Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 54
 Simply Magnifecent March 12, 2009
JME2 (Monterey, CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'll admit, I was skeptical about purchasing a Star Wars album NOT scored by Williams. Indeed, it seemed almost impossible to imagine that galaxy far, far away without the maestro's overtones and style as it's so deeply ingrained in the public consciousness (and the fanbase). However, McNeely and the album exceeded all of my expectations. He meld;s Williams' familiar themes with his own style and the result is, if anything, even more operatic than the Maestros' work. "Imperial City", for example, is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard and worth the price of admission alone. Buy it, Star Wars fans; you won't be disappointed.
classic soundtrack to a classic book February 14, 2009
Ivan Orozco (Boca Raton Florida)
this is a awesome soundtrack epic sweeping powerful pure star wars music buy this soundtrack if your a star wars fan or soundtrack fan you wont be sorry
 just music-no story!!!! May 26, 2008
Karen Willis
0 out of 8 found this review helpful
when i typed in a search for this audiobook, this is what came up. nowhere on the cover does it say soundtrack. i wanted to listen to the audiobook on cd like i did 10 years ago on cassette.
Necessary for those who love film scores and Star Wars fans should pick this up too! May 16, 2008
Nathan Andrews (New Milford, CT. USA)
A superb achievement in a brilliant marketing campaign that was an overall success. Few campaigns of this nature ever work on the level in which they are conceived, but this exceeded many expectations. Given the fact that many people weren't jaded with the Star Wars name prior to 1997 (when the Special Editions were released, and arguably fans began having their doubts about Lucas's creative choices) this soundtrack to Shadows of the Empire was a unique opportunity for Lucasfilm to try and expand the Star Wars universe with music, even though there was no film to accompany it.
As a piece of music it stands on its own. Its themes and orchestrations hold their own against John Williams original scores for the first trilogy and even comparing them to the latest trilogy, listeners will find many similarities to this particular score. (One almost wonders if Williams had some of these themes in mind when he scored the Prequel trilogy.)
But what is done best by Joel McNeely and the orchestra is that they weren't afraid to push things in different directions and wisely so, for as the composer himself notes in the liners of the album jacket, Williams scores are considered something of a hallowed tradition and to alleviate the pressure of having to live up to, or risk damaging a flawless score, he decided to venture elsewhere. And as listeners we have all benefitted from this choice. A great listen, with strong themes and orchestrations that only compliments John Williams official scores, and is worth the accolade of having the Star Wars title.
Awe-Inspiring! An Exquisite Departure From Williams! May 24, 2007
Nick Dollinger (Bellflower, CA USA)
One of my top favorite scores...and it isn't even to a film!
This soundtrack has more originality to it than anything I've heard experimented on Williams' Star Wars music. McNeely, the underrated and overlooked film composer has once again struck gold...BIG TIME!!
I could rant and rave about how good this score is, but the truth is you just have to find out for yourself. There are so many things happening that just aren't "Star Wars"-sounding...and yet, just the opposite is true.
"The Destruction of Xizor's Palace" is the best song on the album. This 10-minute (wow!) track is quite exciting but my favorite part is the incredibly moving climax (in which I usually find myself holding back a tear or two as I turn up the volume).
Between the choral work, exotic percussion, violin solos, brilliant brass and lovely lyrical themes, I perceive elements of Jerry Goldsmith, 40's Hollywood music, modern Classical music, Batman: The Animated Series, Bernard Herrmann, and of course, John Williams!
This is definitely Joel McNeely's finest work to date...
Take a chance and buy it.
You won't be disappointed, trust me.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 54
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