REVIEW: Soundtrack of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

[Michael Morris]

I've been listening to this, the first piece of the most eagerly awaited picture this year, the soundtrack. All I can say is, wow.

The soundtrack of Two Towers introduces us musically to the world of men. While it's roots are still strongly within the same vein as Fellowship, this piece is less airy most of the time. There are a lot of beautiful moments in the music that I can't wait to see linked up with the film. Most fun is "Gollum's Song." I was dissappointed at first to learn Enya wasn't going to be a part of The Two Towers score, but that dissappointment faded three words into this song, sung by Emiliana Torrini. In one song all the bitterness, spite and tragedy that is Gollum is captured, and it makes the CD worth getting by itself. Here's a look at the words... Then after reading them go buy a copy to hear them sung or wait for Wednesday then wait after the film as I am quite certain this is the end credits theme...

Where once was light
Now darkness falls.
Where once was love
Love is no more.

Don't say - goodbye.
Don't say - I didn't try.

These tears we cry
Are falling rain
For all the lies
You told us
The hurt, the blame!

And we will weep to be so alone
We are lost!
We can never go home.

So in the end
I'll be what I will be.
No loyal friend
Was ever there for me.

Now we say "goodbye."
We say "You didn't try."

These tears you cry
Have come too late
Take back the lies
The hurt, the blame!

And you weep when you face the end alone
You are lost!
You can never go home.

You are lost!
You can never go home.

 

[Terraism]

I want this. Very badly. I repeat. VERY badly. And I kick myself for not doing the "Collector's Edition pre-order."

 

[NiTessine]

The song is available for download at the official soundtrack site... http://www.lordoftherings-soundtrack.com/index.php

 

[Terraism]

The song is available for download at the official soundtrack site... http://www.lordoftherings-soundtrack.com/index.php

Thank you so very much.

 

[mooby]

I like the soundtrack a lot, but the Gollum Song is annoying.

Maybe it'll grow on me.

I just get images of a sleazy woman singing in a smoky bar in the 40's or something.

 

[Desdichado]

I've really enjoyed the soundtrack this last weekend, but I have to agree with mooby here: that "Gollum's Song" is very grating. It literally spoils the rest of the soundtrack to some extent, the same way the Annie Lennox song does the Dracula soundtrack.

 

[The Serge]

A minor review

1. Foundations of Stone: Not only do we get the Ring motif, we also get a redux of the Balrog conflict as well as that sinister chanting.
3. Riders of Rohan: The introduction of this Theme is fantastic.
The sombre, yet somehow ancient and noble music for these people is fantastic.
5. The Uruk-hai! This is where the score really takes off! Not only do we get a full-bodied statement of The Fellowship Theme, but we get the Rohan Theme before descending into the terribly brilliant Sauron and Isengard motifs! A veritable feast of LotRs themes!
7. The Black Gate is Closed: This is probably the music we'll hear where we'll see the flying Ringwraith. Again, we get a powerful statement of the Sauron motif.

Is it me, or are all of these odd numbered tracks...?

9. The White Rider: This is music of Biblical proportions! I love it. Majestic and angelic in the beginning, soft and full of hope at the end! This is how good guy music should sound.
12. Helm's Deep: More great Rohan music. I think we hear some of the Fellowship Theme here too....
16. Forth Earlingas: More of that angelic music, once again promising hope and promise. I love how it builds until the music is unleashed in full force... almost like the warriors preparing for war! The Rohan statements further reflect what these people are fighting for and the Fellowship Theme enhances the fact that this is a noble, honorable battle. Then the angelic music again! There has to be an actual personality behind this... Perhaps this is the Struggled Against the Darkness or Gandalf the White's music? But, this is true protagonist music, the music of the hero! Exquisite!
17. Isengard Unleashed! Fantastic! We begin with Galadriel's motif before the fun begins with the Rohan Theme. Again, we get the foreboding Sauron motif, followed by the unstoppable Isengard March! The villains are ready to crush and shatter the Light! But the Rohan Theme is defiant and righteous in its obstinacy. Darkness will not have an easy victory here. Then, the angelic and soft voices return, slowly rising, slowy intensifying. Light will prevail, Light will triumph! But, this will not be an easy battle! It will not be -- The last minute of this is simply... I can't find the appropriate words! It's like the Angels of Heaven in battle...
18. Samwise the Brave! Again, music that represents the power of Light and the intimate potency of true friendship and sacrifice. I love how Shore takes the Friendship music we heard towards the end of FotR and makes it so uplifting and pure. I can see Sam lifting Frodo and helping him bear his yolk, this Cross that he's been forced to carry. This is pure, selfless love and I think Shore personified it flawlessly. Adding the Frodo Theme was a bittersweet touch before the dark, creeping music that will doubtlessly prepare the audience for Shelob. The way Shore presents portions of the sinsiter Ring Theme and Gollum's new theme are priceless. I love how it ends with no clear conclusion. The story continues.
19. Gollum's Song: I really like this track, words and all. I like how the voice doesn't sound quite right and I love the lyrics because it perfectly mirrors the ambivalence and ultimate hatred Gollum deals with in the novels and, presumably, in the movies. Brilliant. Ending this with the Rohan Theme was a spectacular decision since that theme is clearly the centerpiece of the musical story.

Can you imagine Return of the King!?

 

[lord irial]

I like the soundtrack a lot, but the Gollum Song is annoying.

Maybe it'll grow on me.

I just get images of a sleazy woman singing in a smoky bar in the 40's or something.

The image that sprang to my mind hearing the voice of this singer was a very inappropriately falling-down-drunk eight-year-old. The song could be good, but not with this person singing it, in my opinion. Never heard of her before, either- I wasn't expecting Enya to do every vocal for the movie, but a professional would be much better; Loreena McKinnit, Anne Lennox, Country Spice (er, Shania Twain, that is), Kate Bush...

Ah, well. I'll buy the album. I just hope that track does grow on me eventually, just so I don't have to skip it every time I listen to the c.d. for the next thirty years.

 

[mooby]

I think the album has about 5 different covers.

I got the Gollum one. He kicks arse!


gollum gollum!

 

[Michael Morris]

In Defense of Emiliana

I'm a bit surprised by some of you guys. Do you really think Enya could begin to do a semi-in-character song for Gollum?? As much as I love her music and her voice, it is all wrong for Gollum.

Think about it. This is Gollum we're talking about. A creature that has been tortured for 500 years by the One Ring. Emiliana's vocal quality is able to convey some of that pain - it's not supposed to sound pure and noble like Enya's "May It Be" track. If it did like you guys seem to want, that would have been all wrong.