Composer: Music and music score by Marc Shaiman; lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman
Tell me more: An absolute delight, "Mary Poppins Returns" is that rare high-profile sequel that fully delivers on the magic of its predecessor — in large part because of the musical magic created by composer Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott Wittman. The songs have a timeless appeal that recalls the style achieved by Academy Award-winning composers Richard and Robert Sherman for 1964's "Mary Poppins." The emotional range of the "Mary Poppins Returns: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" material is as varied as the talented cast. Standout songs abound on the soundtrack including the British music hall-flavored "(Underneath the) Lovely London Sky," the affecting "The Place Where Lost Things Go" (a wonderful showcase for star Emily Blunt), spirited "Turning Turtle" (featuring Meryl Streep) and undeniably infectious "Can You Imagine That?" Information: movies.disney.com.
Composer: Robert Duncan
Tell me more: Although "Timeless" came to an end following a special two-hour finale in December 2018, fans of the popular NBC-TV science fiction show can relive the series' sonic backdrop courtesy of the 51-track soundtrack. Emmy-nominated composer Robert Duncan's work on the soundtrack is excellent, with the tense "Might Want to Hold On" and "Lifeboat," propulsive "Jumping to the Alamo" and "Man On The Moon" and luxurious "The Original Lone Ranger" and "Wyatt And Lucy" among the stellar instrumental pieces highlighted on the fast-moving audio set. "Over the Hump" is especially moving and recalls the power of Howard Shore's work on the "Lord of the Rings" series. Information: VareseSarabande.com.
Composer: John Massari
Tell me more: Blending elements of rock, industrial and classical, John Massari's energetic score for the 1988 cult classic "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" received a new sonic paint job in 2018 thanks to a crowdfunding effort where fans of the horror-comedy film helped spearhead a multi-year effort resulting in the new recording. Massari's work is memorable and the orchestra-rich score heard on the 2018 release is a joy. There are seven bonus tracks on "Killer Klowns from Outer Space: Reimagined," further bolstering the recommended title. Information: VareseSarabande.com.
Composer: Joseph LoDuca
Tell me more: Fans of director Dean Devlin's "Bad Samaritan" will want to get the soundtrack for the film composed by Joseph LoDuca (best known for his work on the "Evil Dead" Films and the "Librarians" TV series). The music here is symphonic where it needs to be ("Portland," "End Credits") and more contemporary elsewhere ("A Smile Out Of Him," "Devil's House"). The overarching feel is dark (notably "Cale Break In" and "In My Jail"), but the music invites and thrills the listener to be sure. Information: VareseSarabande.com.
Composer: Taj Mahal
Tell me more: Famed bluesman Taj Mahal wrote songs and music featured on the 1972 Grammy-nominated soundtrack of the classic film "Sounder" which has just been reissued via a wonderful edition that sounds amazing. The audio CD version of "Sounder" had been out of print since 1997 until September 2018 when Varèse Sarabande Records reissued the official motion picture soundtrack. It is a potent musical portrait of Louisiana in the Great Depression, with Mahal using acoustic guitar, harmonica, banjo, his resonant baritone vocals and other musical tools to articulate a moodscape that conjures up a place and time that gave rise to Delta-styled blues music (just listen to "Curiosity Blues" and the acapella "Someday Be a Change"). Information: VareseSarabande.com.
Composer: Daniel Hart
Tell me more: With actor Robert Redford having announced in August 2018 that he has retired from acting, his lead role in the 2018 film "The Old Man & the Gun" is getting plenty of well-deserved attention as it will likely mark the acclaimed star's final role. Daniel Hart's mesmerizing score for the film is icing on the cake, with the jazzy score conjuring up additional power to enhance director David Lowery's telling of the real-life story of career criminal Forrest Tucker. The music here is nuanced and blends signature sounds spanning a good part of the 20th century (Tucker lived from 1920 to 2004). There are a myriad of colorful compositions ranging from the beautiful "Freeze, Sailor!" and breezy "More Happy" to the classical-flavored "Rub-A-Dub-Dub." Information: VareseSarabande.com.
Robert Kinsler
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