TOP 15 SCORES OF 2014

Welcome to CINEMATIC SOUND RADIO’s Top 15 Scores of 2014 countdown.  

2014 turned out of be yet another great year for film, TV and video game scores – especially video game scores, two of which take two of the top five spots in our countdown.

Hans Zimmer’s output was particularly impressive with two crowd pleasing efforts. Alexandre Desplat was quite prolific having written the music for five films – each with their own distinct musical sound. John Powell returned to film scoring after a two year hiatus with two scores only to tell the world that he would be taking yet another break to concentrate on concert music in 2015.  And Christopher Young and Brian Tyler each wrote career defining scores.

With so much great music produced in the past year we here at CINEMATIC SOUND RADIO decided that it would only be fair to expand the countdown from 10 scores to 15.  We hope you enjoy the selections.  And composer David Coscina has provide us with a new variation on his Cinematic Sound Radio Fanfare and Theme, which makes its debut during this episode.

What were your favourite scores of 2014?  Do you agree or disagree with the list?  Have your say in the comment section below.

Enjoy the countdown!

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#15  | THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (Hans Zimmer and the Magnificent Six)
Columbia Records

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown begins with music from THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 with music composed by Hans Zimmer and The Magnificent Six featuring Pharrell Williams and Johnny Marr.

James Horner, who wrote the music for the first film, decided not to return for the sequel and it was up to Zimmer and his team to convey musically the battle between the young web-slinger (Coplandesque horn theme) and the cold, mentally unstable Electro (dubstep style electronics and vocals). This score is Hans Zimmer at his very best.

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_15_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_15_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: THE AMAZING-SPIDER MAN 2 | #15

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#14 | STONEHEARST ASYLUM (John Debney)
Lakeshore Records

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 continues with John Debney’s dramatic music to STONEHEARST ASYLUM.

Debney wrote a rich, thematic and classic sounding score with an unapologetically romantic sweep. The score’s main highlights includes a gorgeous love theme for Edward and Eliza – love at first sight – as well as some dark music for the psychopathic killer and some quirky music for the absurd nature of the events at the asylum.

 

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_14_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_14_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: STONEHEARST ASYLUM | #14

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#13 | INHERENT VICE (Jonny Greenwood)
Nonesuch Records

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 continues with Radiohead lead guitarist and keyboardist Jonny Greenwood’s impressive and tranquil score to Paul Thomas Anderson’s INHERENT VICE.

This is Greenwood’s third collaboration with Anderson and for INHERENT VICE Greenwood composed a hypnotic, ambiant, kaleidoscopic score written for small orchestra complimented by numerous instrumental solos.

 

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_13_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_13_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: INHERENT VICE | #13

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#12 | LA HERMANDAD – THE BROTHERHOOD (Arnau Bataller)
MovieScore Media

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 continues with Spanish composer Arnau Bataller’s score to the horror/thriller LA HERMANDAD (THE BROTHERHOOD

Over the last few years Spainish composers have been making a name for themselves as being some of the best working in film today. Arnau Bataller is one of those gifted Spanish composers and has crafted a beautiful yet terrifying score written for full symphony orchestra, boy soprano and solo cello and piano.

 

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_12_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_12_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: LA HERMANDAD – THE BROTHERHOOD | #12

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#11 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (Brian Tyler)
Atlantic Records

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 continues with Brian Tyler’s ridiculously fun score to the reboot of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES.

Most of Brian Tyler’s best work was written a decade ago including 2003’s DARKNESS FALLS, which was written for director Jonathan Liebesman. Liebesman was at the helm of this film and inspired Tyler to write, in my opinion, the best score of his career featuring a knockout main theme and supporting action material that will knock your socks off!

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_11_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_11_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES | #11

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#10 | NO GOD, NO MASTER (Nuno Malo)
Varese Sarabande Records

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 continues with Nuno Malo’s NO GOD, NO MASTER.

Portuguese composer Nuno Malo has written some impressive scores over the course of his career and this just might be his best one yet.  Written for orchestra, choir, solo violin, cello and piano, Malo has crafted a score that recalls some of the great dramatic scores written by such masters as Williams, Rota and Newman.

This is the most satisfying purely dramatic score of the year!

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_10_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_10_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: NO GOD, NO MASTER | #10

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#9 | GODZILLA (Alexandre Desplat)
Watertower Music

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 continues with one of the five scores Alexandre Desplat wrote in 2014, with GODZILLA being his most impressive.

This was one of the most inspired composing assignments of 2014. Alexandre Desplat, who has never written a score of this sort, took the bull by the horns and crafted a gnarling, angry, exciting, primal masterpiece written for 110 musicians – the largest ensemble ever packed into Sony’s Scoring Stage. Conrad Pope provided the orchestration while Dennis Sand captured the sound.

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_9_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_9_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: GODZILLA | #9

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#8 | TARZAN (David Newman)
Milan Records

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 continues with David Newman’s high octaine adventure score to the animated motion capture film, TARZAN.

David Newman is a criminally under utilized composer having been stuck writing music for some pretty awful films over the past few years.  I guess the good news is that he’s still working. In 2014, Newman got the opportunity to stretch his action/adventure wings once more for this animated retelling of the TARZAN legend. If you loved Newman’s THE PHANTOM then this one will be right up your alley.

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_8_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_8_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: TARZAN | #8

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#7 | THE MONKEY KING (Christopher Young)
Unreleased

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 continues with THE MONKEY KING featuring one of the finest scores Christopher Young has ever written.

How Christopher Young got invovled with this film is anyone’s guess but I’m sure we film music fans are happy that he took the assignment as it inspired Young to craft one of the finest scores of 2014.  Young’s score is enormous. The score was written for full symphony orchestra, exotic solo instrumentation, percussion, choir and yes, even a drum kit and guitar. Unfortunately, the score is still not commercially available.

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_7_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_7_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: THE MONKEY KING | #7

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#6 | HIDDEN KINGDOMS (Ben Foster)
Silva Screen Records

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 continues with Ben Foster’s exillerating score to the BBC Earth documentary series, HIDDEN KINGDOMS.

This score was the biggest surprise of the year for me. Foster, who has worked on TORCHWOOD and has conducted the music for Murray Gold’s DOCTOR WHO, crafted a score that is brimming with melody. Like the animals in the series, the music is so alive, wondrous, adventurous and colourful.  The action packed and dramatic score was performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_6_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_6_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: HIDDEN KINGDOMS | #6

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#5 | INTERSTELLAR (Hans Zimmer)
Watertower Music

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 continues with music from Christopher Nolan’s visaully spectacular film, INTERSTELLAR.

Hans Zimmer, who is Christopher Nolan’s composer of choice, wrote this score without the assistance of any additional composers, which has been the norm for Zimmer over the course of his career.  This score was written mainly for small orchestra, piano and most notably a giant church organ, which gives the score a nice religioso flavor. This is one of the finest compositions of Zimmer’s entire career and one of his most personal.

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_5_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_5_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: INTERSTELLAR | #5

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#4 | MALEFICENT (James Newton Howard)
Walt Disney Records

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 continues with James Newton Howard spectcular music from MALEFICENT; a live-action re-imagining of Walt Disney’s 1959 animated classic Sleeping Beauty.

Written in the leitmotivic tradition of Wagner, James Newton Howard’s extraordinary score is chalked full of memorable themes and full bodied action material all performed by a gigantic symphony orchestra and chorus.  We haven’t heard a film score of this quality from Howard in many years. Walt Disney certainly knows how to inspire.

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_4_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_4_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: MALEFICENT | #4

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#3 | CIVILIZATION: BEYOND EARTH
(Griffin Cohen, Michael Curran, Grant Kirkhope and Geoff Knorr)
2K

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 continues with our first video game entry – CIVILIZATION: BEYOND EARTH composed by Griffin Cohen, Michael Curran, Grant Kirkhope and Geoff Knorr.

Geoff Knorr was the lead composer on this project and it was up to him to get all four composers to play nice. Each composer brought their own unique style to the table but managed to craft a score that sounded as if only one composer had written it. The result is one of the most emotional musical experiences of the year.

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_3_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_3_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: CIVILIZATION: BEYOND EARTH | #3

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#2 | WORLD OF WARCRAFT: WARLORDS OF DRAENOR (Russell Brower et al)
Azeroth Music

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 continues with music from yet another video game score – WORLD OF WARCRAFT: WARLORDS OF DRAENOR featuring music by Russell Brower (lead composer), Neal Acree, Clint Bajakian, Sam Cardon, Craig Stuart Garfinkle, Edo Guidotti, Eimear Noone, Jason Hayes, Glenn Stafford and Tracy Bush.

Do you remember what action, adventure, fantasy scoring USED to sound like? You know, big symphonic themes, vibrant orchestrations, sweeping drama, and huge brassy melodies. Yeah, that’s all this one is!

[jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_2_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_2_mixdown.mp3″] NOW PLAYING: WORLD OF WARCRAFT: WARLORDS OF DRAENOR  | #2

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#1 | HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 (John Powell)
Relativity Music Group

Cinematic Sound Radio’s countdown of the best scores of 2014 concludes with John Powell’s brilliant score to HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2.

Powell wrote the score of his career two years ago for the first HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON film, which garnered him many awards and accolades.  DRAGONS 2 was arguably one of the most anticipated scores of 2014 and Powell didn’t disappoint. Powell brought back his brilliant themes from the first film and give us a few new ones to chew on as well. This is easily the best score of 2014.

 [jwplayer config=”Audio Only” file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_1_mixdown.mp3″ html5_file=”https://www.cinematicsound.net/theshow/bestof2014_1_mixdown.mp3″]NOW PLAYING: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 | #1

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