CD Giveaway - Sam Shrieve, "Bittersweet Lullabies"
Ends Nov 29, 2009
The current student at Berklee College of Music has a rock 'n' roll pedigree, but delivers a pleasing and diverse collection of soft pop on his debut record. Enter our contest for your chance to win!
The Twilight Saga: New Moon Prize Pack
Ends Nov 29, 2009
The second installment of the Twilight saga is hitting theaters, and we've got the stylish goodies you'll howl over!
Release Date: October 13, 2009 Label: Silva Screen Records Grade: B+
As the weather turns colder, and the days begin getting darker with the crisp smell of burning autumn leaves wafting on the breeze, I pause and consider: Halloween is coming! It's probably my most favorite holiday because (a) I don't have think about what I have to buy my wife, like I do on Valentine's Day, and (b) I don't have to think about what I have to buy my wife, like I do on Christmas. I don't even have to think about what to buy my wife, like I do on our anniversary (whenever that is). No, Halloween is all about me, and turning myself into something greater than myself, if only for a little while.
As it is for many, the season is meant for chills and thrills -- nights of fright, delivered to us in our blue-lit living rooms through the big flatscreen idol we congregate around. And this particular offering from Silva Screen Records capitalizes on that love of fright-thru-film with this four-disc release entitled The Definitive Horror Music Collection.
Now, before I get all nitpicky on the title, let me state beforehand that this is a darned fine collection of some classic movie music. My current mix for cruising with my windows down now includes themes from "The Exorcist," "Halloween," Dexter, and "Suspiria."
But as with most compilations, someone gets the idea to call things "best of," "greatest hits," or -- in this case "definitive collection." And I always find myself asking, "According to who?" Because there are a number of tracks I would include in a "definitive" collection, and there are a number of tracks already included that I would disqualify. For instance, are films like "War of the Worlds," "Predator," and "The Thing From Another World" really horror? Wasn't "Ghostbusters" a comedy, as well as "Young Frankenstein?" And while they're undeniably monster movies, films like "King Kong," and "Cloverfield" always seemed a genre unto themselves, while "The Mummy" was more of an action film with a supernatural element to it.
But, one man's horror, and all that. Certainly the great majority of the tunes on this album are undeniably horror, and carry with them that creepy sense brought about by taut violin strings, the upper quarter of the piano keys, and the deep rumbling bass of a plucked cello. The music from "Saw" ("Hello Zepp") threatened to shake apart my subwoofers. And, for my money, any collection that deems itself a definitive one gets several brownie points for including the overture to that greatest vampire film of all time, "Nosferatu" (although I was surprised by just how many cinematic incarnations of Dracula made it into this four-disc set).
This is a great set to have playing for your Halloween get togethers, or to use to frighten away the trick-or-treaters (because we all know that whatever candy is left over when the porch light goes out is ours!)
The Definitive Horror Music Collection
Track Listing
Disc 1: 2009-2001
Disc 2: 1999-1984
01. DRAG ME TO HELL - End Titles (Original Version)
02. TWILIGHT - Edward at her Bed (Bella's Lullaby)
03. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (LAT DEN RATTE KOMMA IN) - Eli's Theme
04. CLOVERFIELD - Roar!
05. SUNSHINE - Adagio in D Minor
06. ZODIAC - Graysmith's Theme
07. DEXTER - Main Title
08. PAN'S LABYRINTH - The Labyrinth
09. KING KONG - King Kong Suite
10. WAR OF THE WORLDS - Suite
11. SAW - Hello Zepp
12. 28 DAYS LATER - In the House - In a Heartbeat
13. THE RING - This is Going to Hurt
14. THE MUMMY RETURNS - Main Theme
15. HANNIBAL - Vide Cor Meum
01. THE MUMMY - The Sand Volcano / Love Theme
02. SLEEPY HOLLOW - End Titles
03. THE HAUNTING - The Carousel / End Titles
04. THE SIXTH SENSE - Malcolm is Dead
05. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER - Theme
06. VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED - March of the Children
07. BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA - The Storm
08. ARMY OF DARKNESS (EVIL DEAD III) - Prologue / Building the Deathcoaster
09. THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK - Dance of the Witches
10. PREDATOR - Main Theme
11. HELLRAISER - Suite
12. HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II - Suite
13. THEY LIVE - Main Theme
14. ALIENS - Prelude / Ripley's Rescue
15. GHOSTBUSTERS - Main Theme
Disc 3: 1983-1977
Disc 4: 1976-1922
01. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET - Main Theme
02. CHRISTINE - Bad to the Bone
03. POLTERGEIST - Main Theme
04. THE THING - Main Theme
05. HALLOWEEN II - Main Theme
06. THE FOG - Main Theme
07. DRESSED TO KILL - The Gallery
08. THE SHINING - Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta (Excerpt)
09. DRACULA - Main Titles / Storm
10. PHANTASM - Main Theme
11. ALIEN - End Title
12. HALLOWEEN - Main Theme
13. THE FURY - Main Theme
14. SUSPIRIA - Main Theme
15. EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC - Regan's Theme
01. THE OMEN - Ave Satani
02. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - Transylvanian Lullaby
03. THE EXORCIST - Tubular Bells
04. DUEL - The Cafe / Truck Attack
05. TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA - The Young Lovers / Ride to the Ruined Church
06. ROSEMARY'S BABY - Lullaby
07. TWISTED NERVE - Suite
08. THE DEVIL RIDES OUT - The Power of Evil
09. DRACULA, PRINCE OF DARKNESS - Suite
10. THE HAUNTING - The History of Hill House
11. DRACULA - Main Title / Finale
12. HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM - Main Theme
13. THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD - Main Theme
14. BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN - Creation of the Female Monster
15. NOSFERATU - Overture
