XXX [SOUNDTRACK]

Randy Edelman (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B000078JLH
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #250,938 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Prague Arrival

2. Washington Searches for the Right Man

3. Distorted View of the World

4. Czech Cavalry

5. Anarchy 99

6. Elena

7. Changing Science of Ahab

8. Kiss on the Rooftop

9. Jefe in the Colombian Drug Fields

10. Finding Paradise in Bora Bora

11. Lions and Gibbons

12. Motorcycle Assault

13. In Xander's Zone

14. Your Eyes Give You Away

15. X Marks the Spot

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The slick Vin Diesel action vehicle XXX was custom tailored to appeal to a new generation of action/spy film fans, complete with a double-disc soundtrack of hard-edged modern rock and electro-club music. But though that collection was a shrewd marketing move, the film's real musical lifeblood--and unheralded link to 40 years of tradition--was this dynamic orchestral effort from veteran composer Randy Edelman. Alternately coloring locales from Washington to Eastern Europe and conjuring an aura of tension, unease, and international intrigue, the composer avoids the overwrought pitfalls of many an action score. Edelman has also given Diesel's extreme sports star cum reluctant spy a simple but effective eight-note motif that's the modern equivalent of the familiar Bond theme; given the film's success and Diesel's rising fortunes, we'll probably be hearing a lot more of it. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Talk about surpise!, December 5, 2002

By	Rashard Brown-Williams (Elmhurst, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I saw XXX in the theaters. I didn't want to, but I did. Anyway, I actually enjoyed it. And I really did not expect the quality orchestration that was present in the movie. The music oozes an atmosphere of espionage. Without knowing where the music was from, the sounds alone conjure images of the hero(ine) stalking silently across a snowy courtyard unseen under cover of darkness. The violins that open the disc on "Prague Arrival" create a smooth sounding backdrop for the international spy in all of us. The music never imposes or bashes you over the head with its volume or intensity. My favorite piece has to be the very military sounding "Czech Cavalry." It is like a blissful combination of Hans Zimmer's The Rock (my favorite soundtrack of all time) and Harry Gregson-Williams's Metal Gear Solid 2 theme. The compositions create a mood of tension and urgency without being intimdating. I would recommend this score. After all, we can't all be spies...but with this score, we sure can feel like it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid action music that is powerful and muscular, January 2, 2003

By	Brandon Cutro (Tyler, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Randy Edelman outdoes himself with this score to XXX. His characteristic writing style is present in almost every cue with lots of similarities to Hans Zimmer's writing style as in The Rock and possibly Backdraft. This is powerful and driving music with an attitude. For this score, Edelman uses much more percussion than his previous scores, giving the sound a militaristic and edgy feel. "Prague Arrival" features a violin solo that leads to a brass led motif. The theme for XXX is an 8 note horn motif that is similar to what you might hear in a Bond film. The score also contains lots of meaty brass and percussion punches in cues such as "Washington Searches For The Right Man", "In Xander's Zone", and "X Marks the Spot". The majority of the music is powerful action music with lots of mighty brass and powerful snare drums. "Motorcycle Assault" is a knockout action cue that blows you out of your seat, as well as several others. Some romantic music can be found in "Elena" and "A Kiss on the Rooftop" which contain a gentle piano theme. I wish there was more music than the 37 minutes that are on here, but I am still glad that this score got a release. Instead of the score finishing on a grand and booming finale, like you would expect, it instead fades out with the XXX theme played on piano in a quick techno like tempo. This is an action score that every fan of action music should own.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Always good to see when scores get released, September 7, 2005

By	Sean O'Flaherty (Adelaide, Australia) - See all my reviews

I'm sure I voice the opinion of many a soundtrack/score lover in expressing great joy when scores like this get released. All too often the "Music from and inspired by the movie..." so-called soundtracks get released, whilst leaving the real musical lifeblood unreleased.

Randy Edelman's score for xXx is just as pulsating, action-packed and just generally encompassing as the movie. Original use of french horn in the recurring theme first heard in the bridge jump particularly shows in "Washington searches...". Fans of the movie will also recognise the frequently heard chord progression 'slams' heard in a number of the tracks.

It is also good to see that it isn't all go. Gentler piano cues such as in "Elena" and "Your Eyes Give You Away" interrupt the action and create a nice sense of balance.

Overall this is an entertaining, fast-moving score that neatly summarises the movie musically. The key word here, I suppose, is fun. This isn't a score that takes itself seriously, and is unabashed in revealing its true purpose - that of entertainment.