The Impending End of Track Bits

Currently in Earphones: "Flow Like Water" by James Newton Howard, from The Last Airbender

In case you all haven't noticed already, I'm about a month behind with posting new Track of the Weeks. To be truthful, most of this is due to laziness, but considering that I'm ramping up for grad school, this will be the way things are for the foreseeable future.

Episode 9 is (and has been for a while, sorry) about 75% done, so I should be getting that out before the end of July at the latest.  I'm hoping to at least get a nice round 10 episodes completed before I have to give up all my time to work and school.

I've had a lot of wonderful feedback from folks concerning ideas for future podcasts, but the fact is that I've run out of interesting things to say that are currently in my memory banks. I could scrounge around for new ideas, but it would be a lot of work and research and would take away time I need for other things.

I've had a lot of fun doing these podcasts (and definitely learned a few things from experience about audio editing), but I'd rather have a concrete finish than a slow dying away as evidenced by my current output. The whole shebang should be done by the end of 2010.

Thanks to all of you who expressed interest and feedback for Track Bits, without you I would have spun out around Episode 2 :). So don't be sad, there's still a few more things to come!

 - 'Till Next Time, Soundtrack Fans!

ToTW 6/13/2010

Track of the Week: "Angels in America (Main Title)" by Thomas Newman, from Angels in America



Newman's signeture plinkety style and plaintive oboe line serve these main titles well, giving a sense of sadness that's in line with the work as a whole. Normally his eclectic percussion is along the lightly kooky side, think a toned down Elfman or Goldenthal trying to write listenable tunes (zing!), but it's innate gentleness is another point in it's favor. Newman's work may not be my kind of high energy, but it has a pensive quality that I really enjoy.

 - 'Till Next Time, Soundtrack Fans!

ToTW 6/6/2010

Track of the Week: "The Sand Volcano" by Jerry Goldsmith, from The Mummy



Jerry Goldsmith, the man who could write memorable melodies in his sleep, gives us a middle-eastern sounding adventure score. While not as free-wheeling as 13th Warrior, it still manages a handful of rousing action cues, this one being one of the best. Like the movie it accompanies, the music may not be terribly nourishing, but it is most definitely a lot of fun.

 - 'Till Next Time, Soundtrack Fans!

ToTW 5/30/2010

(Apologies for the lateness of the post, I was in LA at the time and only just remembered!)

Track of the Week: "The River" by Patrick Doyle, from East-West

Cross Pollination 2

Sorry for the lack of ToTW this week, I've been busy finishing the second episode of Cinematic Swordplay!

http://foolishtouchstone.blogspot.com/2010/06/cinematic-swordplay-episode-2.html

 - 'Till Next Time, Soundtrack Fans!

Track Bits 9 in the works

I've finally gotten off my butt and started scripting and recording the next episode of Track Bits. I really should make more of an effort to get them out on a schedule, as they always end up being somewhat easier to think up/write than I initially realize. Look to see this one by the end of the month/beginning of June.

 - 'Till Next Time, Soundtrack Fans!

ToTW 5/23/2010

Track of the Week: "Hard Rain (Main Titles)" by Christopher Young, from Hard Rain



Christopher Young tries his hand at Media Ventures/Remote Control, and does a damn fine job! Young's taste for the melodramatic fits well with the overblown sensibilities of Zimmer et al., and he even throws in some harmonica solos for good measure. While it may be a few steps away from the harmonic horror scores one is used to Young creating, it succeeds admirably in providing a fun action score with great brass layering.

 - 'Till Next Time, Soundtrack Fans!