Film on Vinyl: Double Feature
Welcome to another installment of Film on Vinyl, Joe Donohue’s column that celebrates the blending of his love for film and music by reviewing and dissecting movie soundtracks pressed on the oh-so-sweet vinyl record. This week is going to be a double feature starring the "Hercules" and "Vikings" soundtracks.
The character of Hercules is no stranger in Hollywood. The character has made countless appearances in television and film, with no signs of stopping any time soon. Now Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has stepped up – and pumped up – to fill the shoes of the son of Zeus, and to leave his mark on the character.
“Hercules” is a passion project for Dwayne Johnson, and while it isn’t Oscar-worthy cinema, it still serves its purpose to entertain. While production on a film about one of the most famous demi-gods is a tall order, creating a score to match the scope of the film is an even taller one. Luckily, Brett Ratner and company were smart enough to enlist European-based composer Fernando Velazquez.
Packaging:
The album cover to “Hercules” is very similar to Music on Vinyl’s “The Maze Runner” release, albeit with a much less desirable result. The cover itself is a single shot of Hercules looking off in a very “dramatic” fashion that lacks the right punch to pull people into this release. On the insert, there is the promotional image of Hercules swinging his club and screaming like a crazy man. This image would’ve been my choice for the cover instead of being hidden away in the gatefold.
The back of the gatefold is simply and perfectly composed. The image of Hercules screaming – apparently he’s a screamer – is a strong visual, but not quite cover-worthy. You’re given a simple track list with the movie credits at the bottom. The inner gatefold, like many of Music on Vinyl’s releases, is a shot from the film. This area would be perfect for the Editor’s Notes from the insert and, in the end, just feels like wasted space.
Tracks:
It goes without saying that the release is pressed on 180-gram vinyl, which is a necessity to really portray this riveting score. While some of the choices for the gatefold may not really excite vinyl lovers, Velazquez's score is the real hero of the release. Every track perfectly tells the tale of Hercules’ journey and inflicts a large amount emotion on viewers and listeners alike.
The score is extremely solid, so it’s really hard to single out specific tracks, but for you, I’ll do my best. “Son of Zeus” is the perfect way to start off the release. It’s epic and perfectly establishes the hero of the film. “Bessi-Battle” and “Training” are both fantastic tracks, but the crowning jewel of the list is “Dungeon – I Am Hercules.” This is the moment in which the hero accepts his destiny, making it one of the most powerful tracks.
Thoughts in a Nutshell:
“Hercules” isn’t the crown jewel of Music on Vinyl’s newly minted At the Movies label, but if you’re a fan of epic action, it’s still a must own for movie lovers. As the old saying goes, “You should never judge an album by the cover.” Or something to that nature. Another treat for the true vinyl fanatics is the clear blue/black vinyl records available through the first 2,000 pressings.
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With HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones” series taking the world by storm, other networks have been on a tear to find their meal ticket. Luckily for the History Channel, it seems it's found a golden ticket in “Vikings.” This hourlong series tells the tale of Ragnar Lothbrok, one of the greatest heroes of his age. The show follows Ragnar and his family as he rose to become the King of the Viking tribes.
Not being privy to this show before taking Music on Vinyl’s release of season 2’s soundtrack makes me remorseful. And all I know is that if this show reaches anywhere near the scale the soundtrack reaches, then I have some television to catch up on. Epic doesn’t even begin describe this score.
Packaging:
The album cover to the “Vikings” score is fantastic, and pulls off the singular hero shot off more succinctly than the “Hercules” cover. Travis Fimmel’s Ragnar Lothbrok adorns the cover holding a very large spear and a spark in his eye, literally. While Fimmel looks extremely threatening on his own, his presence is made all the more terrifying with the large mountain peaks in the background. It gives Fimmel a god-like appearance. Music on Vinyl really hit the nail on the head with its choice of image for the cover.
Like many of their other releases, Music on Vinyl uses this space for scene images, but in this case it really works. You can see below how we’re not only given a larger image from the show but also individual character shots. It really helps add a little something additional to the mix; and while I’d still like to see the composer notes — once again located on the insert — located in this space, the release utilizes its space nicely, so much so that the bareness of the back cover is forgivable.
Tracks:
Trevor Morris’ score for the second season of “Vikings” is superb in the way that evokes a variety of emotions and really beautifully conveys a story. Even without having seen the show, I’m still able to follow along with a basic idea of the story, and in the end, it’s extremely difficult to pick any favorites.
“War is Coming” is probably one of my favorites and a perfect way to begin the release. The track starts off very low and quickly builds up into a beautiful opus. “Vikings Return Home” is another favorite. While a majority of the tracks have a very dark tone, this one has a lot more joyous sound. “Vikings Mourn their Dead” is another beautiful and haunting track.
Thoughts in a Nutshell:
“Vikings Season 2” is a home run for Music on Vinyl and the perfect addition to any audiophile’s collection. After giving this double LP release a whirl, I’m ready for a day’s worth of binge watching of History Channel’s “Vikings.” I have a good feeling that I won’t be disappointed. Audiophiles will also be happy to know that this release includes a stunning slivery blue vinyl available to the first 1,000 pressings.
I hope you enjoyed my first ever double-feature, and for a peek at the other fantastic soundtracks available through Music on Vinyl, check out their soundtrack exclusive label “At the Movies.”
Until next time, make sure you’re using the appropriate cartridge. Remember to always spin responsibly.
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