I loved what David Arnold did with Tomorrow Never Dies so I was just dying to find out what he had in store for the next Bond film. Well, two years have passed since his first Bond score and now we have his second in hand. What is my reaction? Well....I liked it but it definitely could have been better. I want you to know first and foremost that I am a big James Bond fan so besides the movie cliches the movie has to include, I want the music to be just as good. David Arnold delivered the last time around but this time he seems to have been in a bit more of an experimental mood and that becomes apparent when you listen to his score for this one.
What Eric Serra attempted with Goldeneye, Arnold pulls off with a bit more success. One of the major drawbacks that many found with Serra's score was that although synthesizers are good, you should throw in a bit of the Bond theme for good measure. If not that then at least some orchestrated parts to keep the score coherent. This is what Arnold does here. Where as in Tomorrow Never Dies he used synthesizers to back up his orchestral pieces, in this case he uses the orchestra to back up his synthesizers. In essesnce, the flow of the score is the reverse of his last outing.
What's good about the score? Well, Arnold does have some great moments on this one. And if you're hoping for use of the Bond theme then you're in luck. The first two Arnold tracks, are superb, action-packed pieces. He has that old-style feel to it that really appeals to me. The action is also prominent in Ice Bandits. But it is Caviar Factory that really shines. Think of the first tracks on Tomorrow Never Dies and you'll get the idea. His love theme for this one isn't as good as the one from Tomorrow Never Dies but it is fitting.
What about the songs? Well, the title track by Garbage is keeping with Arnold's retro stylings and is more akin to the early Bond themes. Shirley Manson's vocals are a bit more tolerable than Sheryl Crow's were and the song is rather good. The last song seems kinda out of place when you here it. I think it's supposed to be like the theme from From Russia With Love but it seems far too retro for a modern soundtrack for a movie taking place in the 90's. The song, Only Myself to Blame serves as the basis for the love theme and is a bit better in that way than in the vocal version. All in all another solid effort from the man I hope will continue to compose Bond well into the 21st Century.
Total time:
1: The World is Not Enough (3:55) - Garbage
2: Show Me the Money (1:28)
3: Come in 007, Your Time is Up (5:19)
4: Access Denied (1:33)
5: M's Confession (1:32)
6: Welcome to Baku (1:41)
7: Casino (2:55)
8: Ice Bandits (3:52)
9: Elektra's Theme (2:06)
10: Body Double (3:00)
11: Going Down - The Bunker (6:27)
12: Pipeline (4:15)
13: Remember Pleasure (2:45)
14: Caviar Factory (6:01)
15: Torture Queen (2:22)
16: I Never Miss (3:32)
17: Submarine (10:19)
18: Christmas in Turkey (1:27)
19: Only Myself to Blame (3:37) - Scott Walker