Top Ten Scores of 2008
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While some may feel a list of this nature is perhaps two weeks too late, on January 1st 2009, I decided to give each and every score I acquired in 2008 another go-around and consideration when compiling my top ten. Unlike the Oscars, I wanted films represented from all twelve months of the year, not just the three leading up to the ceremony. In a year’s time, I added a vast wealth of scores to my collection and giving all of them a spin took considerable time over which it had to be appropriately spaced so as not to feel “scored out”.
Yesterday I finished that task and today I present to you my TOP TEN SCORES OF 2008
10. IN BRUGES – Carter Burwell
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Racked with guilt, secret shame and the weight of that which can’t be undone, this fatalistic score is but one contribution to a banner year for Mr Burwell considering he has three of the entries on this list as well as composing the score to mega blockbuster Twilight.
9. FLASH OF GENIUS – Aaron Zigman
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Humbly powerful for both its sweep and weep, this is a score that dares to dream big and evokes untold amounts of sympathy (and tears) when those aspirations are dashed. In the midst of betrayal, financial ruin, disappointment in not living up to all you can be, there emerges an astounding sense of promise, second chances, even triumph. The first of Zigman’s scores I’ve really taken to in a big way.
8. BURN AFTER READING – Carter Burwell
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The film otherwise known as “No Country For Dumb People”, boasts one of the year’s smartest scores. Read my review here: Burn After Reading Soundtrack Review
7. BRIDESHEAD REVISITED – Adrian Johnston
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I use music to make me feel shit – so I can feel it when I want to, not when the feeling wants me to have it. For instance, if I know I’m about to feel sad or have a heartbreak, I want to take the punch right away. Scores like Brideshead Revisited are instantly sober in setting a mood, and help me immediately push the issue so I can make it come to a head.
6. LAKEVIEW TERRACE – Mychael Danna
Doesn’t invite you to parade your own skeletons so much as peak in the closets of others. The socially unacceptable behaviour that people keep close to their chest and pushed down deep, Danna’s typically cerebral work reveals as only ever tenuously held in check and that those restraints are as un-sturdy as the emotions they inhibit.
A dexterous and subtle exploration of the motives of madness, Danna suggests deep-rooted, frayed psychology without ever dipping his toes in melodrama. A high-wire balancing act, that never once overreaches.
5. DECEPTION – Ramin Djawadi
My favourite release for a mainstream film this year was one I would have never certainly expected in Deception. Unfortunately DOA for most, who were too busy fawning all over the composer’s own Iron Man in the same month. A stealthy, seductive, chilly composition that allowed me to readily tap into all that I keep under lock and key from the world around me and even myself. Music that lets you wallow in that darkness for it’s brief running time, without allowing you to get hurt.
4. STOP-LOSS – John Powell
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An angry, bitter and emotional diatribe, it is mournful, incriminating and easily Powell’s best work in what was obviously an over-worked year for him of way too many disappointing scores.
3. THE GUITAR – David Mansfield
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Since writing the review of this on the site, many of the cues from this album are currently clogging up my “Top 25 most played” list on my ipod. One of those scores, from which a few selections is never enough. Once I hit play I have to listen all the way through. As triumphant as it is transportive.
Read my review here: The Guitar Soundtrack Review
2. BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD – Carter Burwell
A Greek tragedy that pitches itself at the perfect grade of melodrama. The oft repeated theme is the best of the year and one that ratchets ever-increasing tension and dire circumstance, ruthlessly and inevitably, one click at a time.
1. JOSHUA – Nico Muhly
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Balefully morose, Nico Muhly’s impressively bleak, classically characterized score, is so admirably eerie that it was enough to have actually made the temperature drop in the room I was watching the film by the time the credits rolled. On disc it was self-evident, that not only has Muhly rocketed into the echelons of great film composers with (at the time) only one score to his credit, but that his effort for Joshua slowly unfurls a deeply troubling, gut-churning, creep fest supreme that is instantly a classic score, never mind a classic horror score.
Other scores I felt were really note worthy this year and deserving of your ears:
THE FLOCK (Guy Farley)
ADRIFT IN MANHATTAN (Michael A. Levine)
THE WACKNESS (David Torn)
LOFT (Wolfram De Marco)
PASSENGERS (Edward Shearmur)
BODY OF LIES (Marc Streitenfeld)
Other articles of interest:
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Comments
Interesting indeed. Of these scores only Flash of Genius is considered a top 10 contender in my book, although most of these are above average. I just can’t like The Guitar though no matter how much I listen to it. It goes in my worst 10 list of the year.
As always though, great article and a very interesting read Tim.
Kudos for giving Carter Burwell the credit – he’s had a fine year. (Though I see even you found no room for TWILIGHT!)
And I particularly agree with your mentioning Muhly’s JOSHUA. That would be in my top 10 of film music albums released this year. I would like to see the film to see how it works there.
Powell’s scores for 2008 are amazing, especially Stop Loss and Horton Hears A Who. My favorites 2008 Powell cues are “The Greatest Tragedy”, “The Moon And The Superhero”, “Mountain Chase”, “Horton Suite”, “Scooter Chase” (Bolt Complete Score), and “Hero”.
Jorn Tillnes Reply:
September 24th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Stop-Loss and Horton were really good scores I thought. He produced a lot in 2008, but nothing spectacular in my opinion. He still has a lot in him, and I expect great stuff in the next few years.
Hey, interesting list. Joshua was a great project and deserves to be where it is on this list. Unfortunately Im unfamiliar with many of the others so cant offer my 2 cents!
Abe @ Megatron Costume´s last blog ..Childs Megatron Costumes 
Soundtrack Seek
very interesting list, Tim – especially interesting given that almost every one of your picks would go in my Most Average Scores of 2008, with the exception of Burn After Reading (possibly my favourite Burwell ever, although still not great) and the wonderful Lakeview Terrace. still, good list.
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