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I finally received my copy on last Saturday along with GOODBY, MR. CHIPS. You figure, I put 2001 in my player first, couldn't wait to start reading the liner notes then.
So, here is my opinion you propably wish not to have read.
I'm not all that positive about this release, if one considers the overhyped goings before the announcement. I agree that it's an important release, and I understand that it was difficult to get it done considering all the obstacles. But, folks, Alex North's score is only a torso, an unfinished work. And, he was too ill, to conduct the orchestra himself, so we will never know what he would have done under less stressful circumstances in full capacity of his forces. So, we're actually not dealing with a fully realised piece of work, the recorded parts - as we learn in the notes - left even the composer wishing that he could revise some portions of it. And yet, it is indeed a fascinating torso, I would go further and say that the story behind it is even more fascinating. It's somehting you almost forget, when reading the liner notes. Because every one seems to be just in awe about the project and seemingly doesn't dare to criticise the oeuvre as such as it is.
I've purchased the Goldsmith rerecording when it came out in 1993. In all these years, I couldn't say that it was something like a 'best player' - I've always missed the finished touch in it - don't get me wrong, I don't blame Alex North nor Intrada for this. After all, North hadn't a chance to finish his work! This dissatisfaction stays with me when I listen now to the Intrada CD. Especially, "Bones", I think, is a awful piece of music, so completely wrong in that movie, that I just must congratulate Kubrick for replacing the original score. That score just doesn't work in the picture. Now, that we have the original recording of North's score, this is clearer than ever to me.
BTW, I found that "Bones" had some sonic imperfections that I was surprised to hear. I'm not talking about 'Mono' which is not a problem for me, but I wouldn't describe this recording (or what was left from it on those x generation tapes at the Academy) as pristine as some do.
In "Eat Meat and Kill" you can hear from time to time a pre-echoe (the first one at about 2:05).
These sonic imperfections are nowhere mentioned in the notes. FSM would have done that.
I disagree when one describes this CD as being a landmark release, musically. - Doug, IMO, you took your mouth just too full this time. - The well written liner notes can't compete with the best booklets that FSM had done so far. Mostly, because the writer's 'fan touch' is just too strong, IMO.
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"If music doesn`t sing, or dance, or have an interesting harmonic concept, then it shouldn`t be there at all. A film score should burn with its own fire, not merely glow in the dark like a pretty charcoal." – John Barry, 1972
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