Customer Reviews

Halloween

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I was very excited about this album, thought that it had a ton of potential. "Tocatta in DeMole" is the opening measures of the "Tocatta in D Minor" by Bach, followed by the "Fugue in D Minor" also by Bach. As a fan of the Tocatta and Fugue, I was looking forward to the Steamroller interpretation, since "G Major Tocatta" was such a great pipe-organ-rock piece. However, I kept thinking, "OK, Chip, time to cut loose!" The piece never achieves its potential, staying very bland. Compare the two Tocattas Steamroller has done and tell me I'm wrong. The interpretation of Bach's Tocatta was far better in the video game "Gyruss!"

Next up is Hall of the Mountain King. Again, I thought this would be great. However, the tempo never changes, and the rhythm makes it sound like it's done on a drum machine. To the song's credit, it does achieve a certain level of creepiness, which is its saving grace. Electric Light Orchestra had a better interpretation.

Harvest Dance is very well done, one of the best tracks, but doesn't really fit in the Halloween mood aside from the title. It is more like a lost track from the Fresh Aire series.

Flying Dutchman is also well done, with a very good use of orchestration.

Z-Row Gravity is boring, hitting a solid 6 Kitaro Field strength, or the equivalent of mixing alcohol and sleeping pills.

Much as I hate to lump the rest of the CD together, the rest of the album didn't have any surprises. It is all very uniform, dull, and uninspired. Throw on the re-release of "Crystal" from Fresh Aire 4 as the final insult to the audience, and it's clear that there is no point in buying Mannheim Steamroller CDs any more.

If you want a good Halloween mix, look for Chiller by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, in the Classical Music section of Amazon. It may not rock, but the music is far better.

I wanted to buy this set when it was first released but something told me to hold off (I think it was my bank account). Anyway, now that I've heard the disc (which I borrowed) I'm glad I didn't buy it. It's not bad. There's nothing bad about it. It's just not as good as American Gramophone's catalog would lead you to believe. The music disc is a mixture of spooky-themed classical pieces and Chip Davis originals. I actually like the originals better, perhaps because I didn't have anything else to compare them to. The covers of the classical pieces are, of course, Mannheimed up to to sound contemporary, a la the Steamroller's Christmas discs. Sometimes it works and sometimes...it doesn't quite work. It's okay listening, but I wouldn't play it at a party or out my window on Halloween night. It's a little too goofy. There was a contemporary take on "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" performed by Louis Clark & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra that came out on a CD about 15 years ago (long out of print) that I think was a much better arrangement. (I wish I could find that CD!) The main thing I was interested in was the sound effects disc though. Chip stated in the AG catalog that his sound effects disc would be world-class, and not the $1.98 variety. I listened to it all the way through and most of it is pretty good. The sound is good quality and it sets a spooky scene. However, and this is a big however, there are three tracks on this disc entitled "The Enchanted Forest". All three of these tracks are virtually the same! In addition, some of the other differently titled tracks contain the same "Enchanted Forest" sound effects for the second half of the track. For example, there's a track called "The Reaper". For the first minute or so, it's the sound of clocks ticking. It sounds like it's building to something but then the clocks fade out and we're back in the "Enchanted Forest" for the remaining 2 minutes of the track! I won't say that this disc is not well produced, because it is. I just think it could have been more.

After reading so many negative reviews, and after having slammed Fresh Aire 8 a couple years ago, I felt the need to write a positive review for this album. I play this album at least once a day, because it is so much fun. As other reviewers have said, Chip just didn't quite get that the music should be more creepy than upbeat in order to create a good Halloween mood. Instead he created an album full of the classical rock music that Mannheim Steamroller is known for, without the usual beautiful, slower tracks to vary the mood. I personally think that this album has a lot more appeal to longtime Mannheim Steamroller fans such as myself rather than the more widespread appeal I think Chip was aiming for (and which he achieved on his Christmas albums), especially those such as myself who, while we enjoy the slow, beautiful tracks, are really waiting for Chip to bring out the synthesizers and drums again and combine them with classical instruments. I will also concede that the originals are not the greatest Chip has ever written, but once again they are good fun. Rock and Roll Graveyard is my personal favorite on the album and it is not at all substantial - just a lot of fun. Certainly, some tracks are better than others, and it does bother me that Crystal and Z-Row Gravity were included (I would much rather have had more original material). Tocatta in de Mole, like Hallelujah Chorus before it, is a very watered-down and uninspiring arrangement, but is not too offensive and for me the rest of the album makes up for it. The sound effects disc is pretty good too. My advice for the prospective buyer is this: if you are looking for a truly scary Halloween album which really sets the mood, then pass this one by. If, however, you love Mannheim Steamroller at its most energetic (but not necessarily most musically substantial - actual musical quality varies from brilliant arrangements to fun pieces of fluff)then you should definitely buy this album. I'm glad I did, and I will probably be playing it until I break out the first Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Thanksgiving weekend.

I am a huge fan of the previous themed releases from Mannheim Steamroller (ie. Fresh Aire Christmas & Meets the Mouse). While "Halloween" does not exactly live up to the usual Chip Davis standard, it is nonetheless an intriguing experiment in the macabre with its own merits.

The Chip Davis "derangements" of such classics as "Night on Bald Mountain" and "Ride of the Valkyries" - standard fare on such a release - are satisfactorily done, if not completely fresh. "Rite of Twilight," a Twilight Zone arrangement, and "The Sorceror's Apprentice," a much desired oversight from the "Meets the Mouse" CD are two of the better tracks, blending enough of their traditional sound with Chip Davis' trademark whimsy.

The biggest disappointment of this disc - aside from the repeat of "Crystal" from Fresh Aire IV - is the number of uninspired originals that serve as nothing more than CD padding. "Z-row Gravity" is adequate, though not exactly Halloween fare, but "Harvest Dance," "Rock & Roll Graveyard," and "All Hallow's Eve" work better as titles than as songs. And since "The Sorceror's Apprentice" is the most recent composition that Chip Davis arranges for this disc, "Halloween" feels a bit dated. Where are the variations of such pop culture Halloween favorites as "Theme from Halloween," "Tubular Bells," or even "This is Halloween" from A Nightmare Before Christmas?

When it is all said and done, "Halloween" is a must-have for hard-core Mannheim Steamroller fans, but it is mostly a shadow of what might have been.

As a big Steamroller fan, perhaps my hopes were set a little too high. I envisioned more original music (perhaps a more scarier vibe than the silly one this CD has to it) and maybe a few covered tunes. Chips originals (from the Fresh Aire series)found on this CD outshine the weak efforts put forth on the covered and rearranged tracks. The sound effects disc sets a great(and creepy)mood, that should had been followed through with some new and equally scary compositions.

If you're a die hard Mannheim fan (as in 'I just have to own everything Chip puts out') I say go for it. But otherwise spend your Halloween money elsewhere. Overall this is a forced and lazy effort.

My husband & I are big Mannheim Steamroller fans & I love halloween, so was very excited about this. We were quite disappointed. First we think poor taste to put songs from previously released CD's on. We already paid for those once. Second, some of the music was strongly MIDI sounding & kind of obnoxious. Third, the only really halloween sounding song was Toccata; & the arangement (or derangement as Chip Davis said) wasn't that impressive. The rest of the music didn't have much of a halloween feel. Some of the sound effects on the 2nd CD were decent, but definetly not worth the price. Chip Davis may have Christmas in his soul, but he doesn't have a feel for Halloween.

I was beginning to think Chip Davis had gotten a little too tame in his old age (okay, so he's only 50 something.) After all, "Christmas Extraordinaire" lacked the pulse of the previous Christmas albums, and his Ambience series is all about tranquility. Well, "Halloween" seems to have gone out its way to prove me wrong. Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller do indeed still have a pulse, and man, it's strong! (a little too strong at times, maybe, but I'll get to that later.)

Basically, "Halloween" is a collection of loud, bombastic classical pieces that have been arranged by Chip Davis in typical Mannheim style (I won't waste your time with a listing of tracks since Amazon provides that for you already.) If you're familiar with Mannheim's other albums, there are no surprises here. Their takes on each of these pieces are exactly what you'd expect (featuring a nice mix of orchestral and electronic instruments, all backed by Chip's blatantly electronic drum kit.) What you might NOT expect if you're a long time fan is that there is only ONE slow track on this entire album (and it happens to be "Crystal," which was recycled from "Fresh Aire 4." Note to Chip-- Please stop recycling your tracks... your true fans already own them. One other track, "Z-Row Gravity" is also recycled.)

You can tell Chip had a lot of fun with this album. Not all the tracks work as well as they could, but he's definitely having a good time with them. My only real complaint is that the album can get a bit obnoxious at times precisely because it is so unrelentingly bombastic and frenzied. Yet, Chip conveniently provides a remedy for this-- he included a second CD containing spooky sound effects. So, put the music CD and sound EFX CD into your CD changer, and hit shuffle. The sounds (which are really well done) will provide a much needed break from the frenetic music, and yet the mood remains consistant. Oh, and one other quick complaint-- some of his arrangements could have been better. "Hall Of The Mountain King" was a disappointment, and a couple of others were merely okay. "Rite of Twilight" borders on being annoying, and I usually skip it.

Complaints aside, if you're a Steamroller fan, you'll enjoy this. If you're new to Mannheim, I suggest you try "Fresh Aire 7" first, or if it's close to Christmas, treat yourself to "A Fresh Aire Christmas." Both of those albums represent Mannheim Steamroller at its finest, whereas "Halloween" is more like a pleasant addition to the collection.

Loved it! Their "derangments" of classics were fun, just a little spooky, and something I enjoy listening to any time of year. The only pieces I didn't care for were Z-Row Gravity and Crystal which were just a little to new age for me. Still, so much really great listening.

The sound effects disc would be great background, played softly, at a Halloween party, but that's not my thing.

Listen to samples and you'll get a good idea if this is for you.

Another reviewer called this CD "a shadow of what might have been". That is perfectly stated. Far from a die-hard Mannheim fan, I acknowledge Davis's frequent mastery of instrumentation. Perhaps it was my own expectations that led me to hope that there would be a better-than-average payoff between Davis & this genre. Despite a great deal of snobby classical music in my own background, I am not opposed to remakes when they add a new dimention or showcase a subtlty that has, heretofore, been overlooked. This effort doesn't even qualify for decent, party background music. Just when I thought, well, maybe I can play it at the teenage Halloween party for my niece (many selections have a reliable bass rhythm) out comes his version of The Sorcerer's Apprentice -- zero logic. Clearly this was just a cash cow attempt at capitalizing on the holiday.

Considering the wonderfully fresh and innovative interpretations of traditional Christmas music that this Techno-Classical New Age ensemble has put out in the past couple of decades, the news that the Steamroller was coming out with an album of macabre Halloween ditties seemed diabolically delicious--a fresh kill for lovers of Halloween to feast on at last. Sadly, the children of the night still hunger.

Either composer/arranger/band leader Chip Davis has lost his touch, or he simply is not in contact with the true "spirit" of Halloween. As every "body" knows, the music for celebrating All Hallows' Eve should be macabre, creepy, or dreary. Certain passages should even make your skin crawl or your spine tingle. However, even though some inspired spooky standards appear on this album--HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING, NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN, and FUNERAL MARCH OF A MARIONETTE, to name a few--the fact is, most of Mr. Davis' arrangements are just too sweet, light, or downright cheery!

There are a few exceptions. Mr. Davis' interpolated variations on the TWILIGHT ZONE theme song, RITE OF TWILIGHT, is the most Halloween-like of the bunch. And the track entitled CRYSTAL--which is actually lifted straight from the ensemble's previously released FRESH AIRE IV disk--is sufficiently eerie and otherworldly. But these are the only music tracks on Mannheim Steamroller's HALLOWEEN actually suited for celebrating the dark holiday.

Now, the CD set does include a disk of sound effects, but to be honest, there is really nothing that stands out in this group of computer-generated night noises. In fact, some of them--the wolf howls, for instance--are obviously created with a synthesizer. True, the FX track entitled ALIEN SPACESHIP has its entertaining moments (mainly because electronic noises are what one would expect to hear on an extra-terrestrial vehicle), but even those sounds aren't particularly scary.

In short, the reputation of Mannheim Steamroller and the cool jack-o'-lantern on the CD's jacket promise much more than this album really delivers.