The action-adventure mystery "Sherlock Holmes" is helmed by acclaimed filmmaker Guy Ritchie. Robert Downey Jr. brings the legendary detective to life, and Jude Law stars as Holmes' trusted colleague, Watson, a doctor and w... more »ar veteran who is a formidable ally. The soundtrack to "Sherlock Holmes" features music by Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and Grammy Award winning composer Hans Zimmer. Enhanced CD includes free digital download of the Soundtrack in 5.1 Surround Sound.« less
The action-adventure mystery "Sherlock Holmes" is helmed by acclaimed filmmaker Guy Ritchie. Robert Downey Jr. brings the legendary detective to life, and Jude Law stars as Holmes' trusted colleague, Watson, a doctor and war veteran who is a formidable ally. The soundtrack to "Sherlock Holmes" features music by Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and Grammy Award winning composer Hans Zimmer. Enhanced CD includes free digital download of the Soundtrack in 5.1 Surround Sound.
"The soundtrack for this movie was spectacular and this is a good CD, but it's missing some of the music that was in the film. Mostly noticeably absent was the the great Irish music vocal, "The Rocky Road to Dublin," by The High Kings. This song made the Holmes fight scene even more dramatic, and it also made the credits at the end more enjoyable. I was disappointed to find that it wasn't included in the soundtrack CD."
Discombobulate
mikey mike | 01/12/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Have not loved a Zimmer score this much since "Da Vinci Code".
Just when you think you have Zimmer figured out and expect him to churn out his usual style of music he knocks you out with this fun and very strange score that features an amazing mix of synths and an unusual orchestra. According this interview I read they had the piano I think right side up or something like that on one of the cues. And I could have sworn I heard an alto flute on one of the tracks. Woodwinds in a Zimmer score? Whats the world coming to.
The album starts with the engaging and highly entertaining "Discombobulate" which is just blast to listen to. When the track started I was ready to yawn but then the trombones kicked in and the fun started. The track sets up what I imagine is the movie's theme, which is done with a banjo if I'm hearing right then joined by the rest of the very odd orchestra. Zimmer even throws in a solo violin towards the end and what I could have sworn was an accordion. This track alone is worth the purchase of the album, so much fun and craziness. And all this time I thought Zimmer was humorless.
The humor doesn't stop with the first track, the 3rd track "I Never Woke Up in Handcuffs Before" is a crazy, crazy piece of music that sounds like something you'd hear an Indian bar. Zimmer pretty much has the unorthodox orchestra attempting to play the main theme and doing a very poor job of it. Sounds like a middle school band rehearsing for the main theme, which just makes it hilarious. Not sure if this was an aleatoric performance or actually written, but it's funny as all hell. Once again shocked that Zimmer has a sense of humor.
But it's not all fun and games as there are some tender moments here and there which also works fine without feeling out of place. It's Zimmer allright, but just toned down without being too sweet or sounding like some cliché laced complicated romantic comedy music. A great example of this is the strange and beautiful "Not In Blood, But in Bond". It starts very odd but halfway through the strings kick in and it just gets very endearing but still maintaining that heavy handed Zimmer sound. "Ah Putrefaction" is another sweet moment on the album.
Fans of Zimmers action writing can rejoice, and those tired of his string ostinatos can also rejoice? His action writing here is some of his best in a while. It's not so far removed that you don't think it's Zimmer, but also not the same crap that he and his boys churn out all the time. It has the heavy strings, the synths doing the part, the light drum loops and so forth but Zimmer combines them very effectively and makes some pretty interesting action music.
The lengthy and enjoyable "Psychological Recovery.....6 Months" contains the most action on the whole album. It's a long one but quite enjoyable and perfect for when you're stuck in traffic or waiting for your pharmacy to refill your anti depressants. One little touch that Zimmer employs here that I loved was this snyth piano sounding instrument, which I heard was a dulcimer? Other than LOTR I never even heard anyone else use it so it was refreshing to hear Zimmer use it along with the crazy array of sounds he got out of the orchestra which worked really well in the action material.
The album ends with another highlight, which is "Catatonie". My personal favorite part starts at 3:17 till the end. It's a great ender to a great album that really caught me off guard. Was expecting Zimmer to be Zimmer, and instead he surprised.
In an age when high profile composers are content to not do anything original it's nice to see that some still love the art enough to give it fresh material.
Recommended."
The Rocky Road to Dublin
Nikki | San Diego | 02/27/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The High Kings version of "The Rocky Road to Dublin" is a good version, but if you want the one form the movie you should buy "The Rocky Road to Dublin" form the Dubliners since that is the one form the movie."
Oscar Worthy
N. Campbell | dallas | 01/22/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Incredible score - modern and period at the same time. Hats off to Zimmer for exquisite integration of violin and string section - of course one would think it would be an obvious thing to do with a Holmes score, but I was pleasantly surprised by the way he stretched the abilities of the string section - scraping the bow, synth high pitch 'rips', etc... the Holmes motif is a great addition to the score literature, passing the theme from glockenspiel to sythensizer / harmonium to banjo for the win. Instead of just a sitting on a simple tune for the opening or closing credits Zimmer and Ritchie utilize the score and motifs as a musical experession of Holmes' mental processes - brilliant in the film and still effective on the album.
The 'love' #be it for Adler or Watson# theme is effective and also holds potential to be carried over into sequels.
Agree with previous posts that the High Kings are sorely missed. Do yourself a favor a purchase the tune "Rocky Road to Dublin" and add it to your library as part of this soundtrack. While you are there, go ahead and get 'Maries Wedding' - another great High Kings track.
"
Proper Chronological Order of Tracks
plums | St Louis, MO | 04/20/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of my pet peeves are soundtrack's where the order of songs is not in the chronological order as they appeared in the movie. I usually come to amazon and find that someone has already posted a review and put songs in the proper order, but it looks like no one has done that thus far with this soundtrack.
The format I'll use for this is:
Proper Order # / Soundtrack Track # / Track Title / Appearance Time in Movie (H:MM:SS) / Comment (if any):
1 / 7 / Marital Sabotage / 0:28 / intro of movie as horses appear
2 / 9 / Ah, Putrefaction / ~14:00 / Partial Track used - played during 2nd half of dinner while Holme's tries observe details of Mary and fails miserably
3 / X / The Rocky Road to Dublin (Live) / 15:34 / By the Dubliners: Not part of soundtrack - I bought this track separately and added it to my playlist.
4 / 4 / My Mind Rebels at Stagnation / / Multiple Ques: Ride to Prison to speak to Blackwood, and Most prominent;y is @ 3:00 into the track, which is Blackwood's first (staged) execution
5 / 5 / Data, Data, Data / 28:00 / Irene Adler Theme - Played during multiple sections of the movie (crushing walnuts with her fist, and drugging Holmes at the Grand Hotel)
6 / 2 / Is It Poison, Nanny? / ~31:15 / Multiple Ques: @ 1:30 into track, it's the second half of Irene's Introduction conversation, and as she walks (non flashback) to meet with Moriarty
7 / 3 / I Never Woke Up in Handcuffs Before / 34:19 / Appears in multiple ques - flashback of following Irene, and during first fight with Dredger at Reardon's home.
8 / 10 / Panic, Shear Bloody Panic / ~1:15:00 / Inspection of Body, and sailing on the river to the Wharf
9 / 8 / Not in Blood, But In Bond / 1:24:10 / Wharf Explosions and aftermath
10 / 6 / He's Killed the Dog Again / ~1:30:00 into movie / played during Holme's "enhanced" re-enactment of the order's ceremonies
11 / 11 / Psychological Recovery. .. 6 Months / / Basically the entire action sequence of the final act of the movie, and possibly some of the music of the fight with dredger in the Drydock
12 / 1 / Discombobulate / 0:00 and 2:00:32 / Contains both the introduction notes of movie, followed immediately by ending credits) - I feel its more natural as the final track of the soundtrack
13 / 12 / Catatonic / ~2:05:00 / Played after 2nd playing of Rocky Road to Dublin during end of movie credits
I've left off the 2 tracks from "The Duchess" movie soundtrack that appear during the dinner scene at "The Royal". I didn't particularly enjoy being shaken out of the distinct mood of the soundtrack when I included these two particular tracks in a playlist, but figured I should mention them here in case someone wants them for completeness sake.