Film on Vinyl: The Maze Runner
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. Next up on the playlist: “The Maze Runner” soundtrack
With young-adult novels constantly catching the attention of teens and adults alike, it appears they’re the perfect breeding grounds for film franchises. Now with the box-office juggernaut “Hunger Games” franchise coming to an end soon, Hollywood has its sights set on James Dashner’s “The Maze Runner."
Being a fan of the series, I was extremely excited by the opportunity to review this release from Music on Vinyl. This company puts out one fantastic release after another, and once I received this gem in the mail, I couldn’t wait to dig right in. The real question is whether or not this soundtrack deserves a release of vinyl, and the answer is …
Packaging:
The album cover is one of my favorite parts of this release because it uses one of the key posters from the large list of marketing visuals. For those of you that haven’t seen the poster itself, it is two of the main characters running into the mouth of a gargantuan maze. What I love so much about this image is the size contrast between the heroes and the maze. The maze is so large, and the wear and tear, plus the overgrown foliage, gives a very dark and ominous vibe. This, coupled with our small and vulnerable heroes, is the perfect representation of David and Goliath.
The center of the gatefold leaves a little to be desired with only a single photo of the main character while the back of gatefold is right on par with the front. It contains the obligatory song list accompanied by a very foreboding visual of multiple names etched in stone — many of the names crossed out — that perfectly complements the cover.
What I liked best is the inner insert because it gives insight into the soundtrack’s production from composer John Paesano. It’s always a very insightful experience to listen to a soundtrack before and after reading these notes from composers and filmmakers, so I relish the moment when they’re included on releases.
Tracks:
The soundtrack is obviously released on 180-gram vinyl and uses up every single gram to bring you high-quality ear porn. On the insert, Paesano explains how he set out, with director Wes Ball, to create a soundtrack that was so much more than simple music. They wanted it to be as much a character in the film as any of the actors, and Paesano hit the nail on the head.
From the beginning of “The Maze Runner Theme” to the “Finale,” the score perfectly reflects the mood and tone of the hero’s journey. It’s almost impossible not to get a clear picture of the film as you spin this soundtrack. I will say that while there are some tracks that start to bleed into the realm of redundancy, there are still so many stellar tracks.
“The Maze Runner Theme” is a favorite of mine and is a brilliant way to get listeners pumped for the rest of the score. “Going Back In” is another favorite, along with “Griever Attack.” Both of those tracks really get the blood pumping and ooze with ominous feeling.
Thoughts in a Nutshell:
“The Maze Runner” soundtrack is a home run on all aspects, from the beautiful album cover to the pitch-perfect soundtrack. I have to applaud everyone involved with this release because not only did Paesano create an extremely memorable score, but Music on Vinyl gave the soundtrack the top-notch vinyl release it deserves. To add the proverbial cherry on top, the vinyl release not only comes on standard black vinyl but also a transparent green.
Until next time, make sure you’re using the appropriate cartridge. Remember to always spin responsibly.
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