To Boldly Go... Discussing The Score

JacksonArcher · May 13 2009, 03:41 AM

Since I didn't see a thread on this, I thought there should be a thread discussing Michael Giaachino's brilliant score for Star Trek. For those unawares, Giacchino is the talented and ambitious composer behind such scores as The Incredibles, Mission: Impossible III, Speed Racer and has done music for Abrams institutions Lost and Alias as well as contributed the musical scores for the Metal of Honor games.

I purchased his score for Trek a few days ago and lately that's all I've been able to listen to. Yes, his score is suitably bombastic, but it is jam-packed full of emotion and excitement. I absolutely love how he incorporates Alexander Courage's original TV show theme very subtly in the track "Nero Death Experience" towards the end and then full-on for the "End Credits". His theme for the film, as heard in the first track, "Star Trek", and carried on throughout the score, is brilliant when played soft and gentle, and rousing when played loud and crass. In fact, the first few tracks of the score are probably the best, and like the film, it kind of slows down and lessens as the score progresses, but it still has enough memorable music to fill in the quieter tracks like "Nice To Meld You" and "That New Car Smell" to make it worth your listen.

So, what did everyone think of the film's score and how do you think it measures up to the works of Courage, Jerry Goldsmith, and other past Trek composers?

TrekLost · May 13 2009, 03:43 AM

I think that his end credits score with the Courage Theme is surely the best part of the score, but "Enterprising Young Men" is also pretty good and really captures the sense of adventure and action that the movie has.

JacksonArcher · May 13 2009, 03:46 AM

I agree. Sometimes if I am out or just walking, I'll listen to just that track, and I feel so (pardon the pun) energized and excitable, it really does summarize the score in general fairly well.

Corran Horn · May 13 2009, 03:48 AM

TrekLost wrote:

I think that his end credits score with the Courage Theme is surely the best part of the score, but "Enterprising Young Men" is also pretty good and really captures the sense of adventure and action that the movie has.

Very much agreed.

PKTrekGirl · May 13 2009, 03:50 AM

I loved the score. Usually, I only notice a score during a second or third viewing...but there were a couple of times during this movie when I got a bit choked up...and I suspect that the score really helped to bring emotion to these scenes.

sttngfan1701d · May 13 2009, 03:50 AM

I liked a few things when I went to see the movie today, namely the "new" Trek theme that's a refrain throughout the film. But to be honest I found it to be mostly weak, IMO. It didn't jump out at me like the ones for TMP, TWOK, TVH and First Contact.

Lythia · May 13 2009, 03:51 AM

"Enterprising Young Men" is my favorite of the bunch (it just broke into my top ten most listed to tracks on iTunes), then "That New Car Smell" and "Hella Bar Talk". I also enjoyed "Labor of Love". Overall, I really am enjoying it. The last ST soundtrack I bought was TVH, so it's been a while.

Alpha Romeo · May 13 2009, 03:52 AM

I also like it. I believe Enterprising Young Men is the main theme at the beginning, isn't it?

There is some stuff from the trailers that wasn't in the soundtrack and I was disapointed. There is a site that has some of those tracks, damned if I can remember what it is...

Broccoli · May 13 2009, 03:52 AM

Overall, I liked the score. Then again, I am pretty easy to please when it comes to movie scores to movies that I enjoyed (or probably will enjoy).

I like the "main theme" of the movie (Track 1). Although it sounds like it should be in a Batman movie, I think it fits Star Trek well. In other threads, people were bitching (surprise, surprise) that the theme is too short and simplistic. It may not be as complex as other themes out there, but it is still a beautiful piece of music that has an epic sound to it, imho.

I also love the "build up to something cool" theme (if it could be called that). To what I am referring to appears in "Enterprising Young Men" and at the end of "That New Car Smell."

I think it is too early to tell how it will stand up to the other great themes of the Trek movies (personally, I think all are pretty great and classic). However, just from my initial reaction, I don't think it can hold a candle to Goldsmith (particularly his TMP score).

Broccoli · May 13 2009, 03:55 AM

Alpha Romeo wrote:

I also like it. I believe Enterprising Young Men is the main theme at the beginning, isn't it?

There is some stuff from the trailers that wasn't in the soundtrack and I was disapointed. There is a site that has some of those tracks, damned if I can remember what it is...

Stuff from the trailers wasn't written for the movie, but taken from other movies/TV shows. For example, the first full trailer had "War Begins" from Children of Dune written by Bryan Tyler (who, incidentally, scored a few episodes of Enterprise, one of which, I believe, was "Regeneration").

You can probably find clips on You Tube.

Gep Malakai · May 13 2009, 04:01 AM

sttngfan1701d wrote:

I liked a few things when I went to see the movie today, namely the "new" Trek theme that's a refrain throughout the film. But to be honest I found it to be mostly weak, IMO. It didn't jump out at me like the ones for TMP, TWOK, TVH and First Contact.

Agreed. The only really good piece of music, IMO, is the Vulcan/Spock theme that shows up throughout and the music that used under the evacuation of the Kelvin. The main theme is weak (a friend of mine described it as "constipated," and that seems as good a term as any), and both the main and Vulcan themes suffered from a total lack of development throughout.

Everything else sounded like Berman-era sonic wallpaper.

TrekLost · May 13 2009, 04:03 AM

And "Enterprising Young Men" is a great title too. Really rolls off the tongue well.

Agent Richard07 · May 13 2009, 04:14 AM

Here's a thread about the soundtrack with almost 200 replies.

Anyway, I really liked "Labor of Love" as it played over ther muted Kelvin scenes along with the segue into the title sequence with "Enterprising Young Men".

T'Baio · May 13 2009, 04:24 AM

I really like it, but I still think Cliff Eidelman's score from Star Trek VI is the best. His build up to the explosion of Praxis is my favourite musical moment in Star Trek. I also love Goldsmith's score for First Contact.

Kpnuts · May 13 2009, 11:28 AM

It's a bit repetitive, but thankfully the main 'theme' of the movie is fantastic so hearing it over and over isn't so bad.

Enterprising Young Men is excellent, and I hope they use that theme for the sequel(s)

May 13 2009, 03:41 AM	#1
JacksonArcher Vice Admiral	To Boldly Go... Discussing The Score Since I didn't see a thread on this, I thought there should be a thread discussing Michael Giaachino's brilliant score for Star Trek. For those unawares, Giacchino is the talented and ambitious composer behind such scores as The Incredibles, Mission: Impossible III, Speed Racer and has done music for Abrams institutions Lost and Alias as well as contributed the musical scores for the Metal of Honor games. I purchased his score for Trek a few days ago and lately that's all I've been able to listen to. Yes, his score is suitably bombastic, but it is jam-packed full of emotion and excitement. I absolutely love how he incorporates Alexander Courage's original TV show theme very subtly in the track "Nero Death Experience" towards the end and then full-on for the "End Credits". His theme for the film, as heard in the first track, "Star Trek", and carried on throughout the score, is brilliant when played soft and gentle, and rousing when played loud and crass. In fact, the first few tracks of the score are probably the best, and like the film, it kind of slows down and lessens as the score progresses, but it still has enough memorable music to fill in the quieter tracks like "Nice To Meld You" and "That New Car Smell" to make it worth your listen. So, what did everyone think of the film's score and how do you think it measures up to the works of Courage, Jerry Goldsmith, and other past Trek composers? __________________ Bane: "When Gotham is ashes... you have my permission to die." - The Dark Knight Rises

May 13 2009, 03:43 AM	#2
TrekLost Lieutenant	Re: To Boldly Go... Discussing The Score I think that his end credits score with the Courage Theme is surely the best part of the score, but "Enterprising Young Men" is also pretty good and really captures the sense of adventure and action that the movie has.

May 13 2009, 03:46 AM	#3
JacksonArcher Vice Admiral	Re: To Boldly Go... Discussing The Score I agree. Sometimes if I am out or just walking, I'll listen to just that track, and I feel so (pardon the pun) energized and excitable, it really does summarize the score in general fairly well. __________________ Bane: "When Gotham is ashes... you have my permission to die." - The Dark Knight Rises

May 13 2009, 03:50 AM	#5
PKTrekGirl Arrogant Niner Thug Location: Anchorage, Alaska	Re: To Boldly Go... Discussing The Score I loved the score. Usually, I only notice a score during a second or third viewing...but there were a couple of times during this movie when I got a bit choked up...and I suspect that the score really helped to bring emotion to these scenes. __________________ DS9 on DVD - Now 99.923% Borg-Free! Star Trek XI - "You know, if you have ten extra sombreros lying around, I have an idea on how to improve your current avatar..." - Samuel T. Cogley

May 13 2009, 03:50 AM	#6
sttngfan1701d Fleet Captain	Re: To Boldly Go... Discussing The Score I liked a few things when I went to see the movie today, namely the "new" Trek theme that's a refrain throughout the film. But to be honest I found it to be mostly weak, IMO. It didn't jump out at me like the ones for TMP, TWOK, TVH and First Contact.

STAR TREK

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May 13 2009, 03:51 AM	#7
Lythia Lieutenant	Re: To Boldly Go... Discussing The Score "Enterprising Young Men" is my favorite of the bunch (it just broke into my top ten most listed to tracks on iTunes), then "That New Car Smell" and "Hella Bar Talk". I also enjoyed "Labor of Love". Overall, I really am enjoying it. The last ST soundtrack I bought was TVH, so it's been a while.

May 13 2009, 03:52 AM	#8
Alpha Romeo Vice Admiral Location: Connecticut	Re: To Boldly Go... Discussing The Score I also like it. I believe Enterprising Young Men is the main theme at the beginning, isn't it? There is some stuff from the trailers that wasn't in the soundtrack and I was disapointed. There is a site that has some of those tracks, damned if I can remember what it is... __________________ "Kirk would have fucked the cold dead skull of the Borg Queen when it was all over."

May 13 2009, 03:52 AM	#9
Broccoli Vice Admiral Location: Broccoli	Re: To Boldly Go... Discussing The Score Overall, I liked the score. Then again, I am pretty easy to please when it comes to movie scores to movies that I enjoyed (or probably will enjoy). I like the "main theme" of the movie (Track 1). Although it sounds like it should be in a Batman movie, I think it fits Star Trek well. In other threads, people were bitching (surprise, surprise) that the theme is too short and simplistic. It may not be as complex as other themes out there, but it is still a beautiful piece of music that has an epic sound to it, imho. I also love the "build up to something cool" theme (if it could be called that). To what I am referring to appears in "Enterprising Young Men" and at the end of "That New Car Smell." I think it is too early to tell how it will stand up to the other great themes of the Trek movies (personally, I think all are pretty great and classic). However, just from my initial reaction, I don't think it can hold a candle to Goldsmith (particularly his TMP score). __________________ "That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence." -- Christopher Hitchens

May 13 2009, 04:03 AM	#12
TrekLost Lieutenant	Re: To Boldly Go... Discussing The Score And "Enterprising Young Men" is a great title too. Really rolls off the tongue well.

May 13 2009, 04:14 AM	#13
Agent Richard07 The Tim Burton Version Location: Defying Logic	Re: To Boldly Go... Discussing The Score Here's a thread about the soundtrack with almost 200 replies. Anyway, I really liked "Labor of Love" as it played over ther muted Kelvin scenes along with the segue into the title sequence with "Enterprising Young Men".

May 13 2009, 04:24 AM	#14
T'Baio Admiral Location: Ontario, Canada	Re: To Boldly Go... Discussing The Score I really like it, but I still think Cliff Eidelman's score from Star Trek VI is the best. His build up to the explosion of Praxis is my favourite musical moment in Star Trek. I also love Goldsmith's score for First Contact. __________________ Posthuman: A Science Fiction Web Series at www.sfntv.com and www.whatisameme.com, on the TrekBBS, and on the social network.

May 13 2009, 11:28 AM	#15
Kpnuts Commodore Location: London	Re: To Boldly Go... Discussing The Score It's a bit repetitive, but thankfully the main 'theme' of the movie is fantastic so hearing it over and over isn't so bad. Enterprising Young Men is excellent, and I hope they use that theme for the sequel(s)