The Best Film Scores of March 2024
Here we are, right at the end of 2024 and for some reason I’m only getting to the scores released in March. Will I ever catch up? Does it matter? Who knows, and while only time will tell, I have […]
The Best Film Scores of February 2023
Despite my promises, my catch-up on this column is nonexistent; but at least I’m not falling behind too much now. Will that last? Will the winter holidays give me a chance to catch up? Or will they further inspire my […]
In the Earth – Clint Mansell (2021)
Clint Mansell has firmly established himself as one of the best film composers working today, so he doesn’t need to use gimmicks to draw interest to his music. But it’s easy to assume that by sampling the sounds of plants […]
The Best Film Scores of 2021
We’re already well into 2022, which means I’m very late! But as they say, better late than never. It’s time for the annual tradition of covering the “best” film scores of 2021. If you don’t want to read through the […]
Best Film Scores of April 2021
2021 just keeps chugging along, as April brings another dozen great scores (as well as countless other solid releases). Despite the time of year, many of these are horror scores or are otherwise anxious, unsettling works, from Ariel Marx’s discomforting […]
Loving Vincent – Clint Mansell (2017)
Loving Vincent is one of the more adventurous films made in recent memory: an ode to Vincent van Gogh animated through 65,000 hand painted frames. The film retells van Gogh’s last days (and, briefly, his early days) through what are […]
Best Film Scores of 2017
I’ve decided to start visiting years past, from before I actively listened to film music, and come up with retrospective best-of lists. Not only is it a good way to revisit missed classics and get a feel for the year […]
Best Film Scores of 2019
After listening to nearly 700 scores released in 2019, I present the definitive list of the best film scores of the year.
The Most Underrated Film Scores of 2019
It’s that time of year, when everyone comes out with their ‘best of’ lists. After listening to nearly 700 film scores released in 2019, I’m ready. Up first are the most underrated scores of the year. These are ones that, […]
Black Swan – Clint Mansell (2012)
Clint Mansell adds cacophonous noise and jarring sounds to beautiful, classical melodies that slowly degrade as Black Swan progresses. This degradation directly mirrors the protagonist’s own descent into insanity. Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is obviously thematically appropriate. However, it is too […]
Best Film Scores of 2018
In 2018 I listened to around 80 film scores and ranked my favorites (as well as a few honorable mentions that straddled the top-10 but didn’t quite make the cut). Many of these have appeared on other year-end lists, but […]
Best Film Scores of March 2019
Danny Elfman’s score for Dumbo continues his trademark ominous yet whimsical style. Elfman manages to expertly create a dark score while keeping it kid appropriate and positive, all without the overabundance of memorable melodies more common in his earlier works. […]