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Note: I have no idea of the instruments they used, I just said what I heard. I hear my xylophone I heard was a oboe. I really have no idea, but that is just my interpretation of what I heard.
Since I first heard the melodious tunes from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Soundtrack I anxiously been awaiting the next installment of music from The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug. My wait took a sudden end just last month when I bought the soundtrack.
I have yet to see the movie so I cannot relate with all the themes but I know how a good soundtrack can stand by itself. The following is a review of each song.
1: The Quest for Erebor (3:23) - 4.4-star
This song starts out desperately and then slowly molds into a Bilbo/Shire theme for a few seconds. It quickly gains its beat back and goes into a darker theme which is mainly deep, long sonorous notes. Nothing incredibly special (like "My Dear Frodo" from the first soundtrack), but still good.
2: Wilderland (4:56) - 5-star
"Wilderland" really sets up the move to build up the tension and action for the soundtrack and movie. It starts out with classic "Two Towers" kind of music then moves onto a deep, fast beat and a remnant of the spider's theme. At exactly halfway through it goes into a brilliant fast tone. Very good song!
3: A Necromancer (Bonus Track) (2:54) - 4.3-star
Here is where themes from "The Hill of Sorcery" come back in. We can almost hear the "Ring of Power" theme and a bit of the spider's theme.
4: The House of Beorn (Extended Version) (4:52) - 4.4-star
As a filler kind of song, this track doesn't have all that much too it except for some slow kind of music you could probably hear in the LOTR soundtracks. Near the end of it we do get a rise in beat and a little bit of some themes that run throughout the rest of the movie.
5: Mirkwood (Extended Version) (5:31) - 4.3-star
Again, as a song that fills in more dramatic parts, this song doesn't have that much to it. At the end, however, it does set up the music for "Flies and Spiders".
6: Flies and Spiders (Extended Version) (9:35) - 4.6-star
What I thought would be the crowning glory of the soundtrack, turned out to be a little disappointing. I thought, in this song, that we would hear versions of Radagast's theme, the spider's deep, dark theme and maybe a bit of Dwarvish/Misty Mountain attack, like in "Roast Mutton". We don't hear that in this song. Only a small bit of the spider theme is carried through.
I gave it such a high-rating because it is still a good song. Just not as good as everyone expected. We do hear a little Ring of Power music, probably because of the relation to the spiders.
Right before 8:00 we hear a great theme that is found in many of the other songs, including, "Girion, Lord of Dale".
7: The Woodland Realm (Extended Version) (5:15) - 4.6-star
What is found in "The Hidden Valley" is played right at the beginning of this song. We got a sort of deep rendition of Elven music and something that sounds like the music used for Rivendell but in a different manner. The song starts out well then goes into playing off small themes until about ¾ through where it plays some deeper, darker choral and string. Pretty good song.
8: Feast of Starlight (2:48) - 5-star
As can be imagined from the song title, this song takes on a slow mood that transforms into beautiful, calm vocals. This song is the calm one of the bunch and is very good.
9: Barrels Out of Bond (1:50) - 4.8-star
This is a very good, short song. It contains themes for the Dwarves found in "An Unexpected Party" but still maintains a serious mood. I can't wait to see where this plays on the movie.
10: The Forest River (Extended Version) (5:10) - 5-star
Much is expected of this song. It has to effectively capture the chase between elves and dwarves without creating a dark mood. I believe Shore has done wonderfully. The theme played throughout the song is wonderful. Definitely deserves a 5-star.
11: Bard, A Man of Lake-town (Extended Version) (3:18) - 4.3-star
The song starts out slowly, delivers some blows about halfway through then builds up tension slowly, revealing the theme for Bard. Nothing extraordinary about it but not bad.
12: The High Fells (Extended Version) (3:38) - 4.6-star
What sounds like Azog's theme is the first thing to start this song. It then drifts into quiet, background vocals. Then something of a Black Rider theme slowly builds from the back. It quickly takes form then drops off into a solo that sounds very much like Ben Del Maestro's work in "Forth Eorlingas" or "Osgiliath Invaded".
13: The Nature of Evil (3:20) - 4.5-star
If one were to pick a sort of calm "evil" theme for LOTR and The Hobbit, the theme in this song would fit it perfectly. It isn't an exceptional song but I believe it effectively captures the evil the characters face.
14: Protector of the Common Folk (3:37) - 4.4-star
This is a calm song that definitely plays off themes with the individual dwarves, like in "An Unexpected Party". It also effectively plays more themes for the quest for the Lonely Mountain. A good note the leave on from the first CD.
Rating for the first disc: 64.2 stars out of 70! A very good CD that builds up well to the more dramatic parts of the film.
Best song of the disc: Definitely "The Forest River". The song creates and maintains wonderful themes.
1: Thrice Welcome (3:34) - 4.7-star
A new theme, starting with fast string notes to long ones is introduced. Now exactly sure who it is for, but it is a very good theme. Later on in the song it is transformed into a little deeper and darker but is still good.
2: Girion, Lord of Dale (Extended Version) (4:15) - 4.5-star
This song picks up where the last one left off, obviously introducing a character to the film. One can almost hear a bit of Radagast's theme for a few seconds but it is done differently. At a 1:32 we get to re-feel one of the best themes of the entire soundtrack. Shore is building up a feeling with the music and, though it takes awhile, he has done it in an enjoyable way.
¾ ways through a background version of "My Dear Frodo" can be heard. It plays slowly in the back with what sounds like a new theme, perhaps it will be exposed more later on.
3: Durin's Folk (Extended Version) (3:04) - 4.5-star
This song works a lot off what we heard in the first Hobbit. It has some of the tunes from the Dwarvish and Bilbo company. It also plays some of the themes found in "My Dear Frodo". Ultimately, it remixes the lost of Erebor from the Dwarves. At the end it places a dark theme, suggesting something is off.
4: In the Shadow of the Mountain (2:15) - 4.6-star
Here a new theme is introduced that I would call a remix of the Dwarves mission, to take back their home. One can hear mixtures for the first version of the Dwarves mission. Definitely a good song to introduce the intentions of the Dwarven company.
5: A Spell of Concealment (3:22) - 5-star
What starts out with a "Hill of Sorcery"/"Radagast the Brown" theme quickly goes far deeper. Lass than halfway through an old theme is slowly brought up . . . the Nazgul theme in "The Coronal of Silver and Gold" of the third LOTR trilogy. In fact, a large part of "The Coronal of Silver and Gold" is redone. I can only wonder what the song matches up with in the show!
6: On the Doorstep (7:46) - 4.7-star
For being such a long song that doesn't have any action parts, I believe Shore did wonderful. The first 5 minutes are slow but towards the last bit we hear many beloved themes and feelings from the first movie. The title of this song and the song itself, I believe, wrap up the Dwarves mission for the last time. This song puts it past the mission and the actual doing of it.
7: The Courage of Hobbits (3:00) - 4.5-star
We get a Shire theme right in the beginning of this song and it works well. The rest is a slow mood and doesn't add up to much, but it isn't disappointing.
8: Inside Information (3:48) - 4.8-star
The dark themes and secret planning kind of music used in the LOTR soundtracks comes back here to the Hobbit. It is done differently and what almost sounds like a xylophone at 2:00. I believe this theme is Smaug's. The song gets dramatic towards the end in a very interesting way. No other song in this series quite matches the uniqueness of this one.
9: Kingsfoil (2:25) - 4.4-star
A melodious and choral version of the wonderful theme we have spoken of before is done. This version is done a few more times throughout the rest of the CD.
10: A Liar and a Thief 3:41) - 4.6-star
Right away we have the xylophone-sounding theme again depicting sinister deeds or plots. This is a very good filler song and is done very well compared to a few of the others.
11: The Hunters (Extended Version (9:55) - 4.8-star
Very long songs can sometimes be a disappointment; a composer has to be very good to keep a 10-minute song from not going bad after a few minutes or just saving the good part till the end. However, Shore did good here. You can hear similarities with "Wilderland" and some bits of "Inside Information".
12: Smaug (Extended Version) (6:29) - 4.2-star
As with "Flies and Spiders" a lot was expected of this song. Being able to grasp Smaug is a daunting challenge and, unfortunately, Shore didn't do it all that well. Smaug's theme is played. Towards the end we get a little more action but no special combinations.
13: My Armor is Iron (5:16) - 4.7-star
Once again, as this song starts out, we here a reference to "The Coronal of Silver and Gold" that disappears then comes back on a little later. This theme is played over and over is different ways that are masterfully done throughout the song. You will also hear themes from "My Dear Frodo". At the end you will hear some more of that wonderful theme.
14: I See Fire (5:00) - Ed Sheeran - 5-star
In the first soundtrack for the first Hobbit, Neil Finn did the credit song, "Song of the Lonely Mountain" and I had very mixed feelings about it. Not about this one! First time I heard the excerpt for it I said, "a guitar?! They used a guitar for the credit song!" I was mistaken in my first impression, this song is awesome.
Ed Sheeran was a great pick for this song and though the song may not fit perfectly with the rest of the movie or CD, it is still very good. This is a song I will definitely have in my favorites!
15: Beyond the Forest (5:27) - 5-star
Remember that wonderful theme? This song wraps it all up. It starts out with a wonderful choral masterpiece and then goes into that remarkable theme.
One of the best parts, though, is when Shore stepped out of his comfort zone. Normally, when a song builds up the tension to a breaking point, they drop it off into silence. Shore has done this multiple times, except for "The Treason of Isengaard" and this song. But not even "The Treason of Isengaard" was this magnificent. He built up the tension so high then he kept going with the theme! This is definitely the best example of that I have ever heard. If you don't buy the whole CD, then definitely, definitely buy this song. Gives me goosebumps it is so good!
Rating for the first disc: 70 stars out of 75! This disc definitely did better than the first. It takes all the build up from the first disc and transform it into a masterpiece!
Best song of the disc: Totally "Beyond the Forest". This song takes the weaknesses of a good song and destroys them in a strong finale for the whole movie.
Best song of the entire soundtrack: Also "Beyond the Forest".
Rating for entire soundtrack: 134.2 stars out of 145. Overall that is a 4.6 out of 5. Not bad! Great job Mr. Shore!
With all the changes that were made in order to make this score, I would say they were worth it. I just hope the next installment can beat this one!
My only complaint is that they didn't use the Misty Mountains theme at all, though, that might be what brought the new maturity to this score!
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