The (Outdated) Zune HD for Today?

During my early days of soundtrack discovery, I used to think that composers were in deep competition against each other. Now it seems they are like a community that loves something and they are all friends. Composers meet each other at events, talk music, and have a blast. Other times they are too busy so they recommend an alternative composer for the job, or bring someone on to collaborate in order to give the score greater depth. 

I was definitely wrong, but that shows how shallow my understanding of things was. That was back in 2009 when I was 12, I had some excuse!

This is also when I purchased my first mp3 player. Does anyone remember what it was called? That greatly anticipated media player that died 2 years later? Come on, it's...it's...

The Zune HD!

Actually, it was the entire product line that Microsoft killed off. I still have mine, but unfortunately it is looks very sad. I did not respect it despite spending $200 on it, but then again, remember I was 12! It was one of the cool Zune Originals with a custom engraving of the solar system on the back and colored in a very nice green. That thing looks terrible. 

Well, I wanted to visit the olden days, so I grabbed one off eBay about a week ago that happened to be still sealed in the box. This got me excited, giving me the chance to start anew with this little device. When I opened the box I soon realized "dang, this thing is tiny!" 

At the time it was the rave. The Zune media players (Not just the HD model) were praised for their superior audio quality over anything else available. The newest Zune HD had amazing specs (at the time). 3.3 inch OLED display, custom Nvidia CPU: 65nm with 6 cores (cores for each task, i.e. audio, video, 3D graphics, etc.), 128 MB RAM. It was said that the graphics were "amazing."

Okay, it is no longer 2009 and Qualcomm just announced a 7nm CPU, and concidering most CPU's out there are 14nm, this tech is seriously outdated, like by 14+ tech years. Anyway, the point is, with these Zunes so cheap, should you pick one up?

I grabbed a 16 GB model to test it out. I wanted to see how it holds up to today's music needs. I figured I would use it just for music, nothing more, because I feel it doesn't do so well at everything else (including web browsing, wow it's terrible). 

First, I needed to install the latest software, which requires a small hack that involves virtual servers. Contact me for details on this. 

I started ripping some of my CD's in wma lossless which can reach bitrates of up to 960 kbps I believe. 

Uncharted Reimagined

Probably the very best videogame score I have ever listened to yet is Henry Jackman's work on Uncharted 4. With the beautiful graphics of the modern age and thrilling yet deep and emotional story, it achieves a cinematic sound and captures everything that was established in the previous installments. The delicate piano theme that highlights the very special bond of Nate and Elena as well as Nate's bond with his brother Sam and their difficult past. Yet, throughout the entire score, it is as hopeful and uplifting as the story. The beautifully crafted main theme captures the familiarity of the well-known original while adding a complexity, more sophisticated ring to it.

I always knew film composers wrote the best game music. Not once have I been disappointed. Lorne Balfe announced on Twitter a new project he is working on. But until then, enjoy some of my favorite tracks from Henry Jackman's masterpiece.

Two Steps From Hell Online Store

Popular trailer music company Two Steps From Hell recently opened up their own online store with official merchandise. My favorite by far has to be the Unleashed t-shirt.

If you are willing to go real crazy, there are even pillows. Although the wall posters are nice, for one who has the money and wall space for them. What do you think?

New Single by Thomas Bergersen

Thomas Bergersen is a rare and gifted composer. His music is so powerful and uplifting, full of magic that transports us to endless worlds and instantly fills me with courage I thought I didn't know existed. His music is very close to me and I am very blessed to have discovered him.

His new single You Are Light, featuring Felicia Farerre, is nothing short of extraordinary.

In the Days of Pirate Knockoffs

How many versions of Hans Zimmer's Theme for Pirates of the Caribbean have you heard?The trailer music industry are the biggest culprits. I must say though, they all have done an excellent job in making it unique, but it still screams PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN!!

Okay, now for the list. To begin, let's just go back to the beginning with Gore Verbinski's 2003 film that introduced us to Captain Jack Sparrow. Despite the score giving the main credit to Klaus Badelt, it was Zimmer who wrote the theme. It was Badelt (and several other top composers) who took the sketches and ran with them. 

There are two variations to this theme, which you can listen to below.

First we come to the version that everyone remembers. This takes place at the end of the film, but I feel it is the easiest and most effective way of representing the theme.




Next is the alternate version that takes place just before a ship battle.

After listening to both of these, you will get a basic, well rounded understanding of the theme. Now, the first artist that I am going to mention is Two Steps From Hell. One of the most popular names in the trailer music industry. The song Racketeers, which debuted in their industry album Dynasty, has shown incredible similarity to Hans Zimmer's theme. This piece is composed by a lesser known name: Troels Folmann. I find his piece exciting and still somewhat unique despite the similarities. It is the closest to the original theme that I have found. Listen to it below.




Buccaneer Island by Brand X Music sends us thinking about Pirates of the Caribbean, but not in the same way as Racketeers. I feel it projects us further into the future of the series. It is more like Dead Man's Chest (the sequel) in that the theme is not so heavy and intense but lighter. The inclusion of a choir creates At World's End vibes (the third installment) since it is a more vocal score in general when compared to the previous ones.




Now, are you ready for a bonus?

I was listening to a film score one time and was thinking "Woah, this sound like Pirates of the Caribbean." It is so similar it is crazy. The funny thing is it is written by the same composer as Pirates of the Caribbean. Take some time, don't scroll all the way down, see if you can guess the film.


The 2000 film Gladiator saw a spectacular theme written by the infamous Hans Zimmer, but wait, it seems he revisits this theme years later in POTC? Okay, I will give him credit, he was working on this while working on another project, and it is ever so slightly different that it is justified. Plus, who doesn't like the theme for the Jack's adventures?

Forget the beginning of this post and just focus on the music and remember it came first. If you don't care to listen to the entire 10 minutes, skip right to 5:50 and you will hear the theme loud and clear. It is as if Zimmer took the skeleton of the theme and updated it. Here is the track.




Do you have any other songs that come to mind that are similar to this theme? I'm sure there are a few more out there somewhere. 

Brief Continuity in Assassin's Creed

One of the best things that can be brought to a game or film series are the various aspects that connect them all. While the idea of a continuing story counts to a certain level, it goes (and should go) much deeper than that. When I think of Star Wars or Indiana Jones, John Williams comes up. He created the incredible continuity of both of the franchises, and he continues to work on them.

This continuity helps immerse us, draw us closer, and allows the audience create a special bond with the film or game. The consistency of the writing the script is just as important as themes. When some writers may get replaced, someone else takes one a new role, etc. there is risk of falling away from the original project and stray from the path intended and paved from the beginning. 

While my experience with the Assassin's Creed series of video games is lacking, I have noticed that there has been some amount of continuity. Ubisoft created a whole world that attempts to tell a story that took place from the beginning of time and progressing through history until present day. While interesting, it is a bit far fetched. 

One of Ubisoft's most recent installments to the franchise is a trilogy that is deeply integrated into the story. The first begins in China, resumes in India, and ends in Russia. They are so well connected, yet take place several years apart from each other. 

There are subtleties found in the games. The original Assassin's Creed theme written by Jesper Kyd appears in Assassin's Creed Chronicles China, but it is possible to miss. It is heard during one level, but instead of an instrument playing it, you hear on of the guards whistling the tune while you sneak past him. This same theme is re-composed as the theme for Assassin's Creed Rogue. It is fairly simple, but is very catchy and memorable. 

Listening to the most recent soundtrack release to the series, Assassin's Creed: The Best of Jesper Kyd, I noticed the theme appearing frequently. Having never really heard the scores for the first few installments I was unaware of this theme. The first time I heard it was during the score for Rogue, then in Chronicles China by means of whistling as mentioned above. 

Since Jesper Kyd scored the first bunch of games in the series, he had plenty of time to solidify this theme in the series enough to make it significant. It makes sense for Ubisoft to have this theme mentioned in the Chronicles Trilogy since they take place around the same time as the first few games where it first appeared. 

There have been several composers that have broken up this continuity, writing their own unique themes and sounds into it. For this reason The togetherness of the games fades away the closer they are to present day. 

The Assassin's Creed series has been a product of excellent music, and with all that said, I must say that it features some of the best game music I have heard. What is your favorite Assassin's Creed soundtrack?

The Monuments Men, Heartbreaking Yet Uplifting

Usually when a theme gets stuck in someone's head it is the main theme, but oftentimes I realize that the more I listen to scores the less this applies to me. I am beginning to find that even small, intricate themes can easily plague my present thoughts in a continuous manner. Thus, this brings me to today's score: Alexandre Desplat's beautiful score for WWII film The Monuments Men. 

Since this is a film during the Second World War, military sounding techniques and instruments are not scarce, but aside from the heroic main them, there are a few smaller parts that offer more delicate, smaller themes. The one I have an incredible memory of at this moment can be heard in "The Letter."

I have yet to listen to a Desplat score that isn't just pleasantly extraordinary. The Monuments Men is full of references to the main theme which is played in several different ways. Certain areas of the score produce a mysterious sound, and during the military inspired parts there is a sense of intensity which is both delicate and strong. These parts are usually when they are being chased, have little time, or are in danger in general. The more emotional scenes are very clear and obvious, as I believe that Desplat does these parts most excellently. 

The album ends with Nora Sagal singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," which I personally think is a creative way of wrapping it all up despite inconsistencies in the order when compared to the film itself. 

While this film is heartbreaking yet uplifting, and ends in an exciting victory, wherever you are today I truly hope that you can find peace despite life's junk. Take a listen to Alexandre Desplat's score and forget it all!