Nicolas Hooper

[ehowton]

I don't know who Nicolas Hooper is, or why he was chosen to score Order of the Phoenix but I like what I hear. Now that I've had a chance to listen to this album over and over, I think it may just be my favorite HP score of all time.

I initially disliked the first track, "Fireworks" because of the inclusion of electric guitars - but now, though still somewhat grating, I appreciate how they punctuate the Celtic festival theme. Dolores Umbridge's theme is witty and catching, and my favorite, "Flight of the Order of the Phoenix" is inspirational and exciting! "Another Story" uses French horns (instead of William's bells) to add depth and foreboding to Hedwig's theme, and "The Room of Requirements" is lighthearted and a perfect compliment to the scenes in the movie. "Dumbledore's Army" is reminiscent of Young Sherlock Holmes and in truth I find a lot of the tracks a little short - I'd like to hear a little more.

I don't know where this guy came from, but I saw that he's slated to score The Half-Blood Prince and I expect great things from what appears to be his second motion picture, now that he has one under his belt.

---

The P.O.D.S. was delivered and I unloaded it completely into the garage. The next day, we moved about half of it into the house to the various rooms to start unpacking. My folks arrived with lunch and we had a nice visit, the kids especially enjoyed seeing them again since its been a couple of weeks since we've down their way. We went swimming to cool off, I was able to get the door on the rack (although without the latches - I couldn't get the holes to match up) and it looks great and is functional once again. To reiterate, you can put an E6500 door on a 68" "Mass Storage" (read old A1000) rack. It just takes a little...engineering.



Tonight, we have a Hawaiian-shirt party to go to. I'll bring a cigar and a bottle of scotch and unwind just a little.



Oh yeah, the cable guy stopped by to install my broadband Friday. This is the first time I've not used DSL. He came in and asked, "Where do you want it?" I point to the office. The only room in the house which doesn't have coax run to it...and it can't be fed down down the wall do to the unique ceiling in the turret. So, 'house-wrap' he called it. They run it completely along the outside of the house, under the soffit and drill through the brick. That happens Tuesday or Wednesday.

Comments

[galinda822.livejournal.com]

My,my - for having sooooooo much to do and on your mind, you certainly are enjoying quite the social life here lately!!!!!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Like a twig on the shoulders of a mighty river.

[galinda822.livejournal.com]

Gotta find ways to relax and decompress!

Re: Congrats On the Move

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It'll take me a couple of months to unpack everything...

Re: Congrats On the Move

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

and then it will be time for you to move.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Now that I've had a chance to listen to this album over and over...
I have yet to see you post a review of the Kingdom of Heaven score that I gave you over a year ago. And you still owe a review on Matchstick Men to see if there is something that Hans can produce that you won't call milktoast. Oh yeah, and I await your review of The Nutcracker as it you commented about it being on the Phillips label and how that's a pretty good label. And you should have said something by now about Bourne Ultimatum and...

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Kingdom of Heaven
I've listened to it three or fours time now, as recent as this past week. I don't remember it.

Matchstick Men
Never heard it.

The Nutcracker
Haven't listened to it yet.

Bourne Ultimatum
Powell, right? I'm looking forward to hearing that one.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

I've listened to it three or fours time now, as recent as this past week. I don't remember it.
It was the great score that had the high highs and the low lows.

Never heard it.
Despite the fact that you said you would give it a listen after I got my server up and running.

Haven't listened to it yet.
I wouldn't hold it against you if you didn't listen to it until Christmas.

Powell, right? I'm looking forward to hearing that one.
Yeah. I'm surprised you haven't already listened and went on and on like you did with Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

It was the great score that had the high highs and the low lows.
I don't remember it. I purposely put it on my iPod to listen to it at work. I can't recall a single movement. I guess it just didn't jump out at me as some of them do.

Despite the fact that you said you would give it a listen after I got my server up and running.
There are many different stages my music goes through. It doesn't just go from your server to my ear. I probably have 500 DVD's I haven't watched yet sitting in my living room, and half that number of albums I haven't listened to yet.

I wouldn't hold it against you if you didn't listen to it until Christmas.
Seeing how I don't 'do' Christmas, that would be wholly inappropriate, don't you think? Furthermore, I generally don't fall into the seasonal music category.

Yeah. I'm surprised you haven't already listened and went on and on like you did with Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
I'm hoping its that good. Did you listen to it? What do you think? Do you think it compares?

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

"Seeing how I don't 'do' Christmas,..."

What are you doing with so many Hallmark Christmas ornaments then???

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

You see, there's this guy I know...

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

You lying fuck!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Cross my heart.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

If you're trying to make a point, I don't know what it is.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

forget the piont I was trying to make and look at the point that I am making.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

You're not really making a new point, either. Why don't you just come out and say it, instead of all this cloak & dagger business with the retarded owl, ok? Thanks.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

My point was that we all know you're lying and even if you're not, the cards (pardon the pun) are stacked against you. But you couldn't pick up on that idiom so my next point is that you're retarded. You haven't picked up on that either.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry - what is it I'm supposed to be lying about? That I have a friend who gives me Hallmark ornaments? Let me ask you this: How the fuck would you know? I'll show you my collection when you get here. Its rather impressive.

You are such a freak of nature sometimes, it makes my head spin. You were hinting that I was retarded because you didn't know I have a collection of Hallmark ornaments. You're a sad, strange little man.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

See, that wasn't what was communicated. celtmanx said:
"Seeing how I don't 'do' Christmas,..."

What are you doing with so many Hallmark Christmas ornaments then???

And then you said:
You see, there's this guy I know...

which is common parlance to mean that you are talking about yourself but do not want to admit it. Ergo, I jabbed what I thought was you lying about you not collecting the ornaments but rather "this guy I [you] know." It was you, not I sir who failed to communicated that what you meant was that someone was sending you the cards and ornaments.

Sometimes you can be so dense.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

And of course my comment was meant for him, and he knew exactly what I meant. See?

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

I'lly type this slowly in BIG BOLD LETTERS for you:

SOMETIMES YOU CAN BE SO DENSE.

Thank you for your patience concerning this issue.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Ease up there on the throttle, little guy, don't want to blow a gasket.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

whatever.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Furthermore, I generally don't fall into the seasonal music category.
While I listen to it throughout the year, the Nutcracker is a seasonal piece, but then again, you're talking to the guy who listens to Christmas music the moment the weather turns cold and then quits the day after Thanksgiving. I love Christmas music, but I can't seem ty cycle with everyone else.

I'm hoping its that good. Did you listen to it? What do you think? Do you think it compares?
To me it's better. The score for Mr. and Mrs. Smith was an hidden character and star that shines on its own. Both scores created the mood for the movies they were written for and both scores told a story and led you on a great journey. But they are pesonal and have a personificatoin about them. I think you will like this one too.

Also, make a note to check out the Mr. Brooks score. I think you will fall in love with it over time. I suggest starting at track 3 and letting the ablum wrap around. You won't be able to tell where the score starts and stops. It's that good.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to give it a listen!

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

That's the style, Lou!

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

Don't forget that review of Pans Labyrinth you are still waiting for!!!

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

I wan't impressed with the movie and the score doesn't stick in my head despite having listened to it several times. Granted most of those times have been when I'm falling asleep...

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Good score. Took me forever to find it.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

I know that you were enthralled with it, but I'm indifferent. I'm not saying it's a bad score, it just doesn't stick out to me.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

That's the style, Lou!

[irulan-amy.livejournal.com]

I had scotch this weekend while camping, courtesy of Tim's brother. Two different kinds, the first kind is better - it started with "Spr" I think. The second kind was cheaper I guess. It was Red Label. I liked both. Much better than the stuff I had a fancy restaurant once that tasted like brake oil.