Transformers - The Score [SOUNDTRACK]

Steve Jablonsky

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2007)
• Original Release Date: October 9, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000VFGQHK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,430 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Ask, and ye shall receive: When Michael Bay's Transformers came out in the summer of 2007, a soundtrack was issued that gathered a collection of pop and rock songs. But fans clamored for the score so arduously that it was released a few months later. Was it worth it? Steve Jablonsky comes from Hans Zimmer's stable of composers, and anybody with half an ear could have guessed it. Jablonsky's other main influence is pretty much the last 15 years of summer action movies: There's nothing here you haven't heard before, but it's pretty nifty blaring out of a multichannel set-up--though an iPod may do the trick as well. The CD opens with the two main themes ("Autobots" and "Decepticons"), which will be alluded to throughout, particularly in "Sam on the Roof;" the bad guys fare better as "Decepticons" delivers a bigger bang, while the good Autobots get the usual elegiac choir. But forget about subtlety: The best tracks are the full-on aggro ones and are easy to spot: They have titles such as "Frenzy," "Scorponok," "Downtown Battle." Note that half the tracks sport an asterisk indicating a "different version in film," which seems odd, since the album was prompted in large part by fan demand--wouldn't sticking to what's in the film have been be a better way to indulge those who really wanted to hear these cues again? --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Product Description

After the release of this summer’s movie blockbuster Transformers and Transformers The Album, fans clamored to hear the orchestral score. An online petition received thousands of signatures; the fans have spoken! The result is Transformers The Score, composed and produced by Steve Jablonsky. A blockbuster franchise has been born and apparently a rabid fan base has taken the music on-screen to heart.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Score -- Finally It's Available! :), October 13, 2007

By	J. Kent Layton (New York, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I went out to purchase the score right after I saw the movie for the first time, and was dismayed to find it wasn't available. Now, after several months of waiting, us film-score aficionados finally have it. I am extremely impressed with it, as I was when I first heard it in the movie.

I very much like the "close," personal feel of the recording; it's like being in a small studio with the orchestra, as opposed to a large concert hall. There's plenty of action music from the film ("Scorponok"; "Downtown Battle"; etc.), but there's also a terrific mix-in of the slower, elegant thematic music as well as the "inspirational," pieces. Also, a pleasant surprise: "Sam at the Lake," and "Witwicky." These are very nice "fun" and "mischievous" pieces that recall some of the film's terrific comedic moments, and make for a nice change of pace from the other styles on the disc.

The music is very powerful, emotional, and one shouldn't be surprised to find your foot tapping along to it. This score is a must-have for all film-score buffs.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, the real deal is finally here., October 9, 2007

By	Darius Jackson "Action Jackson" (Rocklin, California United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After months of sleepless nights, mid-day grumbles, and thoughts of suicide, my cure has finally arrived - and boy, it was just what the doctor ordered. Okay, so it wasn't that bad of a wait, but still, I was bummed that we were stuck with the "other" soundtrack (Ya'll know what I'm talking about, yes, *that* one) To make this review short and sweet, I strongly recommend this OST. It's VERY moving, I mean there some real quality on this CD. Just listens to tracks like "Autobots" "Optimus" "Bumblebee" "Arrival To Earth" "Bumblebee Captured" "Sam on the Roof" "No Sacrfice, No Victory" and you be the judge. Get this CD, it's awesome.

31 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jablonsky's Epic Action Score Is An Amazing Standalone Listen, October 10, 2007

By	Kaya Savas (Bethesda, MD USA) - See all my reviews

First let me set some things straight. I am a follower of everything Remote Control Productions. Hans Zimmer is my idol as a filmmaker and his music inspired me to become a writer/director. I follow everything Zimmer and everything Zimmer related, and I definitely tracked this score closely. Steve Jablonsky stated through a Soundtrack.net report before the film's release that a score was planned. The movie was released and people realized no score was out. Why did people go crazy? This happens all the time, if the score wasn't released with the film it just means the composer and his/her team didn't have enough time to compile an album. I'm glad people showed their support, but honestly it was always planned for release with the DVD and Jablonsky released a statement saying so. Anyway, great to see the support since we are likely to get that 2-Disc release we've been hearing about. Now on to the score.

Anyone familiar with Michael Bay's films should know that Jablonsky worked all the way back to Armageddon for Michael as an additional composer. So this relationship was a long time coming, and it's amazing how well their creative minds work together. The Island was Jablonsky's first solo effort for Bay and with Transformers the RC Team sound can be heard throughout. The score is wall to wall great music. It's hard for me to pinpoint a favorite track although Skorponok, Soccent Attack and Arrival To Earth come to mind as standouts. This is pure action scoring at its finest. It really isn't a complex score. You have a theme for the Autobots, a theme for the Decepticons and then the overall heroic theme for the film. A little mix and mash of Hans Zimmer style and you have one helluva action score. Score enthusiasts have to admit that Jablonsky borrowed heavily from the Batman Begins score, but in good nature. Also, who knew Jablonsky could pull some tears from listeners with Bumblebee Captured.

Overall this is a superb scoring effort to the type of movie it's accompanying. Sure, it's not the most original and complex score we've seen from the Remote Control Productions group, but it's one you can listen to over and over again. I'm glad the score is finally out and hopefully we'll be getting that 2-disc complete score that has been rumored if this release sells well. Good job, Steve.