Customer Reviews

Snow Files: Film Music of Mark Snow

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I actualy think that Mark Snow is underrated as being one of the key attributes to the success of The X-Files. Imagine watching an episode without his contribution of dark, tense atmospheric music, or the kind of grandeur themes we saw in The X-Files' feature film "Fight The Future". For all fans of Mark Snow, namely X-Philes - who are unmistakeably the core of his audience - this CD is for you. The track "X-Files Suite" which plays for thirty minutes is an ensemble from various scores from various episodes of The X-Files, namely the first three seasons. It cannot be denied, however, that it is unfortuante that in this latest piece there is none of the great X-Files scores from episodes such as season four's "Memento Mori", or "Gethsemane" (my favourite snippet of Mark Snow's music ever - when Scully stops Kritcsgau in her car and chases after him. Check it out, then email me with what you think!), as well as some of the themes from season five and six. But in time, maybe even when the show is gone forever (after all, this may be the final season), the rest of these tracks will surface. But fans of The X-Files should take this new CD of Snow's for what it is, as it is definanately a must have for X-Philes. But what's even better about this CD is that it isn't JUST for X-Files fans - many have enjoyed Snow's work from other projects such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Disturbing Behaviour, and La Femme Nikita. All of these tracks are worthy of a mention. In summary, this CD is for all. Whether you are a fan of The X-Files, an admirer of the show - or just someone who has never heard this remarkable man's music before - then THE SNOW FILES is for you.

Go on, what are you waiting for? Why aren't you racing down to your local music store to pick up a copy!

This is the one album which really shows Mark Snow as a composer. One only has to go through the first three cuts:1. Main Theme (from "La Femme Nikita") 2. Love Theme (from "Conundrum") 3. Dark Waltz (from "Seduced And Betrayed")to see this is a special album. Get to track 11 for the "Suite from X-Files" and you're in for a rare treat -- the only music from the television show that I know of which does not have talking over the top! All in all, this really is the best album of his to buy, if you don't buy any others.

I just heard this in San Francisco and IT KICKS! The opening cut is the coolest trance mix I've heard in a long time of a thing called Le Femme Nikita. It made me want to see the show. There's a bunch of music more adult oriented which is pretty and orchestral, but for me the best thing is a whole THIRTY MINUTES OF X-FILES MUSIC without all the stupid talking like was on Truth & Light! It was performed by some guy named John Beal. I have decided to look for everything ever released by Mark Snow!

GRRRRRRRR...........THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SCORE MARK SNOW
HAS EVER COMPOSED IS THE MILLENNIUM THEME, AND IVE BEEN WAITING
AN ETERNITY TO GET A RECORDING. I WAS INITIALLY SO EXCITED TO
TO HEAR ABOUT THIS RELEASE, THEN TO MY HORROR I REALIZED THAT
IT WAS NOT INCLUDED. (...)

I read the reviews, but I am a big fan of The X Files, Millennium, and La Femme Nikita. Although there is no Millennium soundtrack, I am hopeful. This compellation is beautiful. Not as powerful as The X Files: Fight the Future original motion picture score, but it does have some beautiful pieces. I can recommend it, but not for those who prefer energy and emotion to Classical Fusion. (I don't know what else to call it.) The last two tracks are Max Headroom and Pee Wee Herman. The less said about what could have possibly possessed them to add the latter, the better. (In the words of Stan Marsh of South Park: "Dude, this is pretty f***ed up right here.") I am a Cyberpunk and Max Headroom is right up my alley. However, they did chose an unusual track to include. The full-blown La Femme Nikita cut opens the CD, grabs you by the "you know what" and keeps you listening for the next six tracks. Then you find yourself having X Files flashbacks for the next four, and even if you're not an X Phile you begin to glance to the doors and windows remarking on the shadows and sounds you suddenly imagine. Not frightened or edgy, just something you never noticed before. When all else falls silent and the only sound you hear comes from the CD player like a heartbeat.

Seduced & Betrayed, Le Femme Nikita, Last Confederate Widow, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, X-Files. Who could ask for a more interesting collection from Mark Snow? I was very surprised to hear such a wide variety of styles and such high quality recording from the fellow I only knew as the composer of X-Files. By the way, this suite is exquisite in the way it plays like a mini-movie all by itself. Great Album! I highly recommend it.

If you're looking for another X-Files album, forget this. The X-Files "suite" (arranged by other hands) is nothing but a medley with delusions of grandeur. But THE SNOW FILES is an excellent introduction to Snow's other film and TV scores. The theme for LA FEMME NIKITA and a film-noir intro for CAROLINE AT MIDNIGHT are particularly good, and other pieces come from projects as varied as DARK JUSTICE (a forgotten late night TV series), the XF-like DISTURBING BEHAVIOR, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA and THE OLDEST LIVING CONFEDERATE WIDOW TELLS ALL. Especially missed, however, is Snow's more off-beat XF music for episodes like "Postmodern Prometheus" and "Triangle."

For those of you who don't like the voice-overs of dialog/monologues from the show that are on The Truth and the Light: Music from the X-Files (personally, I LOVE the voiceovers, but not everyone does), try The Snow Files: The Film Music of Mark Snow. It's an all-instrumental CD that includes the 31 min 28 sec "Suite from the X-Files," which DOES NOT have the voice-overs on these same X-Files tracks.

There are some other nice songs on here, too, including the creepy theme from the Stepford-esque Disturbing Behavior movie. Also there are two really nice songs that you could almost use as wedding strolls (the music fits the occasion, even if the song titles "The Oldest Living Confederate Widow" and "The Substitute Wife" don't!).

I, too bought this album for the X-Files suite. I don't care if I recognize some snippets of music from that awful Truth & Light album. At least you can hear it without all that weirdo mumbling over the top. I think this is the definitive Mark Snow X-Files music and is performed great and is very different. The biggest surprise to me was all the other great music on this album. I hate to disagree with the guy from Portugal, but I say DON'T MISS THIS cd.

I don't know why the makers of this album didn't bother to advertise it to fans of X-Files or La Femme Nikita -- They are the best I've ever heard of both these themes which are performed by John Beal. There's a wide variety of excellent music from other shows on this showcase, making it very clear why Mark Snow is such a successful composer. I can't wait to hear his music from Harsh Realm!