Soundtrack Review: Fringe Season 2 (2011)
| Reviewer: JØrn Tillnes |
Fringe Season 2 Soundtrack Review: This is a review of the television score Fringe Season 2 by Chris Tilton.
"Fringe Fans, there's nothing to wonder about here, just go get it"
Fringe is awesome isn't it? It seems to get better every season and the music as well. The J.J. Abrams created show goes from strength to strength. The second season was all about the war between the two universes, or rather the continuation of it. Charlie from another world is of course a major force in this season
Track List
| 1. A New Day In The Old Town | ***** |
| 2. Good Ol' Charlie | ***** |
| 3. The Coma-naut | ***** |
| 4. Hypnotic Suggestions | ***** |
| 5. Observers Everywhere Everytime | **** |
| 6. Love and Death on Observer Island | **** |
| 7. What a Gas | ***** |
| 8. Forest of Dreams | **** |
| 9. Where Dunham Fears to Tread | ***** |
| 10. The Building Theft | ***** |
| 11. The Window of Opportunity | **** |
| 12. Reiden Out to Madness | **** |
| 13. Doppelganger Up On Reality | ***** |
| 14. Breach to the Choir | **** |
| 15. Olivia's Cross to Share | **** |
| 16. Over There | **** |
| 17. The Son Also Rises | **** |
| 18. Devastation Nation | *** |
| 19. Saved by the Belly | **** |
| 20. Haste Makes Wasteland | **** |
| 21. Quibbles and Fits | *** |
| 22. Doubled Over | **** |
| 23. Love In The Time of Crossing Over | ***** |
| 24. Bells and Missiles | **** |
| 25. Give My regards to Fraudway | *** |
| 26. End Title Theme (by Michael Giacchino) | ***** |
| 27. Fringe 85 (by J.J. Abrams) | ***** |
| 28. Red Russian Down | ***** |
| 29. Brown Betty Suite | **** |
The music of Fringe is, dare I say it, unique. Ok, so it's music and by definition it can't be unique. There's just something about the sound of Fringe and I recognize it as soon as I hear it.
Just listen to 'A New Day In The Old Town' which is a perfect example. That is Fringe inside and out and I simply love it. You'll notice some classical elements in there, at least is sounds like that.
Missing Music
The problem with releasing this music is not because fans will not enjoy the music, because they will. Some, maybe a lot, will be disappointed that their favorite music from their favorite episode is not in it. This CD is stacked with music, absolutely filled to the top. Roughly 1 hour and 18 minutes of total playtime, but I have a feeling that they could easily fill two or more CD's of this stuff. Perhaps they should have done like La-La Land and make it a 2CD release like they did with "Human Target".
I really hope that in the future we get the music that was missing from these releases.
Now onto the music and it doesn't disappoint. It is in fact just what you expect and more. Even people like me who enjoy the show, music or not, will love this score simply because it has everything you could want in a score. It has action and drama in abundance.
Charlie has a fantastic theme in 'Good Ol' Charlie' which differs from a lot of the material here simply because it is a toned down track with subtle piano and synth elements mixed into this ambient, but melodic track. Gorgeous!
The love theme featured in 'Love in the Time of Crossing Over' is also noteworthy simply because it is a great example of the two main characters and their interaction. It could perhaps be featured more but hopefully in the third season.
There's some fun stuff at the end as well. Michael Giacchino has got his name on the front cover, but his contribution to the score is the 36 second 'End Title Theme'. It's really good though! Then there's the awesome 'Fringe 85' theme by J.J. Abrams which is the opening to the 80s version of Fringe. It sounds so 80s that I could easily be tricked into believing it is an 80s show. It is that good.
There's also a couple of bonus tracks. The excellent 'Red Russian Down' and 'Brown Betty Suite'. The 'Brown Betty Suite' is a suite of music from the film noir episode and Chris really does great time period music, but it's not my favorite. 'Red Russian Down' however is a wonderful and explosive track with some ethnic percussion and heavy guitar and a dark and brooding cello.
Conclusion
Fringe Fans, there's nothing to wonder about here, just go get it. People not acquainted with Fringe, but would like to listen to the music, get season 1 and 2 because I feel they are a set that needs to be completed. Another great season of Fringe and even better music, what could possibly be better than that? Season 3 will be really good, call it a hunch, but I would put my life in the hands of J.J. Abrams and Chris Tilton at this point. Go. Buy. Now.
CUE RATING: 86.2
->Buy the MP3 Album on Amazon<-
Listen to the Fringe Season 2 soundtrack by Chris Tilton below:
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