Hans Zimmer Anthology (Compilation)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Another bootleg compilation of Zimmer, this one actually promises much but doesn't deliver it all to me at the end. Hans Zimmer Anthology is recording to rumors an aborted commercial release, but still found its way into the black market rotation and I again received a recording of it. This score actually offers mostly released tracks from compilation cousins Follow your Dreams Volume 1 or 2 but also contains several new tracks. But my disappointment grows because many of the highlights were already heard and I consider this a great compilation for persons having very little of Zimmer, those however obtaining a large amount of bootlegs will hardly see this release as a new experience. I mainly bought this compilation for two things, 1) concerning the two tracks of The House of the Spirits, 2) the possible main theme of Toys which again is just another version of the end title song 'The Closing of the Year'. So, I don't hate, am disappointed because of the score material, I am disappointed that it doesn't bring much new to me after all those twins and brothers of compilations.

However normal people (meaning people that haven't got all of these compilations) will perhaps find Anthology worth it, because it brings some new material for me too. Burning Secret is a good track, covering a pan flute theme a la Beyond Rangoon, or Diamond Skulls which is one of the few tracks completely non Zimmer like, it starts off with a piano movement, following with a short jazz suite and ending with a classical inspired vocal (reminding the listener of track 5 of Toys). White Fang is already released on Volume 2 but stays entertaining and First Born is then found on Volume 1 and To Zoe, but again remains fun due to the rhythm and choir. Insignificance follows with an ethnic / electronic sample before it moves without a trace into Rain Man territory and A World Apart is enjoyable, more 'A World Apart (Main Theme)' reminds me so much of Days of Thunder. Following is Two Deaths which moves from variety to variety, 'Two Death' is classical inspired (also Pacific Heights like), 'Two Death II' is more in the vein of the underscore of The Lion King and 'Two Death Tango' is a tango inspired piece which holds resemblances with As Good as it Gets. And covering the last new material (for me), The House of the Spirits is a nice pair of music, but doesn't bring the excellence I thought it would be. Perhaps the tracks aren't those worth hearing in the first place, I do not know. Still its Spanish guitar influence directly reminds you of Mission: Impossible 2.

The second part of the score is mostly found on one of the many compilation scores or as with several sections of Toys, on the original score itself. 'Battle Introduction' and 'The General' offer the exact thing, the dialogue of the original score. This means that I approve Volume 2 much more over this part, on Volume 2 the dialogue is gone and it covers every part of the material, even the newly arranged 'The General' suite. 'Days of Thunder Theme' is actually the track 'Building the Car' and 'The Hospital' is also found on Volume 2. Last is the material of Thelma and Louise, offering pieces of the original soundtrack and the bootleg, and remains still after all that time nice to hear. But in my case, it offers nothing new. The first part has new material but at the other end doesn't offer the highlights. I expected The House of the Spirits to be great (which it still is but not a highlight) and I so desperately wanted the Toys theme, but again was tricked. Hans Zimmer Anthology is a nice compilation, offering the listener again so much variety. The Zimmer fan that doesn't have a compilation yet will enjoy the material much more then me and those searching for The House of the Spirits anyway they can will also be pleased with what they get. I on the other hand received good material, but mostly already heard material, making it a fine memory, but not a new memory.

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Tracks

Single Disc

The First Themes

1. Burning Secret (2.49)

2. Diamond Skulls (4.28)

3. White Fang (1.52) Excellent Track

4. First Born (2.55)

5. Insignificance / Rain Man (5.43)

A World Apart

6. Molly's Theme (0.53)

7. A World Apart (Main Theme) (1.45)

Two Deaths

8. Two Death (4.53)

9. Two Death II (2.23)

10. Two Death Tango (2.19)

The House of the Spirits

11. The House Of The Spirits (2.53)

12. Pedro And Bianca (Edit) (3.11)

Toys

13. The General (New Version) (4.27)

14. Battle Introduction * (2.48) Excellent Track

15. Let Joy And Innocence Prevail (5.06) Excellent Track

16. The General * (2.22)

17. Toys Theme (5.09)

Days of Thunder

18. Days Of Thunder Theme (2.32) Excellent Track

19. The Hospital (3.29)

Thelma & Louise

20. Thunderbird (4.05) Excellent Track

21. Blues Introduction (2.36)

22. Thelma & Louise Theme (2.03) Excellent Track

23. Thunderbird (Reprise) (1.50)

* Contains dialogue

Total Length: 72.46

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Hans Zimmer ===