Marvelous Geeks

The Little Mermaid live-action featuring Halle Bailey as Ariel officially hits theaters on May 26, but the original soundtrack is here to keep us company until then. Highlighting classic and brand-new original songs, The Little Mermaid original soundtrack is undoubtedly one of the most satisfactory live-action albums to date. Alongside the talented artists, the legendary Alan Menken returns to provide his familiar touch to the instrumentals, helping create a magical world that feeds into the stunning escapism of Disney fairytales.

We all knew we were in for something spectacular the moment we got our first sneak peek of Halle Bailey’s voice as Ariel, and no matter some of the critiques on the CGI, there’s no denying that Bailey’s a shining star here. Her rendition of “Part of Your World,” as well as the reprise, are so beautifully soulful and evocative that if these are your favorite Disney songs, chances are you’ll start to adore them even more. Bailey was born to bring her voice and heart to Ariel, and that much is perfectly clear from The Little Mermaid original soundtrack alone.

When it comes to revered bands like The National, we all have albums and songs that we claim as our own. “You Were A Kindness,” and High Violet are mine. I almost always inadvertently compare every album to High Violet, but at the same time, there’s never been an album that I’ve disliked or felt nonchalant about. First Two Pages of Frankenstein comes pretty close, which is the type of album worth waiting for.

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As brilliantly haunting and heartbreaking as the film, The Banshees of Inisherin’s original score by Carter Burwell is one that will stay with listeners for ages. The melancholy tunes are almost impossible to listen to and simultaneously difficult to turn off. The film’s tone is dark and hilarious at times, but like the music, it takes viewers through a path that’s dreadfully sad, slightly hopeful, and poignant.

Comprised of 21 songs that span less than an hour with a thematic note guiding the score to fruition, it’s the kind of original score that not only deserves its Academy Award nomination but the win. And while we don’t yet know where that’ll go, it’s full of tracks that transport the mind to lonely islands that are both simple yet complicated to understand.

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Daniel Pemberton returns to give us another incredible original score we’ll be replaying for the rest of the year (or basically until the next release). As brilliant and fun as the first, the Enola Holmes 2 original score is a delight through and through.

Comprised of 29 songs that span an hour and four minutes, the original score features some familiar beats from the first film, but they’re amplified and mixed with other pieces to create wondrous, transportive melodies. To match the sequel’s tone and changing dynamics, more emotional sounds in this album allow Pemberton to bring some beautiful themes to our ears.

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As delightful as the series, Adiescar Chase’s Heartstopper original soundtrack is a joyous ride in every way. Comprised of 25 short tracks, it’s what I wish I had in high school to make my daily walks from one class to another a little less boring. Each song has something whimsical and hopeful, starting from “First Sight” to “Encore.”

In order to match the series’ daze and the hopeful angst the plot plays with by progressing Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring’s romance, the soundtrack needed to reach playfulness while simultaneously tugging on the heartstrings. Chase does this through all the tracks, but there’s something utterly heartwarming about “Falling Leaves” and “Kiss.” In contrast, one does a tremendous amount for the overarching theme of new beginnings, and the other kicks everything into motion beautifully with a number that’s bound to resonate with us all.

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Haunting, fun, and exhilarating, Tómas Daniels’ work in Miss Scarlet and The Duke’s original soundtrack sounds like a sprawling epic. The show’s opening theme initially caught our attention with its newer sounds intermingling perfectly with haunting Victorian melodies, and we haven’t looked back since.

While there’s something ominous in most tracks, given the series’ premise, Daniels manages to make them easy to listen to as opposed to outright scary. You can’t always listen to such tracks on repeat the way we can with other period drama scores, but there’s still something about them that work, especially if you’re tackling a review or a feature based on the show. (And yes, that means we have it on while we write about it.)

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There’s a plethora that goes into making a film a dazzling delight, yet with all boxes checked, if the original soundtrack isn’t up to par, it misses the mark. Thankfully, that’s not the case for Focus Features’ Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris—a brilliant film from start to finish with an upbeat, lovely original soundtrack in its corner. Rael Jones‘ work in Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris’ original soundtrack should be blasted through every speaker for the rest of the summer.

Comprised of 28 tracks spanning about 55 minutes, Jones plays with 50’s jazz beautifully while intermingling with ballads bound to stick close to the heart. The titular character’s theme, “Mrs. Harris,” is an excellent opener, setting the stage with the same kind of comfort Lesley Manville brings to our screens. As the music continues, it sets the stage for London in the 50s while seamlessly blending towards Parisian culture and numbers.

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Much like the film, Mr. Malcolm’s List’s original soundtrack by Amelia Warner is a delight from start to finish. It provides the best kind of escapism with every track, leading into an emotionally packed soundtrack with an “Overture” that efficiently acts as the best opener.

Comprised of 18 short tracks that tragically don’t even span for over an hour, the soundtrack is still a must-listen for anyone who’s a fan of period drama music. It draws you in through every number, and whether you’ve seen the film yet or not, it still manages to tug effortlessly on your heartstrings.

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As iconic and noteworthy as the film itself, The Princess Bride’s original score by Mark Knopfler is a timeless work of art.

Comprised of 12 songs, listeners will only complain that it is far too short for how beautifully moving it is. It’s a transportive original score that takes us through highlands and woods, encompassing adoration with each note.

While all songs are easy to listen to as classical tunes, one stands out in particular for us, and it’s always been the opening theme, “Once Upon A Time…Storybook Love.” It’s not only the kind of gorgeous track out of context, but it’s especially memorable and heartwarming if you’re a fan of Westley and Buttercup’s relationship. The track alone adds the necessary storytelling depth while we walk through their short-lived relationship, later leading to a similar tune in “I Will Never Love Again.”

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Dearest Gentle Readers, with the release of Bridgerton Season 2 also comes another glorious original score by Kris Bowers. We were eagerly awaiting the score as much as the new string quartet numbers, and we have been listening to them entirely too much. (Or maybe, just enough?) Bowers once again masterfully weaves emotions into his score that meets the show’s tone while expanding this world.

Pulling on themes used in the first season, Bowers creates something new and adds another layer to them, bringing us back into this world but with a fresh take. A perfect example of this is “Sharpening My Knives.” Bowers uses “The Latest Whistledown” from the first season’s score to build upon and welcome us into this new season with a different tone from the first.

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Mary Queen of Scots’ original soundtrack features one of the most jaw-dropping opening tracks in a period drama piece. It’s one of those tracks people stop to double-check on the name for. Max Richter‘s compositions for this particular soundtrack are unreal.

Comprised of 18 relatively short tracks, the Mary Queen of Scots original soundtrack doesn’t last even a full hour, but it’s deeply memorable, no less. The opening track, “The Shores of Scotland,” is one we could wax poetics on for hours on end. It’s a masterful, beautifully moving epic that hits with every beat in an indescribable fashion. It makes you feel for the essence of the story in every way, but it makes you wonder with its triumphant feel even without the context.

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We are highlighting Tangled again, and this time focusing on the Tangled original soundtrack! Not only are the lyrical songs catchy and full of emotions, but the original score is not to be forgotten. The score is composed by Disney music legend Alan Menken. He also composed the music for the original songs with lyrics by Glenn Slater.

Starting with the original songs in the Tangled original soundtrack, “When Will My Life Begin (Reprise 2)” is one of my favorites. I love the original as well, but this reprise is full of the yearning Rapunzel has felt her whole life and contains the energy of those classic songs that mark the beginning of an adventure. “I’ve Got a Dream” is a joy to listen to. It is fun and full of heart while keeping a light and comedic tone. The first time I watched the movie, I felt like I was in a Disney Park.

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As an utter masterpiece of a series, it isn’t surprising that The Expanse‘s original score includes some of the most riveting instrumental tracks within the science fiction genre. The Expanse aired on Syfy channel from its first season to the canceled third before Amazon Prime picked it up for the remainder of its run until the final, sixth season.

As one of the few television series brilliantly packed with silver screen material and special effects, The Expanse’s opening theme alone is hard to skip over. Composed by Clinton Shorter, most of The Expanse’s original score is an emotionally driving force that’s made each scene in the series that much better.

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From the Irish studio, Cartoon Saloon comes another brilliant film, complete with a lovely soundtrack. WolfWalkers is a fantasy adventure tale that takes place in 17th Century Kilkenny, Ireland, with elements of folklore throughout. Bruno Coulais and Kíla composed beautiful songs in the WolfWalkers original soundtrack that are rich with emotions. There are often vocals interwoven in the score, giving this film an otherworldly quality.

Opening with “WolfWalkers Theme,” Bruno Coulais sets the tone for this tale. This short track incorporates the different themes throughout the movie and perfectly sets up the feeling of a fantasy adventure. “Please Mammy” is a beautifully emotional song. When I first watched this film, it stuck out to me, even during the tense scene. The somber melody matches Mebh’s emotions. “Follow Me” has that same theme but builds upon it and finishes with an energetic and hopeful note.

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“Right on Time” by Brandi Carlile is an incredible track to get a symphony release like this because why would you listen to one version of a song when you can listen to three? (Raise your hand if your neighbors are also tired of you hitting the replay button and singing at the top of your lungs.) I did the same exact thing with Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves,” and I have no plans to stop.

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Everything you’re about to read for Adjy’s The Idyll Opus (I-VI) is coming from a selfish plea: 1) a need for more people to devour this album in order for others to be brought into the joy and misery of this opus, and 2) a desire to be stirred for the remainder of an album to be released at the next summer solstice. Is this pleading in vain? Perhaps, and yet, I will try anyway.

As the days of June 2021 were turning into July, a concept album was introduced to the world that changed everything I thought to be possible for music. From one listen, I was taken on a literary lyrical journey that I wasn’t prepared for from a band I had never heard of up until that point. After catching attention for their EP, Adjy reemerges five years from the quagmire to bestow the first half of their debut album to the world. The Idyll Opus (I-VI) is an album like no other: lyrics treated like prose in a play, different indentations for a chorus and characters to follow along this musical epic.

They specifically released this half of the album to correlate with the summer solstice. When you listen to the album and read the text on their website, you see why this was imperative. Every lyric of this story is centered around this summer tale of two people meeting and how their lives were forever altered. Adjy’s The Idyll Opus (I-VI) is over an hour and a half long, but it’s bold, ambitious, and well worth every minute.

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Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens is the ultimate holiday album. Comprised of 42 songs, it’s the best kind of masterpiece. As a massive fan of Sufjan Stevens, learning that he has a Christmas album full of all of my favorite songs feels incredibly personal to me. I’ll scream from the rooftops year after year about how it’s top tier so long as I have the platform to do so.

The thing with Christmas music is that sometimes if it isn’t an original, we’ve been there and done that. There are plenty of people who release covers every year, and while they’re each great, it gets a bit redundant. For starters, no one, and I mean no one, could do “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” the way Judy Garland can, but because Stevens’ voice and style is so distinct, though these are songs we know and love, they hit differently in Songs for Christmas.

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