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Today's working hypothesis is no composer was ever more important to the success of a television show than Angelo Badalamenti was for his work on the David Lynch televison cult hit "Twin Peaks" (1990-91).
The criteria here is not just coming up with a memorable instrumental theme song (in which case we just pick Lalo Schifrin for "Mission Impossible"), but the scoring of various episodes over the course of several seasons. By that standard what is the competition? Jan Hammer's work on "Miami Vice" got a lot of publicity, but when you think of the soundtrack for that show you are just as likely to think of Glenn Frey's "Smuggler's Blues" and Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" as you are the show's theme song or other incidental music. For me the close second would be w.g. snuffy walden's work on "thirtysomething," but that superb work (especially "second look") never received the publicity that Badalamenti did with "Twin Peaks" (Population 51,201).
Besides the memorable main theme you have the haunting "Laura Palmer's Theme" and the quirky little "Dance of the Dream Man." The former was used in different variations to different effects throughout the series, eloquently underscoring the twists and turns in the search for her killer. Even when David Lynch writes some lyrics for Julee Cruise to sing, the mood produced by the music never changed.
... Read more ›Much like the series, this music creates the perfect mood. The music is ethereal, jazzy,sexy and totally hypnotic to the human ear.
The cameo performances from Julee Cruise helps, her voice is much like the melodies, beautiful and dreamy, pure heaven.
It brings you back to Peaks, a feeling I will never tire of.
Also, note should be made of singer Julee Cruise's contributions to the soundtrack. Much like Badalamenti, Cruise's music has an otherworldly, slightly melancholy feel to it but whereas Badalamenti takes you back to the series' sense of menace, Cruise's songs serve to remind you of the romantically hopeful idealism that occasionally surfaced as well.
... Read more ›There is a great deal of subtlety to this soundtrack that goes unrevealed when listening on a stereo or boom box.
Listening with a headset actually seems to create a greater intimacy with the soundtrack - you suddenly hear a variety of previously hidden nuances, such as sounds and recording effects.
It seems this music was made to be appreciated from "the center of it," if that makes sense, and not from across the room. Only headsets, or perhaps a really good surround-sound system, can physically put you where you need to be to appreciate the full quality of this work.
Don't get me wrong. It's a good soundtrack however you listen to it, but listening to it on a stereo from across the room keeps you at a distance from some of the surprising quality of this work.
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