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Darkness and Desire:
2. Conundrum - Love Theme (3:17)
Following that horrid opening track is an equally
bad "love theme" (although I have no idea how it got that distinction.
Apparently it was the most tranquil moment in the score.) The wailing
vocal returns, this time somewhat more melodious and more coherent.
Instead of the heavy rock synths used previously, this has more of a soft
rock sound, which I still can't stand. Although somewhat more thematic,
the theme never really breaks loose. Again, you may end up loving
this sound, but I find this totally unlistenable.
3. Seduced and Betrayed - The Dark Waltz (2:30)
Finally we move out of horrible rock territory
into this elegant and yearning waltz. The influence of Jerry Goldsmith's
Basic Instinct main title sequence is quite evident in the opening smooth
woodwind passage, except it's in 3/4 waltz time. However, Snow builds
upon what Goldsmith has done previously instead of just emulating it, taking
the melody one step further after the opening. The Goldsmithian melody
is stated twice, then segues into a dark, passionate true waltz based on
the material, going through several major and minor key variations.
There's two great solo performances of the theme, one by a low flute and
one by an oboe. In the second section the melody is accompanied by
a synthesized piano, which doesn't detract as much as you expect, and the
piece ends on a major cadence. After the two horrid opening tracks,
this is a welcome refreshment and redeems nearly the entire album.
4. A Woman Scorned - The Betty Broderick Story:
The Murder (4:03)
Continuing with the darkly intriguing theme of
the first sectionon the album, this is another extremely creative track.
For the main murder sequence of the movie, Snow fights the urge to launch
into a fast action cue, instead focusing in on the motives of the killer.
This composition gives the killer a slight tragic edge. There's a
great theme, first stated on some kind of guitar (not electric) which is
kind of like a dissonant pastoral melody. It's later stated in various
permutations, sometimes accompanied by fitting electronic strings that
Snow uses in The X-Files. The track is almost like a dark, Gothic
dance, giving all kinds of awesome minor key string chords.
5. Caroline At Midnight - Main Title (3:18)
This could have come from the same movie as the
previous track, as it continues the motif of synth strings over a plucked
ostinato. However, to make it more interesting, Snow uses a few synthesized
"orchestral hit" runs. About one minute in a new melody enters, orchestrated
for solo jazz trumpet. I'm not extremely fond of it, but it's not
very irritating.
Love and Hope:
6. The Substitute Wife - Main Title (2:48)
This is one of the best tracks on the CD, and
one of the most deeply moving compositions in Snow's body of work.
Evidently the movie was set in the west or something, since a harmonica
becomes the central instrument about halfway through. First, though,
are two statements of an achingly yearning pastoral melody, almost like
a hymn. I can't tell if the string accompaniment is synth or not,
but if it is, it's quite realistic. The first solo is on a flute,
and the second on a clarinet. After these two solos, the strings
continue the chord progressions, finally coming to a solo harmonica.
It begins as if about to do the solo a third time, but goes off on something
completely different.
7. Oldest Living Confederate Widow - Having A
Baby/All About Ned (3:13)
We continue in the frontier pastoral vein with
this, which starts with another hymn-like chorale for violins, followed
by a solo flute melody. The second cue does yet another theme, this
time for piano. In the last minute, the full string orchestra carries
the theme.
8. Smoke Jumpers - The Rescue (4:46)
This could be described as Mark Snow's answer
to Horner's Apollo 13. It's another one of the best tracks, based
on a single major chord progression in the strings and woodwinds under
a trumpet solo. Later the flutes/oboes get it, and a bass ostinato
enters. Like Apollo 13's launch sequence, the ostinato leads into
an orchestral chorale. After it's stated a few times, an intimate
solo piano melody enters and carries the rest of the track. Again,
this just goes to show how diverse a composer Mark Snow is.
9. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Arctic Night
Walk (3:16)
This, along with the X-Files, are the only 2
things I've actually seen. I've heard great things about the full
album for this, and the track represented here makes me want to order it.
This track gives us all kinds of giant string chords, painting a tone poem
of the Arctic.
The Music is Out There
10. Disturbing Behavior - Main Title (3:25)
Now we move into the material that Mark Snow
is most known for. The Disturbing Behavior main title sounds somewhat
like some of his X-Files work, using droning electronics, echoing synth
"orchestral hits", his trademark synth strings, and something that sounds
like an electronic version of Elliot Goldenthal's trademark pitch bends.
The strings provide most of the relief in the form of a theme, and they're
joined by a tinkling bell ostinato for a few minutes.
11. Suite from The X-Files (31:28)
First of all, let me say how ingenious it was
to begin this with a musical "teaser," much like a real episode.
The suite opens with a metallic synth sound, segueing into an awesome,
lone piano solo melody accompanied by all kinds of synth sounds as well
as strings. Next comes various disturbing noises, climaxing in the
presentation of The X-Files theme. This arrangement is impeccably
produced, extending it for a few minutes. My only qualm is that the
trademark synth whistling is mixed much lower than the accompaniment.
The variations used in the extended version are quite excellent, like added
piano flourishes, as well as new trademark Mark Snow chord progressions.
Unfortunately, the suite isn't separated into different tracks, so to get
to most of the good parts, you'll have to search through an equal collection
of disturbing synth noise. Thus, instead of going to the trouble
to get to the good parts, I usually end up not listening to the track at
all, except for the first few minutes. Still, it's great to listen
to when you've got something else to do, like go on the Internet and you're
not paying close attention to the music. However, when the noises
subside, it's very good. One of the main things to listen for while
playing this is all the ingenious ways Snow interpolates various snatches
of the X-Files theme into the action. Some of the highlights are
a few chase sequences, a pastoral flute melody accompanied by synth effects,
a plucked version of the opening piano theme much like the stuff in "Darkness
and Desire" above, a pounding dissonant piano section, an Alien-esque section
for pizzicato strings, a melody for ethnic flute, a chillingly dissonant
section droning synth male chorus, a string chorale during the last few
minutes, and finally the intensely moving piano/synth chorus theme near
the very end. He ends it fittingly with a major key version of the
X-Files theme. Wow, that was one long sentence. One of the
more grating sections is a macabre circus waltz, played on a synth circus
organ. Luckily, that doesn't last very long. Overall, John
Beal and Mark Snow should be lauded for giving us the most coherent presentation
of X-Files music ever produced. Mulder and Scully would be proud!
Bonus Tracks:
12. Dark Justice - Main Theme (1:54)
I don't know how "bonus" this was meant to be,
but we now return to that scorned rock-synth stuff found in the first 2
tracks. Why, why, why? Anyway, this is another one of those
I can't stand, using urban rock beats with electric guitar and gothic choir.
These last tracks, as well as the first 2 are the reason the album only
gets a 7 instead of a 9.
13. Max Headroom - The Lost Theme (1:00)
More of the same urban rock/synth.
14. Pee-Wee's Playhouse - Bye, Bye! (:33)
Couldn't they have just ended the album with
dignity after that X-Files suite? Now we get an off-the wall kiddie
song by a synthesized vocal. By this time, I'm long gone. As
soon as I hear the X-Files theme for the last time, it's time to sprint
to the CD player before these pointless conglomerations come on.
Mark Snow has deservedly been nominated for about 9 high-profile awards, and this compilation shows us just how talented and diverse a composer he is. Like I said earlier, I'd be giving this a 9 music rating if it weren't for those 5 tracks I mentioned. However, the other stuff more than makes up for it, so here's a 7:
| Music Rating | 7/10 |
| Packaging/Liner Notes | 10/10 |
| Orchestral Performance | N/A (it's mostly synthesized) |
| Sound Quality | 9/10 |
| Length | 6/10 |
Sound Clips:
Available at Sonic Images
Records .