ScoreSheet News and Latest Reviews 4/2/99

https://scoresheet.tripod.com/

What is the ScoreSheet?
It's a new soundtrack review website with lengthy track by track analyses for each score.  I give my opinion of each cue, as well as any significant themes/motives that surface.  I'm new to reviewing scores, so these initial critiques might not be the best-written on the planet, but they'll get better as I progress.
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Latest News:
Among other things, I recently opened a RealPlayer G2 audio clip library with minute-long excerpts from many CDs that I've reviewed.  Also online is one of my term papers, "The Evolution of Film Music," which gives basic information that any score fanatic should know, in layman's terms.  Unfortunately, lack of space forced me to omit the great Bernard Herrman along with a collection of other well-known composers.  A cardinal sin, I know.  Please don't kill me :)
In the reviews department, I'm still trying to finish the "basic" scores.  I've reviewed most of the Star Trek scores, and just finished three lengthy, blow-by-blow analyses of the Star Wars trilogy, bringing the total up to about 24.
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Latest SoundClips:
James Horner and the Schindler's List Syndrome
Alex North's 2001
Stargate
Peacemaker
The Lord of the Rings
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Thesis from "The Evolution of Film Music":
"An often neglected art, film music has progressed from huge, classically inspired orchestral scores with composers like Korngold and Steiner, to popular scores filled with a barrage of rock songs, and finally to the smorgasbord of styles that the public knows today with experimental modernism, jazz, or traditional orchestral film scores."
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Latest Reviews (see the website for complete track by track analyses of each)

Return of the Jedi by John Williams
"As if the Star Wars Trilogy didn't have enough themes, John Williams took most the motives used previously and added 4 more themes, for a total of 12 major themes/motives used ROTJ...This happens to be Williams' longest and most complex score and, although several sections become tedious and wearing, it ends up being one of the master's best works.....Overall this can be recommended to all soundtrack aficionados, and I am once again forced to give out the ScoreSheet choice award." 10/10

Lawrence of Arabia by Maurice Jarre
"All in all, I'm going to have to give this one yet another recommendation.  Some may grow tired of the repetitive nature of "Lawrence," but it's still one of my favorite scores.  Buy it at least for the spectacular overture." 9/10

Conan the Barbarian by Basil Poledouris
"Although it can become wearing in some of the endless string tracks, the performance is bad, and the sound quality could be better, Basil Poledouris has crafted a masterful score that will stand the test of time.  I recommend it to all." 9/10

Alexander Nevsky by Sergei Prokofiev
"I know a lot of you hear the phrase "Golden Age" and immediately conjure up images of endlessly cliched, hopelessly shallow orchestral music, but Prokofiev was different.  This score was the basis for most orchestral action scores today, and sounds as if it could have been written for any modern movie while still maintaining its freedom and elegance as a concert work.  Needless to say, I think your collection is sorely lacking without a copy of Alexander Nevsky (in some form.)" 10/10

Star Trek: First Contact by Jerry Goldsmith
"Overall, this is the weakest of the Goldsmith Star Trek scores, although still very good.  He uses the Barrier motif from Trek 5 a few many times, and I don't see enough variety in the action cues." 7/10
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The ScoreSheet:
Webmaster: Andrew Drannon
Email: scoresheet@hotmail.com
https://scoresheet.tripod.com/