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Game of Thrones (Season 2)
Composed by Ramin Djawadi
Lakeshore Records (2012)
Rating:
6/10
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More soundclips below provided by AmazonMp3
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“It’s a wonder how DJAWADI
has failed to noticeably progress beyond the standard he set in
season one of the fantasy series. ”
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A Static Kingdom
Review by Richard Buxton
The second season of any major television series brings with it a mixture
of raised expectations and fervent anticipation. Yet it is not rare for a
show to suffer from something of a second season syndrome. Given the
almost universal praise for the show in its second offering, GAME OF
THRONES is seemingly suffering from no such ailment.
Heightened expectations not only concern story development and drama, but
also musical development. Television presents a composer with the unique
opportunity to really delve into the universe of the show, to flesh out
the characters that dwell within. As a result, the weight of expectation
bears down upon RAMIN DJAWADI and his score for GAME OF THRONES SEASON 2
The score begins in familiar territory, opening with “Main Title” (2). The
advent of a new season occasionally brings with it a transformed main
theme in the cases of some TV shows, a somewhat recent and appropriate
example being the differences between DJAWADI’S themes for PRISON BREAK
SEASONS 1/2 and 3. DJAWADI’S theme for GAME OF THRONES undergoes no such
changes here, and remains the solid. If a little uninspiring, fantasy
theme of the previous season. The theme arises here and there throughout
the score, an example being in one of the more standout action cues “Don’t
Die With A Clean Sword” (11). This track is by no means a stellar example
of action scoring, and is an example of DJAWADI’S score excelling in areas
elsewhere, particularly those other than the more testosterone-fuelled
sequences. A lack of momentum in the action is apparent throughout the
entire track, expression instead coming through evolving repetition, a
technique better demonstrated in other areas of the score. “Wildfire” (8)
and “The Throne is Mine” (2) both suffer from the same fate, the latter
using the churning eight-note pattern to greater effect than the former,
before the entrance of a more regally imposing brass theme towards the
end.
The only moments where DJAWADI’S score really manages to stand out are in
the more subdued ones, moments that allow subtlety to reign more freely
and as a result the cues tend to sound a little more organic and less
forced. The first noticeably successful track of this kind is “Valar
Morghulis” (5), an evocatively ethnic piece that adds a much needed air of
mystique to the score with its percussion and plucked strings. This sense
of fragility within the score is all too rare and only appears again in
the final stages of the score in “Mother of Dragons” (18), a slowed and
more emotional take on the main theme of the series.
The rest of DJAWADI’S score is largely adequate, but little more. The
three successive tracks “We Are The Watchers On The Wall” (12), “Pay The
Iron Price” (13), and “One More Drink Before The War” (14) all provide
ample atmosphere but little in the way of memorable music. “Pyat Pree”
(10) is perhaps the only example on the soundtrack of DJAWADI being able
to combine a mixture of atmosphere and action with any great success. The
build in tension is palpable before percussion and taut dissonant strings
bring the cue to a crashing end.
It’s a wonder how DJAWADI has failed to noticeably progress beyond the
standard he set in season one of the fantasy series. The foundations for a
memorable fantasy score are all there, but any opportunities for thematic
development have clearly gone unnoticed. GAME OF THRONES SEASON 2 is an
aggravatingly average score that is more memorable for being thus than for
anything else.
Rating:
6/10
Read Richard's review for the
GAME OF THRONES (Season One) Soundtrack
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Track |
Track Title |
Track Time |
Rating |
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1 |
Main Title |
1:47 |
**** |
|
2 |
The Throne
is Mine |
3:17 |
**** |
|
3 |
What is
Dead May
Never
Die |
2:08 |
**** |
|
4 |
Warrior
of
Light |
3:04 |
*** |
|
5 |
Valar
Morghulis |
3:00 |
**** |
| 6 |
Winterfell |
2:44 |
*** |
| 7 |
Qarth |
2:13 |
*** |
| 8 |
Wildfire |
3:40 |
*** |
| 9 |
I Am Hers, She Is Mine |
2:18 |
*** |
| 10 |
Pyat Pree |
2:13 |
**** |
| 11 |
Don't Die with a Clean Sword |
3:24 |
**** |
| 12 |
We are the Watchers on the Wall |
2:38 |
*** |
| 13 |
Pay the Iron Price |
2:34 |
*** |
| 14 |
One More Drink Before The War |
2:07 |
*** |
| 15 |
House of the Undying |
5:04 |
*** |
| 16 |
Stand and Fight |
2:06 |
*** |
| 17 |
The Old Gods and the New |
2:40 |
*** |
| 18 |
Mother of Dragons |
2:36 |
**** |
| 19 |
I Will Keep You Safe |
2:19 |
*** |
| 20 |
The Rains of Castomere |
2:24 |
** |
| 21 |
Three Blasts |
2:41 |
** |
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Total Running Time (approx) |
57 minutes |
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