, Akira Ifukube - plus vocal crooning by Frankie Avalon! I also include samples of Alex North's original, unused score for the Stanley Kubrick directed, game-changing classic 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY.

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. 

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

iTunes

Spotify

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 40, The Evolving Sound of Science Fiction Cinema, Part 1 - The 1950's

Welcome to this new episode of the podcast - the 40th! Beginning with this episode, my plan is to present a multi-part analysis into a specific cinematic genre, that being the music of science fiction through the years. The 1950's is often considered the initial Golden Age of Science Fiction, when the genre showcased its own distinctiveness onscreen and gained notoriety in part due to films such as THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951), CONQUEST OF SPACE (1955) and INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956). Music from this decade's theatrical entries is where my listening journey will start, including selections composed by Bernard Herrmann, Leith Stevens, Herman Stein and Nathan Van Cleave. 

Of course, this isn’t meant to be an exhaustive or definitive overview in any sense of the word, consisting instead of my own observations of how music for science fiction movies, those involving outer space, invading aliens and time travel, developed its own personality and evolved over time. With luck, my reach won't exceed my grasp and I will endeavor to produce an episode for each decade at least up until the 1990's. As a teaser, I've created a special suite of musical selections from various Sci-Fi film scores from the 50's to the 90's. 

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. 

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

iTunes

Spotify

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 39, Composer Benji Merrison ("SAS: Red Notice")

Hello again and welcome back to the podcast! On this episode, I am joined by the brilliantly skilled composer Benji Merrison. Benji is based in London and has provided music across a wide spectrum of media, from TV to film, documentaries and art installations. His background includes both formal music schooling as well as music production and engineering. Some of Benji Merrison's previous projects include TV series for BBC 1 such as FORCES OF NATURE, DYNASTIES and GREEN PLANET. Today, I have welcomed him to my podcast to talk about his latest feature film, the action thriller SAS: RED NOTICE, directed by Magnus Martens. The soundtrack for SAS: RED NOTICE is available from Lakeshore Records.

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. 

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

ASTS on iTunes

ASTS on Spotify

A Score to Settle Podcast - Episode 38, Composer Matthew Head ("Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia")

Welcome back to the podcast! Marvelously proficient composer, arranger and songwriter Matthew Head joins me on this episode to discuss his background and diverse career. Matthew's soundtracks have garnered Grammy, Emmy, Peabody and NAACP awards and nominations, all while working from his home in Marietta, Georgia. His notable projects include TV series such as GREENLEAF (on OWN), Boomerang (on BET), THE FAMILY and P-VALLEY. Here I talk with Matthew about composing and arranging score and songs for the new Lifetime feature, ROBIN ROBERTS PRESENTS: MAHALIA, which details the life of gospel music legend Mahalia Jackson, starring Danielle Brooks and directed by Kenny Leon.

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. Everyone stay safe out there, wear a mask, take care of yourself and each other!

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

iTunes

Spotify

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 37, composer Grant Fonda ("The House That Rob Built")

Welcome to this next new episode of the podcast! I am joined by the wonderfully innovative composer Grant Fonda. Grant has contributed music to various multi-media projects, including notable documentaries such as THE DATING PROJECT and the award-winning DOWN THE FENCE, and is graciously taking time to talk about his score for the new documentary feature film entitled THE HOUSE THAT ROB BUILT, which premiered in February 2021. THE HOUSE THAT ROB BUILT was directed by Jonathan Cipiti and Megan Harrington and focuses on the formation of women’s collegiate basketball in the state of Montana, specifically the Lady Griz basketball team as coached by Rob Selvig. Both the documentary and Grant Fonda’s music is now available to purchase through the major streaming music services. 

As always, I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. In this instance, there is construction noise that is audible during portions of the interview. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. Everyone stay safe out there, wear a mask, take care of yourself and each other!

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

ASTS on iTunes

ASTS on Spotify

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 36, composer Enis Rotthoff ("Love Sarah")

Hello again everyone! In this new episode of my podcast, I chat with multi-talented composer Enis Rotthoff. Enis, born in Berlin, is a well established and distinct voice in German cinema and in recent years has been been cultivating an impressive reputation here in the United States. He has composed music for diverse films such as GUNS AKIMBO and THE SUNLIT NIGHT and I'm pleased to welcome Enis to the podcast to discuss his latest feature, LOVE SARAH. Released in January 2021, LOVE SARAH was directed by Eliza Shroeder and is now available on all major streaming platforms. Rotthoff collaborated closely with director Eliza Schroeder on the score, recording the music with the Budapest Art Orchestra and also blending electronic sounds with acoustic instruments.

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. Everyone stay safe out there, wear a mask, take care of yourself and each other!

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

ASTS on iTunes

ASTS on Spotify

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 35, Guest Neil S. Bulk, soundtrack album producer and editor, 2020 in review

Welcome to the first episode of the podcast of 2021! I am joined once more by soundtrack album producer and editor Neil S. Bulk to review his projects from last year and discuss surprises, roadblocks and highlights. covered in this episode include THE KARATE KID II and THE KARATE KID III, music composed by Bill Conti, both deluxe editions released from La-La Land Records, completing the trilogy alongside their previous release of 1984's THE KARATE KID. Following on from this, we discuss HOFFA (David Newman), DARKMAN (Danny Elfman), MR. MOM (Lee Holdridge), JACOB'S LADDER (Maurice Jarre) and a batch of 1960's era Jerry Goldsmith scores presented on the new GOLDSMITH AT 20TH (formerly 20th Century Fox) series from the aforementioned La-La Land Records. Neil also adds some comments about working on the recently expanded 2-CD edition of Goldsmith's final theatrical score, LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION, from 2003.

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. Everyone stay safe out there, wear a mask, take care of yourself and each other!

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

On iTunes

On Spotify

ASTS 035

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 34, Listening To... "Star Trek: The Next Generation"

Welcome back, everyone! In this episode of the podcast, I am charting the musical journey of the popular TV series, STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, which ran from 1987 to 1994. THE NEXT GENERATION, or TNG, was a sequel syndicated series to the beloved original STAR TREK series, the first spin-off in what is now a long-running media franchise. TNG ran successfully for 7 seasons before leaping to the big screen in four feature films, closing out in 2002 with STAR TREK: NEMESIS. Personally, it happens to be my favorite TV series, it's what made me into a Star Trek fan and features some of my favorite music for television. 

The three primary composers on TNG were Dennis McCarthy, Ron Jones and Jay Chattaway. Only 4 episodes out of the 178 total received music from guest composers. My aim, as with other installments in my "Listening To..." episodes, is to identify the hallmarks of the show's overall musical style, where each composer's sound represented this and differed and then how the music evolved during its 7-year run. 

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. Everyone stay safe, take care of yourself and each other!

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-score-to-settle/id1317649943?mt=2

https://open.spotify.com/show/1KS5lN5RfVQ1claGbxR2YJ

https://ascoretosettle.podbean.com/e/asts-034-listening-to-star-trek-the-next-generation/

 

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 33, "Dragonslayer (1981)/Guest Todd Smith (fan chat)

Welcome to the next new episode of the podcast! It's been awhile since my last episode of this variety, being that it is split into two segments - the first focuses on a notable, favorite score of mine, followed by a segment that is a free-wheeling chat between myself and another soundtrack fan! Modernist composer Alex North's challenging, complex and arresting score for the 1981 dark fantasy film DRAGONSLAYER has long been considered memorable for the genre overall. I briefly present North's background before turning my attention to DRAGONSLAYER, its recurring themes and motifs and where it fits among his other epic scores.

Following this, I talk with a fellow movie music fan and my good friend of more than 25 years, Todd Smith. He shares what scores initially caught his attention, becoming a soundtrack collector and what makes this music memorable, along with many mentions of James Horner's music. The beginning of our own friendship is shared, all thanks to the early days of Film Score Monthly.

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. Everyone stay safe, take care of yourself and each other!

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

https://ascoretosettle.podbean.com/e/asts-033-dragonslayer-1981guest-todd-smith-fan-chat/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-score-to-settle/id1317649943?mt=2

https://open.spotify.com/show/1KS5lN5RfVQ1claGbxR2YJ

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 32, Listening to... "Lethal Weapon" (Part 2)

Hello everyone! This is part two of my investigation into the music of the popular cop/action film series, LETHAL WEAPON, composed by Michael Kamen, Eric Clapton and David Sanborn, and its fusion of rock, blues and orchestral stylings. In part one, I focused on the original, released in 1987, and the first sequel, along with presenting contextual examples from scores for police and detective movies which preceded this series. Here, I continue on into LETHAL WEAPON 3 (1992) and LETHAL WEAPON 4 (1998) while for context I touch upon other scores by Michael Kamen from the same time period. In the late 1980's and throughout much of the 90's, Kamen's stirring approach of orchestral acrobatics defined the sound of cinematic action, including genre highlights such as DIE HARD, HUDSON HAWK and ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES.

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and kindly forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. Everyone stay safe, take care of yourself and each other!

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-score-to-settle/id1317649943?mt=2

https://open.spotify.com/show/1KS5lN5RfVQ1claGbxR2YJ

https://ascoretosettle.podbean.com/e/asts-032-listening-to-lethal-weapon-part-2/

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 31, Listening to... "Lethal Weapon" (Part 1)

Hello everyone! In this new episode of the podcast, I am exploring the music of the popular cop/action film series, LETHAL WEAPON, from the initial installment which appeared onscreen in 1987 up to LETHAL WEAPON 4, released in 1998. The scores, as composed by Michael Kamen, Eric Clapton and David Sanborn, are a colorful, exciting fusion of genres, such as rock, blues and orchestral, feature memorable character motifs along with instrumental solos by Clapton on guitar and Sanborn on saxophone. I begin by spotlighting examples of music from cop & detective movies preceding LETHAL WEAPON, noting how the styles moved from dissonant, dark orchestral turmoil to downtrodden, lonely sounds that often incorporated popular trends of the time, my aim being to provide some historical context for where the LETHAL WEAPON scores both follow this model and chart a new path.

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and forgive any technical or factual gaffes. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean. Everyone stay safe, take care of yourself and each other!

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-score-to-settle/id1317649943?mt=2

https://open.spotify.com/show/1KS5lN5RfVQ1claGbxR2YJ

https://ascoretosettle.podbean.com/e/asts-031-listening-to-lethal-weapon/

A Score To Settle Podcast - Episode 30, Guest Neil S. Bulk, soundtrack album producer and editor

Soundtrack album producer and editor Neil S. Bulk returns to the podcast, in this special "bulk size" episode, to discuss several of his notable film score restorations accomplished during 2019! He shares behind-the-scenes information and anecdotes from wonderful projects he guided last year for fan favorite labels, including La-La Land Records, Quartet Records and Varese Sarabande. I ask Neil about his work on the 5-disc PLANET OF THE APES box set, which collected all music from the original five films of the beloved franchise. In addition, we chat about eagerly anticipated expanded album releases such as THE SWARM (1978), THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY (1978) and U.S. MARSHALS (1998), all composed by Jerry Goldsmith, KARATE KID (1984) by Bill Conti and STARGATE (1994) by David Arnold. We also spend time talking James Horner's haunting, lush score for LEGENDS OF THE FALL from 1994 and its expanded edition from Intrada Records. Stay safe and healthy, everyone!

I hope that everyone who listens will enjoy the episode and forgive any technical or factual gaffes, in fact the sound on my mic can be a bit "hot" during this interview. Below is the embedded player from which you can listen or simply click on the website link to head directly to where the podcast is hosted on Podbean.

Feel free to subscribe and download the episode via iTunes, just search their store for "a score to settle" or launch from the link below. If you do listen through iTunes, take a moment to rate the show and write a review, it will help bring more notice. The podcast is also available on Spotify! Check out the links to the Facebook and Twitter accounts, the latter of which can be found at @score2settlepod. Thanks again!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-score-to-settle/id1317649943?mt=2

https://open.spotify.com/show/1KS5lN5RfVQ1claGbxR2YJ

https://ascoretosettle.podbean.com/e/asts-030-guest-neil-s-bulk-album-producer-and-editor/