1 |
Moonrise |
2 |
No Cures / Looking or Fox |
3 |
The Trip To DC |
4 |
Father
Joe |
5 |
What
If You're Wrong / Sister |
6 |
Ybara The Strange / Waterboard |
7 |
Can't Sleep |
8 |
March
And Dig / Girl InThe Box |
9 |
A Higher Conscious |
10 |
The
Surgery |
11 |
Good
Luck |
12 |
Seizure
/ Attempted Escape |
13 |
Foot
Chase |
14 |
Mountain
Montage / The Plow |
15 |
Photo
Evidence |
16 |
The
Preparation |
17 |
Tranquilized
|
18 |
The
Axe Post |
19 |
Box
Them |
20 |
Home
Again |
21 |
X-Files
(Unkle Variation On A Theme Surrender Sounds Session
#10) |
22 |
Broken
- Unkle |
23 |
Dying
To Live - Xzibit |
SOUNDTRACK REVIEW:
If you haven’t caught the movie, you may not know what
the plot of this second feature film adaptation of the acclaimed
and controversial TV series is about. But if you were a loyal
follower of this successful series, you should know that theme
composed by Mark Snow. Yes, that theme which rings in your
ear every time an episode plays on your television screen.
Therein lies the problem of producing a feature film score
soundtrack album based on such a well known series –
you expect the familiar theme to come up every now and then.
So when
we popped this disc into the player, we were listening hard
for that theme in every one of the 23 tracks on this 71 minute
album. The only time when it plays in full force is on the
remix cue “X-Files (Unkle Variation On A Theme Surrender
Sounds Session #10)”. Other that that, it’ll take
an attentive listener to spot the subtle appearances of the
recognizable six note motif scattered throughout the album.
In the
fashion of the series, we shall leave you to be like FBI agents
to find out which tracks contain traces of this memorable
theme, or for that matter, figure out the plot of the movie
by analyzing the track names. Instead, we shall explore the
other aspects of the score.
Upon first
listen, this album doesn’t come off as a disc you’d
be playing too often. It may sound disjointed, jarring and
incoherent – without a common thread to tie the numerous
tracks together. You get occasional spurts of supernaturally
tingling sounds (“Moonrise”, “What If You
Are Wrong/ Sister”), soaring and spiritually uplifting
vocals (“No Cures/ Looking For Fox”, “The
Surgery”) and action music that pounds your heart (“Foot
Chase”, “The Preparation”). And to market
this album, there are also contributions by British musical
outfit UNKLE and American rapper Xzibit.
But
for one who truly appreciates scores, this album is worth
repeated explorations. There are some tender moments in tracks
like “The Trip to DC” and “Home Again”
which are melancholically heartrending. The lonely piano and
the majestic French horns complement each other perfectly
in the simple orchestrations. Take a moment to slow down your
pace to appreciate these finer moments, uncover the truth
out there, and you’d be glad to believe.
ALBUM
RATING:
Recommended Track: (3) The Trip to DC
Review
by John Li
|