Search - David Arnold :: The World Is Not Enough (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

One of Arnold's best Bond scores

Sean M. Caldwell | Earth, Texas | 09/03/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The score for "The World is Not Enough" finds David Arnold comfortably settled into his current role as the chief musician for the franchise, which is good for us because there's some good stuff to be heard.



The title track by Garbage(in collaboration with Arnold) is satisfactory if not spectacular and certainly superior to Sheryl Crow's "Tomoorrow Never Dies." Unfortunately, the music for the first half of the opening sequence(including an awesome rendition of the James Bond theme as he escapes out the window) is omitted, going straight to the MI6 bombing and ensuing boat chase. The score for the latter scenes isn't bad, it's just missing the first bit.



The soundtrack wisely tones things down for a few tracks while still remaining with tension, before picking back up again during "Welcome To Baku" and continuing on with the film with the songs (mostly)listed in the order they are heard in the film.



Cuts that really stand out include "Pipeline," which can make any situation 100x more intense(try it), "Body Double," "Submarine," "Going Down/The Bunker" and "Caviar Factory." All these show Arnold as a more-than-capable action composer and are a pleasure to listen to.



It's a real shame that the soundtrack omits the final Bond theme heard over the ending credits, opting instead for the original exit music, "Only Myself to Blame." The song is decent and starts to grow on you with repeated listening, though Scott Walker's vocals seem out of place with this crooner of a song.



All in all, what's here is good. But there's more. Where's the gunbarrel music? Where the bank escape music? Where's the end credits Bond theme?

Meh, oh well."