Customer Reviews

Doctor Who - Original Television Soundtrack

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Whether you're a fan of the new Doctor Who TV series or not, if you enjoy soundtracks this album is an excellent buy. Murray Gold's cinematic-style orchestral arrangments range from dramatic to eerie to wistful. I like to have this album playing while I type, read, or work on other creative projects since it's inspirational without the distractions of lyrics. Also included are two "apocryphal" radio pop songs, "Love Don't Roam" and "Song for Ten," written specifically for the program. Both stand on their own merits quite well, and provide fans with in-jokes from the series itself -- the only downside is that "Song for Ten" is a re-recorded version, rather than the one that originally played on the TV series (and which I rather prefer). Personal faves: the haunting "Doctor's Theme," the meditative "Impossible Planet," and the dramatic "Dalek" theme, complete with with an alien-language chorus.

Talk about knowing how to use an orchestra to its full advantage. I really enjoy a good orchestral score and it's difficult to find that in television. However, Murray Gold has composed some of the most haunting, electrifying, emotional and just plain lively music to accompany one of the best shows on television. His music is a distinctive but integral part of each show - just try to imagine watching Doomsday or The Girl in the Fireplace without the music. I particularly like his use of motifs throughout the series, especially for Rose, the Daleks and the Cyberman - it's a way of subconsciously identifying the character before you even see them (my favorites are Rose's Theme and The Face of Boe). The CD is long - 75 minutes - and you certainly get your money's worth. I didn't particularly like the two songs performed by Neil Hannon but only because it didn't seem to fit - orchestral music and then a song in the middle of the CD? It just felt odd. The accompanying music notes written by Murray Gold is also enlightening. I collect a lot of film scores and this is certainly going to be one of my favorites...

** Update 18 February 2007: I've been watching the episodes again on DVD and I've realized "Song for Ten" is a goodbye song. I have a thing - I can't hear the lyrics of a song unless I really concentrate which I usually don't. But I concentrated and this song is really sad despite its catchy tune. This is the song you first hear at the end of The Christmas Invasion and here it's almost a premonition of Doomsday. And I just watched School Reunion again and the melody was playing at the end when Sarah Jane and the Doctor are saying goodbye. The more I hear this song, the more I like it...

This CD begins most auspiciously,
Familiar 'tis the errant Time Lord's theme:
Remixed, empowered for our century,
Yet true to Ron Grainer's celestial dream.
The rest's superb and stellar in its range,
With Cyber march and choral Dalek dirge,
Now thrilling, now haunting, eerie and strange,
Even strains of wistful romance emerge.
In style mostly sci-fi instrumental,
Plus twin vocals resembling a sore thumb.
To evoke the show's moods, fundamental:
Melodic magic to which you'll succumb.
Hear this soundtrack again and again--
Relive the tales of Doctors nine and ten!

With so many tracks, spanning both the first and second seasons of the NEW Doctor Who series, this American listener found this soundtrack very satisfying, because it captures all those highlights and moods I loved so much from the show. All those little songs moments that you wished you could hear more of. I highly recommend it for anyone that enjoyed the show.

Murray Gold's music for the new series of Doctor Who is an integral layer of the show. In arrangements stretching from synthesized and choral work to live full orchestras, Gold has carried a syncretic but diverse vision for the series' music through the show's revival.

There are powerfully melodic cues, from heartbreakingly lyrical character pieces such as "Rose's Theme" to haunting solos within tunes such as "The Impossible Planet." The series' epic scale is reflected in motifs such as "Rose Defeats the Daleks" and "Tooth and Claw;" the latter cue also blends cinema-musical genres nicely between the vocal and percussion traditions of martial arts scoring and a more symphonic-sounding adventure-movie music style. Playful tracks such as the "Monster Bossa" reflect the show's sense of humor, and thumping good action tunes such as "Westminster Bridge" and "UNIT" round out the soundtrack's variety.

Beyond typical incidental music, the CD also includes Gold's pop compositions for the series. "Doomsday" is an angsty tune with a beating rock heart--and an inspired instrumentation. Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy adds his vocals to an extended version of "Song for Ten," and (with a jazz sax and swing choir) "Love Don't Roam" played in the second Christmas special episode ("The Runaway Bride").

The 31 tracks on this CD offer over 75 minutes of music. They are in fact just a start towards representing the scope of Gold's vision and creative stamina for the series' music. It's not the same as the old Doctor Who music, and it is wonderful.

Minutes after watching the first episode of season one, I knew I wanted this soundtrack. It's been awhile in coming, but totally worth it! You not only get music from season one, but also season two and the Christmas special.

I'm not a music critic, so I can't say much about the technical accomplishments (or problems). I do love instrumental soundtracks, and this is just one of the best, most epic soundtracks I've heard in a while.

Fans should know: This version of "Song for Ten" is different from the show. It takes a little getting used to, but the additional lyrics add a special poignancy to the song considering how the second season ended.

The only (small) problem I'll nitpick is that over 31 tracks the music can sometimes get slightly repetitive. But overall this has to be one of the best TV soundtracks I've ever purchased. Thank you, BBC, for finally making this available.

Let me begin by stating that I really wanted to give this CD a better review. Unfortunately, while I give high marks to Murray Gold and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for some fine performances, this is the most poorly mixed orchestral album I've heard in years. Every track shows evidence of aggressive compression and normalization (to the point where clipping was evident on some sound systems), and the final track is easily the most distorted professional studio recording I've ever heard. Probably good enough for a soundtrack but not nearly up to par for an album. Worth a listen for Doctor Who fans, but it could have been so much better.

Doctor Who is back and he's better than ever with new faces, new companions, bigger and better monsters (and some old ones too). This sound track is representative of the 2005 & 2006 seasons. As the British would say -- Brilliant! js

Murray Gold is an orchestral genius. He creates mood and character through his music unlike any composer in a long long time. I've always loved the 'Doctor Who' series and the beautifully themed scenes added to the new series makes it all the more sweet to enjoy.
I've noticed on my CD however, that the 'Harriet Jones' theme is suddenly cut short. But I received one of the very first copies of this CD, even before it was released to Europe, which was an oddity. A website had them for preorder, and shipped to the US first. I'm not sure if my CD was later edited with a fix on this theme. Anyone else have a glitch on the the 'Harriet Jones' theme?
Otherwise this CD will be something to treasure and enjoy. Especially 'The Girl in the Fireplace' and 'The Face of Boe' themes.

I'm not much of a soundtrack person, I tend only to listen to soundtracks if the music really moves me or inspires me. This soundtrack does both! I love the music on Doctor Who it really is amazing, I think that even a person who has never seen the show would find most of the tracks interesting and pleasant. I really love all the songs but a few shine through more than others:

The Doctors Theme: This is the main reason I bought this CD, I loved this song in the show (though I didn't know what it was called I referred to it as "The Bad Wolf Theme" because it plays when the Doctor kisses Rose in the last episode of season 1) It's a deep and moving song I love it!

The Face of Boe: A short but powerful song that makes me misty eyed at times. Very well done with a ton of emotion.

Madame de Pompadour: Like 'The Face of Boe', this song is deep and powerful. Every note soaked in a penetrating sadness that is amplified if you have seen the episode "Girl in the Fire Place"

Doomsday: Don't let the name fool you this an amazing song and is my favorite on this CD. This is the music that plays at the end of season 2 at Bad Wolf Bay. It is very similar to 'The Doctors Theme' but with even more emotion and sadness. I sometime cry when I listen to this track.

Song For Ten: Really a great song, I find myself singing parts of it at work all the time. This is the song that they play at the end of the Christmas episode of Season 2 when David Tennant becomes the new doctor. Just a all around sweet song that makes me feel good inside.

The Doctor Who Theme- Album Version: A longer version of the theme song that really gets your toe taping. I dare you to try and not hum along with this catchy tune!