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Author	Topic: "Notes on a Scandal" is calling...... shall I answer?

NeoVoyager Standard Userer	Well, SoundtrackNet has done me in yet again. This evening, I see in my RSS aggregator the new SoundtrackNet review for "Notes on a Scandal," and... completely against my better judgment, I clicked on it. Now I'm finished with Andrew's review and... as I fully expected/dreaded, my pocketbook is about to be $9.99 lighter as my mouse itches for the iTunes Store "buy" button. I've been purchasing WAY too much music these last two months, and I'm having to exercise a little restraint of late! What do you all think of this score before I take the plunge? A lot of people here have very good taste, and not many soundtrack sites have a review up yet, so I thought I'd ask! Thanks in advance.
posted 01-31-2007 10:16 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	I haven't seen NOTES ON A SCANDAL, but I've been absorbing the album of Philip Glass's music these last three days, and I quite like what he's done here. The first half of the album goes by in fairly non-descript perpetual motion, with one lovely self-rip early on. But somewhere about 20 minutes before the end it takes off to be that Glass thriller score we've been waiting. The ideas he's been playing with in UNDERTOW, SECRET WINDOW and TAKING LIVE merge with the orchestration of THE HOURS for some fantastic accumulating tension cues. 'Someone has Died' has a great climax... grinding low strings collide with slow syncopated arpeggios. 'It's Your Choice' is another great work of tumult. Those last seven cues together add up to a fine finale.
posted 01-31-2007 10:33 PM PT (US)

Demetris Christodoulides Standard Userer	No, shut the phone to its face. One of the same, and he has done so many better scores. Get FOG OF WAR / THE HOURS / THE ILLUSIONIST / NAQOYQATSI instead and if you don't already have them. [Message edited by Demetris Christodoulides on 02-01-2007]
posted 01-31-2007 11:48 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	Well, there's a bit of variety for you. I've got a feeling I'm right though. I just asked myself.
posted 02-01-2007 12:45 AM PT (US)

NeoVoyager Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by franz_conrad: I've got a feeling I'm right though. I just asked myself. LOL. Well, I actually don't own any Glass scores, besides his (previously written) contributions to "The Truman Show" and "The Hours" suite. However, seeing as how this just got nominated for an Oscar, I am feeling some attraction to it. If it wins, I'll definitely have to pick it up... as is my tradition (I buy whichever scores win the Golden Globe and Oscar yearly). Thanks for your input!
posted 02-01-2007 08:56 AM PT (US)

Shaun Rutherford Standard Userer	Get Itaipu and come back to thank me later. Shaun [Message edited by Shaun Rutherford on 02-01-2007]
posted 02-01-2007 09:46 AM PT (US)

Demetris Christodoulides Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by NeoVoyager: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by franz_conrad: [b]I've got a feeling I'm right though. I just asked myself. <HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE> LOL. Well, I actually don't own any Glass scores, [/B] Then i insist on what i said even more
posted 02-01-2007 09:49 AM PT (US)

nuts_score Standard Userer	I say skip it; I was entirely disappointed. If you're new to Glass stick with his -qatsi music or Kundun; they are great starters and can easily prepare you for his very singular style. He did have two very good efforts this year, however, with The Illusionist and Roving Mars; though prefer the latter.
posted 02-01-2007 03:47 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	Gentlemen, gentlemen! Surely if someone's new to Glass, the diminishing returns we've all felt are rather irrelevant to them, and this score could be their HOURS or KUNDUN or whatever. I have the same thing with Glass re: KUNDUN - few understand why I love that score as much as I do: it was my first Philip Glass score. A couple of years later, more were overwhelmed by THE HOURS, which was great, but to anyone who knew Glass' back catalogue by the stage, very familiar, with themes from THE THIN BLUE LINE, the opera SATYRAGIA (sorry about spelling) and METAMORPHOSIS making the whole thing sound less novel. I'm very surprised there's not more feeling for this score. While I'd hardly give it 5 stars, it's certainly a novel approach to a FATAL ATTRACTION/stalkerish-genre, and the climax of the album takes Glass into some really interesting new territory. (Not that the first 2/3 aren't distinguishable from everything else he has done.)
posted 02-01-2007 07:39 PM PT (US)

Demetris Christodoulides Standard Userer	Whatever The man's new into Philip Glass. You don't want to scare him away with a dull one, he'll probably never go back to Glass again, after that hehe. How could i forget KUNDUN! Thanks nuts. Add that one with the rest of what's written above
posted 02-01-2007 08:18 PM PT (US)

nuts_score Standard Userer	Glass' commissioned work on Tod Browning's '35 version of Dracula (featuring a bare Kronos Quartet put through the ringer) was my introduction. It's still one that I revisit; but it doesn't have the same effect on me that, say, Kundun or even Mishima has on me. It is another good one and if you like very intense string-driven scores it's definitely not to be missed. I don't think I've listened to The Hours since after its post-Oscar buzz. I'm not discrediting it, but I've always been more attracted to the Glass affairs that get less recognition. [Message edited by nuts_score on 02-01-2007]
posted 02-01-2007 10:20 PM PT (US)

rkeaveney Standard Userer	I'll join Franz here in defending NOTES. Great, over-the-top stuff. It's this building throbbing intensity that works well with Glass' signature style. Great album too. Ryan
posted 02-01-2007 10:38 PM PT (US)

NeoVoyager Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Demetris Christodoulides: Whatever The man's new into Philip Glass. You don't want to scare him away with a dull one, he'll probably never go back to Glass again, after that hehe. How could i forget KUNDUN! Thanks nuts. Add that one with the rest of what's written above Well... I can't say I'm new to him... I've been listening to his music for 3-4 years; more like I simply haven't deliberately sought out much of his music (with a couple exceptions). I own his violin concerto (played by McDuffie), the Hours suite, and selections from Anima Mundi, Powaqqatsi, and Mishima (in the form of "The Truman Show" score). I liked most of what I heard there. The violin concerto is over-reliant on ostinati for my taste, and gets repetitive, but I do understand that is a defining aspect of his style. I liked the Hours too. I should totally watch Kundun... I've heard a lot about it and I'd like to hear the score. heads over to Netflix It's great to see all the responses! Thanks again. NP: Birth (Alexandre Desplat) **/***
posted 02-01-2007 10:47 PM PT (US)

NeoVoyager Standard Userer	Well, in lieu of the new review at Filmtracks, and other reviews that have been popping up around the 'net, I've decided to buy it. I can't resist any longer! I'll let y'all know what I think later...
posted 02-05-2007 01:06 PM PT (US)

sjd Non-Standard Userer	Does anyone know what the track listings are on the Academy Promo version of this score?
posted 04-28-2008 01:37 AM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by NeoVoyager: Well, in lieu of the new review at Filmtracks, and other reviews that have been popping up around the 'net, I've decided to buy it. I can't resist any longer! I'll let y'all know what I think later... What do you think of the score?
posted 04-28-2008 10:11 AM PT (US)

nuts_score Standard Userer	Sean, you just rose a thread from its grave! Are you some type of witch doctor or shaiman? I love reading these old opinions of mine, because I've changed my stance a bit on Notes; and I'm siding with Michael McLennan here. This is a strong effort, with some curious plays on thriller scoring. [Message edited by nuts_score on 04-28-2008]
posted 04-28-2008 10:24 AM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	Question: Where do good threads go to die? Answer: Phoenix. I must be a shaiman, because I have no idea what a "witch dcotor" is! HA! post script: "There Will Be Bud" is hilarious!
posted 04-28-2008 12:10 PM PT (US)

nuts_score Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by sean: post script: "There Will Be Bud" is hilarious! "I'm sorry that I couldn't be here sooner, I had to see to the new plant that was growing in my closet."
posted 04-28-2008 06:12 PM PT (US)

NeoVoyager Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by sean: What do you think of the score? Well, upon seeing this thread resurrected, I decided to take it out and put it on my iPod before I ran off to work today, so I got a chance to listen to the entire thing without break this afternoon. In the interest of full disclosure, I have some problems with Philip Glass's music in the first place. I agree somewhat with music historian Harold Schoenberg, who in his popular Lives of the Great Composers, said something like minimalism is "a vast field of musical nothingness"). That said, I think the score is a fairly difficult listen. The unrelenting morose and dark mood, combined with Glass's usual compositional style only accentuate the former elements. In small bits, it's very tolerable... even enjoyable, but to listen to the entire album at once is a little exhausting. Granted, I'm sure it works marvelously in the film (as Glass's music usually does), but I have not seen it and have absolutely no desire to. Musically, I think it's a very mature and well-orchestrated work for Glass, and shows distinctly more variety of color and style than much of his early music. If it worked in the film, then that's really all that matters when it comes down to it, I suppose. But for standalone listening enjoyment, I doubt I'll be playing it often. EDIT: I've learned over the years to never formulate my opinions of a musical work too quickly, because I more often than not just end up changing my mind later. Therefore, my custom nowadays is to not state an opinion about something until I've listened to it maybe 5 times. Depending on how "difficult" the work is, I often take longer -- hilariously, I listened to Schoenberg's Five Orchestral Pieces for months before I took it off my iPod, content that I understood it well enough for the time being! What I'm getting at is, I haven't listened to this score all that much, so my opinions may well change once I get to know it better. [Message edited by NeoVoyager on 04-28-2008]
posted 04-28-2008 08:57 PM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	That quote on minimalism is a bit heavy-handed-slash-loaded, IMO. And I'm not a gigantic fan of Glass, but I don't think anyone should discount the style as "nothingness"; it can be a very creative medium for a talented composer.
posted 04-28-2008 09:05 PM PT (US)

NeoVoyager Standard Userer	I know, it is VERY heavy-handed, and minimalism can indeed be put to great use. Many of my favorite scores show huge influences from the style. However, I tend to enjoy the works of those heavily influenced by Glass a lot more than I enjoy Glass, much like I enjoy music influenced by works like Penderecki's Polymorphia, Fluorescences, or Threnody (basically playbooks for avant-garde composition, which have inspired tons of future concert music and sci-fi/horror scores) more than I enjoy those works by themselves. (Note my edit above, btw) [Message edited by NeoVoyager on 04-28-2008]
posted 04-28-2008 09:19 PM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	I agree: For Glass, I'm a huge fan of his score to Kundun, which to me survives better than most of his work simply for it's varied orchestration and it's hard to pinpoint it, but it just sounds more inspired than his usual output; it's something I can sink my teeth into. Talking about inspiration, a lot of Bear McCreary's music on Battlestar Galactica has a Glass edge to it and I think Bear just writes it better than Glass does, and gives the material weight that Glass rarely, if ever, provides (Kundun being the exception).
posted 04-28-2008 11:04 PM PT (US)

nuts_score Standard Userer	Kundun is all over this thread! Michael, get it! You won't be disappointed. It's Sean's, Michael McClennan's, and my favorite Glass score. We three are like the pretentious intellectuals around these parts, listen to our mighty word! [Message edited by nuts_score on 04-29-2008]
posted 04-29-2008 08:16 PM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	HAHAHA!!! Yes, do it our old-slash-young apprentice.
posted 04-30-2008 12:57 AM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	I find the years often prove me vindicated, as they seem to have in this thread.
posted 04-30-2008 01:04 AM PT (US)

nuts_score Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by franz_conrad: I find the years often prove me vindicated, as they seem to have in this thread. Right. Well one of us is really pretentious!
posted 04-30-2008 10:38 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	: busily editing all old threads so no embarrassing opinions surface :
posted 04-30-2008 10:56 PM PT (US)

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