Music and Audio This section compiles information regarding the movie soundtracks with reviews, track listings and composer details.

Alien (Trilogy) soundtrack Aliens soundtrack Alien3 soundtrack Alien Resurrection soundtrack Alien vs Predator soundtrack Aliens vs Predator: Requiem soundtrack

Alien Trilogy    Motion Picture Soundtrack(s) Original Release: October 15, 1996 Music composed by Cliff Eidelman Royal Scottish National Orchestra This is a good CD to buy especially if you don't want to buy all 3 soundtracks. As far as the original ALIEN, the original soundtrack is hard to come by, however the DVD has the complete score with great sound. This CD favors the first movie's score, with 7 tracks including "Main Title" and "Hypersleep" which were not included on the original soundtrack. Jerry Goldsmith's score is atmospheric and avante-garde and Cliff Eidelman(a great composer himself), does a superb job of recapturing this classic score. In my opinion, this recording exceeds the original. It is well performed by the RSO and mixed perfectly by Bruce Botnick. The original wasn't mixed properly, especially the End Title(which is not in the film)where the trumpet solo wasn't loud enough. Here, all the instruments are in perfect unison and at the right volumes. ALIENS (tracks 8-10) is by James Horner(TITANIC)and is influenced by the first ALIEN with a the main title mimicking parts of the original movie's opening. Part of "Bishop's countdown" sounds like Horner's own Klingon theme from STAR TREK 3. Horner does have a tendency to quote the work of others and himself often in his scores. ALIENS is not one of his best efforts(partly due to time restrictions James Cameron imposed on him). The film itself was great especially for a sequel. ALIEN 3 by Elliot Goldenthal is probably one of the best and underrated scores of the 90's. It deserves a better presentation here(only 3 tracks)but Eidelman handles the material capably. It's not exactly uplifting music but serves the film well and is approprietely atmospheric and dramatic at times. Unfourtunately, as with almost all RSO recordings, the sound quality is distant. You have to turn your volume way up to really hear the music fully. Otherwise, this is a great recording and sampling of the 3 scores and helps you relive the first 3 ALIEN movies. Review by Ryan Teed, United States, December 4 2000

Track Listing Main Title from "Alien" Hyper Sleep [From Alien] Landing [From Alien] Breakaway [From Alien] Droid [From Alien] Door [From Alien] End Title [From Alien] Main Title from "Aliens" Futile Escape [From Aliens] Bishop's Countdown [From Aliens] Lento [From Alien 3] Candles in the Wind [From Alien 3] Adagio from "Alien 3"

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Aliens    Motion Picture Soundtrack Original Release: October 25, 1988 Music composed by James Horner London Symphony Orchestra Aliens isn't considered completely original (in fact, I heard a small little part from the Rocketeer on Futile Escape for those with keen ears) but it sure sounds good. The main theme on Alien sounds lonely and far out, fitting in with how Ripley has lost everyone she knew and remembered. An alternating two-note motif used during some of the less-action oriented cues really adds that spacey feeling to the movie. Snares and other percussion dominate this score, besides hearing the usual synthesizer. Hearing the pounding snares on Ripley's Rescue, Futile Escape, and Bishop's Countdown really drive them home, though the drums don't have the same deep, resonant, syncopated feeling as heard on Danny Elfman's Batman (probably because of the mixing). Let me just sum up part of Going After Newt: it has a part that sounds just like the theme from Dexter's Laboratory but darker and more brass-oriented and it is a favorite. Bishop's Countdown is furious and upbeat with a tense ending reminiciscent of the very ending of the Battle Of Yavin from Star Wars: A New Hope. What can I say, the action sequences are the high points of the score. I recommend this score but get the Varese version being released because it is the complete thing and, from hearing the bootleg of Aliens I also have, you'll love the unreleased frightning dissonant cues heard while the soldiers are checking the base. Review by Robert Pollock, April 21 2001

Track Listing Main Title Going After Newt Sub-Level 3 Ripley's Rescue Atmosphere Station Futile Escape Dark Discovery Bishop's Countdown Resolution and Hyperspace

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Alien3    Motion Picture Soundtrack Original Release: June 9, 1992 Music composed and conducted by Elliot Goldenthal One of the first things that struck me when seeing Alien 3 was the music. It is quite scary and melancholic, and catches the mood of the film perfectly. If you haven't seen the movie yet, I suggest you do that first. Then buy this record. Otherwise you probably won't understand and appreciate it fully. Also, in my point of view, this is a whole-record experience. Just grabbing a single song and listening to it might not give you as much as listening to the whole CD. Not in the beginning, anyway. All tracks are great, but the standouts are the ones with strange names (latin?), Agnus Dei, Lento and Adagio. Also, check out Lullaby Elegy, The Dragon and The Entrapment (The Dragon just might give you a hard time sleeping, so I advice you not to listen to it at night... or do that, whatever your pleasure ;-). My absolute favorite, however, is the grand finale Adagio, a majestic piece that will bring tears to your eyes and make you appreciate life on earth. A truly worthy soundtrack to an excellent film. Don't miss it! Review by Jimmy Tepsa from Gothenburg Sweden, February 4 2001

Track Listing Angus Dei Bait and Chase The Beast Within Lento Candles in the Wind Wreckage and Rape The First Attack Lullaby Elegy Death Dance Visit to the Wreckage Explosion and Aftermath The Dragon The Entrapment Adagio

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Alien Resurrection    Motion Picture Soundtrack Original Release: November 11, 1997 Music composed and conducted by John Frizzel John Frizzel did what he could with what was given to him, creating - through his music - all of the emotion in the film (Weaver and Rider's performances helped somewhat). The score never quite hits its potential, it seems to be waiting for something. Its action cues never are up to par with Goldsmith and Horners score, but matches Goldenthals in the balance of emotional music and action motifs. The score is enjoyable despite its flaws. The re-tooling of Goldsmiths theme for Ripley serves the character well. And there are several segements of action music, that by themselves are quite spectacular. Like the film that it was commisioned for, it never quite reaches the level the audience wants - leaving you begging for more (which is not a good feeling at all). An honest effort to bring back the beast, I'm sure, but sadly, nothing more than an interesting failure. Buy it for the highlights, but don't expect a glorious resolution in the end. Review by a music fan from Di'Vinci California, January 24 2000

Track Listing Main Title Post-Op Docking the Betty Priva Son d'Ogni Conforto Face Huggers Call Finds Ripley The Aliens Escape Ripley Meets Her Clones What's Inside Purvis? They Swim The Chapel The Abduction The Battle With the Newborn Ripley's Theme

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Alien Vs Predator soundtrack    Motion Picture Soundtrack Running Time: 38 minutes, 3 seconds Release Date: 31/8/2004 Label: Varese Records Mono/Stereo: Stereo Composer / Conductor: Harald Kloser Varese Records takes us on a ride of escapism with Alien Vs Predator, featuring the magnificent score of Harald Kloser, who also gave us Thirteenth Floor [1999] and Day After Tomorrow [2004] just to name a few, but there are more if you want to check them out. The music is a roller coaster experience - HANGING BODIES. Listen to ALIEN VS. PREDATOR MAIN THEME, it's almost hymn-like in content, as if you're standing in cathedral witnessing a funeral procession passing by, very haunting. ANTARCTICA blends percussion, heavy brass and pure orchestration abound with lifting strings that echo back and forth. TEMPLE sends vibes of native American instruments mixed with solo piano and strings, very effective. The HISTORY OF THE WORLD main theme comes through with alternate arrangements, undertowing counterparts surface and a chorus quietly brings a new beginning of chanting that will give you chills. In ALIEN FIGHT Kloser pulls out all the stops, hold on tight for a fast and entertaining journey. And THE END...OR MAYBE NOT features all cues remixed and setting up a possible sequel. Composer Harald Kloser brings film music to the maximum. I've been listening to this album over and over again, his depth and orchestral mix of tempo, drama and mood swings is incredible. Look out James Horner and John Williams, Maestro Kloser is giving all the 'film-score-buffs' pure satisfaction through his compositions... just the way we like 'em! Review by Amazon reviewer J. Lovins from Missouri, October 11 2004

Track Listing 1904 Alien vs. Predator Main Theme Antarctica Bouvetoya Island Down the Tunnel Hanging Bodies Southern Lights Predator Space Ship Pyramid Temple Dark World History of the World Alien Fight I Need This Weyland's End Alien Queen Showdown End... or Maybe Not

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Aliens vs Predator 2: Requiem soundtrack    Motion Picture Soundtrack Running Time: 77 minutes Release Date: 12/11/2007 Composer / Conductor: Brian Tyler In this follow-up to the worldwide hit Alien vs. Predator, the iconic monsters from two of the scariest film franchises ever, wage their most brutal battle yet in an unsuspecting Colorado town. Visual effects specialists Greg and Colin Strause both make their feature directorial debut with this no-holds-barred monster mash that attempts to set itself apart from the 2004 Paul W.S. Anderson original by serving as a straight up sci-fi horror scare-fest. The epic score by composer Brian Tyler is truly apocalyptic. Its a massive, driving, powerful orchestra assault that adds an exciting new opus to the previous franchise scores of Jerry Goldsmith (Alien), Alan Silvestri (Predator, Predator 2), James Horner (Aliens) and Elliot Goldenthal (Alien 3). Information from Varese Sarabande, December 2007 I'll be the first to say that Harald Kloser's score for the original AVP was utterly worthless and he had no business writing the music for that film as much as Paul Anderson had no business directing. The new AVP movie promises to be a very gory, hard R-rated movie and has a new composer with a better track record. But Bryan Tyler's score is nothing more than blaring brass sections and pounding percussion for near 80 minutes. There's no hint of any new theme or anything resembling melody. It does slightly resemble the sounds that Goldsmith and Horner created for the first two Alien movies but there's none of the mystery of either franchise. How I long for Alan Silvestri to return and show how it's really done. I am disappointed. Tyler created a wonderful score for Bubba-Ho-Tep but his efforts for AVPR are so simple that anyone could really have come up with it. It's loud, inarticulate and chaotic. Yes, it does get the blood pumping occasionally but cheesy trance music also achieves the same effect. If you must buy, pick it up cheap. Otherwise, just save your pennies for Silvestri's scores to Predator or Predator 2, both available from Varese Sarabande. Review by Amazon reviewer Shawn Watson from Scotland, December 2007

Track Listing Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem (1:30) Opening Titles (3:04) Decimation Proclamation (7:40) Requiem Epilogue (3:12) National Guard Part 1 (5:45) National Guard Part 2 (2:56) Taking Sides (13:04) Predicide (1:31) Kelly Returns Home (1:19) Coprocloakia (5:32) Power Struggle (4:02) Skinned and Hanged (2:48) Down To Earth (2:36) Predator Arrival (3:37) Special Delivery (2:32) Alien Awakening (2:07) Striptease (1:31) Buddy’s New Buddy (1:59) Searching the Poolhouse (3:11) Gutless and Autosurgiosis (2:43) Outnumbered (4:38)

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