| | |  | Soundtracks | Home » » Halo 2, Vol. 1 | | | | | | | Description: | | Taking center stage on the Halo 2: Original Soundtrack CD are the new symphonic compositions by Martin O'Donnell & Michael Salvatori, the composers behind the best-selling Halo: Combat Evolved soundtrack. Nile Rodgers, the album's producer said, "Visualize a giant orchestra with Martin O'Donnell as the composer & all the artists & musicians contributing as players in the grand symphony that is called Halo." The soundtrack also includes all new compositions from some of today's most exciting rock bands, including "Blow Me Away" by Breaking Benjamin, "Connected" by Hoobastank & "The Odyssey" by Incubus; which serve to fulfill the ultimate vision of Marty O'Donnell's epic orchestral score. | | | Features: | |
• Record Label: Soulfood
• Catalog#: SE 2013
• Country Of Release: NLD
• Year Of Release: 2011
• Notes: Techno Soundtrack To This Smashing Game!
| | | Product Details: | | | Audio CD Release Date:
| November 09, 2004 | | Studio:
| Sumthing Else | | Number Of Discs:
| 1 | | Format:
| Soundtrack | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 94 reviews |
| | | Track Listing: | | | 1. | Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix | | 2. | Blow Me Away - Breaking Benjamin | | 3. | Peril | | 4. | Ghosts Of Reach | | 5. | Follow (1st Movement Of The Odyssey) - Incubus | | 6. | Heretic, Hero | | 7. | Flawed Legacy | | 8. | Impend | | 9. | Never Surrender - Nile Rodgers | | 10. | Ancient Machine | | 11. | 2nd Movement Of The Odyssey - Incubus | | 12. | In Amber Clad | | 13. | The Last Spartan | | 14. | Orbit Of Glass | | 15. | 3rd Movement Of The Odyssey - Incubus | | 16. | Heavy Price Paid | | 17. | Earth City | | 18. | High Charity | | 19. | 4th Movement Of The Odyssey - Incubus | | 20. | Remembrance | | 21. | Connected - Hoobastank | |
| | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 94 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
58 of 65 found the following review helpful:
 Major correction generally unnoticed...Dec 03, 2004
By Michigoon
"tech geek"
Yes, Incubus and Hoobastank and Breaking Benjamin are on here. And yes, that music is all in the game. Instrumentally, that is. A lot of people immediately scream that they can't imagine hearing some of the music in game, when they actually did, and didn't notice because the instrumental versions were used. If you hate Hoobastank and Incubus, never fear, the instrumental portions of their music are the primary focus and their lyrics are more or less thrown over them. Thus, even the greatest hater is still going to love the power of the music behind the people.
Marty O'Donnell and crew do it again. The soundtrack for Halo was one of the best videogame soundtracks ever produced, and Halo 2 might even up the bar. Long, flowing orchestrial pieces give way to thumping techno beats and intense musical queues that immediately create awe and wonder, or the urge to go out and save the world.
Fans of guitar solo features from the origional game (a la "Rock Anthem for Saving the World") will be especially pleased, as the "Holo Theme Mjolnir Mix" pounds out an amazing start to this soundtrack. Fans of the Gregorian-style chants and the tribal rhythms that dotted pieces in Halo will also be pleased- many of the old themes have been brought back and updated to carry their impact into the new game. "Ghosts of Reach" is definately going to be a recognizable track for Halo fans.
A great, great album on it's own merit made better by the videogame it represents. And heck, it's even got some pop influence to boot! Don't let the inclusion of a few big names keep you away from the rest of the content of this album- the pieces add to and back up Marty's work- they don't replace it.
25 of 29 found the following review helpful:
 Great soundtrack--stop complainingNov 17, 2004
By C. Briggs
"Sparkster-chan"
There are a lot of complaints about the rock songs on this album, but most of them sounded fine to me. (We can X Hoobastank, since it really doesn't seem to have anything to do with the game, soundwise or not.) Save for that one, last track, I love the rest of the CD. "Follow" by Incubus is one song that I repeat all the time... in fact, it was that song that pushed me over the edge and made me buy the soundtrack. Hearing it in-game was a blast. (It's IN-game, so it is part of the game soundtrack, not just added in.)
The "problem" here is not that there is rock on the album: Halo is changing, this game is more intense than the first, and from what I've played, I like the new sound. It can't always be just Marty, and the fact that some big bands contributed to the album really shouldn't be that big of a deal. I have tremendous respect for Incubus, actually, because they composed four different pieces of music for the game, most of them over five minutes in length. (By the way, think it's too long? Think of it like a symphony... then it makes sense.)
My only real complaint is Hoobastank's song. I don't really like it. And "Never Surrender" throws me off a bit after listening to beautiful orchestral scores and intimidating rock songs--you want to talk about being out of place on an album? ^^;
17 of 19 found the following review helpful:
Halo 2 vol. rox!Nov 16, 2004
By Jeff
Yea this Cd is great. Martin O' Donnell is one great composer! This music is highly recommended...especially is you like the first one...which is also amazing. The rock stuff actually is not that bad, but it takes up alot of the cd. Like the others have said i hope they put more of Martin's stuff on vol. 2. I emailed Nile Rogers, who produced this Cd, and he said that the rest of Martin's music would be included in vol. 2! Now here is my analysis of Halo 2 vol. 2.
(Rating 10 highest 0 lowest)
01. Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix-This is a great mix. Steve Vai is awsome on the gutiar, which is played with the excellent halo theme! (9)
02. Blow Me Away-Actually I thought this was a well done piece. It plays instrumental in the game though and i hope that is released on vol. 2!! (8)
03. Peril-This is a very happy track. Not to be played while blowing up grunts! (5)
04. Ghosts of Reach-This track resembles (Track 25. Dust And Echoes) on the original halo soundtrack. When the percussion kicks in at the end it sounds great! (6)
05. Flow (1st Movement)-I first heard about Incubus when I heard their "Warning" song, which is great. I listended to them on here and they are not that bad. This is one of their best tracks on the Cd. (10)
06. Heretic Hero-Great song, which echoes (Track 6. Walk In The Woods) on the original soundtrack. Very cool. (8)
07. Flawed Legacy-Amazing song. This is why Martin gets his music published! This one is similar to (Track 20. Perchance To Dream) on the original. (10)
08. Impend-Starts off with a teary beginning, but then swithces over to a very technoish style. There is a beat that sounds like a heartbeat which is creepy. Nice track! (8)
09. Never Surrender-...uhhh...no...they should of gotten prodigy or crystal method to do this one, but it gets a 1 for tryin (1)
10. Ancient Machine-Another creepy track, but its not that good (3)
11. 2nd Movement-Hmmmm...this one is kind of slow at the beginning, but when it hits the second minute it gets alot better. Great gutair! (8)
12. In Amber Clad-Wow this is probobly my favorite track on this Cd. This one echoes a song that didnt make it to the original soundtrack (Actually to be found at bungie.com). Great beat and gutair!!! Very cool! (10)
13. The Last Spartan-This one plays on most of the trailers for halo 2. Great song (7)
14. Obrbit Of Glass-A very ambient piece...you could fall asleep to this one...not sayin it bad or anything lol (5)
15. 3rd Movement-Another cool one that has a trumpet in it...it dont really sound like halo though. Not bad. (6)
16. Heavy Price Paid-This song plays at the menu screen on halo 2. Very slow and teary..especially when the piano comes in..WOW! (10)
17. Earth City-AMAZING!!! Wow this is great. Martin is awesome! This is Halo 2 in a nutshell! I like the last 25 seconds!
18. High Charity-This one is another slow moody track. (6)
19. 4th Movement-Great bongos at the beginng. Ineresting and nice closing for Incubus! (8)
20. Remembrance-Another slow song to sign off O' Donnell. See ya in vol.2.....and possibly halo 3!!! (4)
21. Connected-Hoobastank never should of had anything to do with Halo!!! (0)
As you can see this is one great soundtrack. Get it if you like good music, someting to relax to, or of you like halo.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Beautiful original music marred by track orderDec 22, 2004
By L. R. Boyev
I became interested in Halo when I heard my son and his father playing the game. I was so drawn in by the music that I learned to play, and since have become an enthusiast. My understanding is that the first soundtrack came out only after much public outcry for the CD.
Like the first Halo soundtrack, the original score for the follow-up game is beautifully composed and arranged. O'Donnell and Salvatori use a counterpoint of sweeping orchestral themes and human chants against military and/or majestic rhythms. In texture and feel, the music is very reminiscent of Ennio Morricone's unforgettable score from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". The triumphant military beats against the mournful melodies are heart-wrenching, both when you are actually playing the game and when listening to the CD. In both Halo 1 and 2, the soundtrack is a combination of power and sorrow, exploration and loss.
In the Halo 1 soundtrack, the first rock rhythms were introduced in the track "Rock Anthem for Saving the World". Although not to my taste, my 10-year-old son listened to the song over and over. These new tracks on the Halo 2 CD (as well as the song "Blow Me Away", which I believe was in the end credits of the game?) are in spirit keeping with that classic rock feel. These songs are high energy but lack the haunting quality of so many of the the orchestral tracks. Also, the variations on the trademark Halo melody played by these musicians sound embarrassingly amateur in comparison to the score. I believe this is inevitable due to the richness and the complexity of the orchestral arrangements. The "rock" songs would be fine on their own, but they pale in comparison.
The main problem with the CD is that the new tracks are interspersed randomly with the orchestral score tracks. When the rock tracks start they are very jarring. I still give this CD 5 stars (which I definitely also give the score to Halo 1). What I suggest is that you buy the CD, and make your own copies, with all of the orchestral songs on one CD, and the rock songs on another. I plan to do so with my copies of Halo 1 and 2. I look forward to Volume 2 of this soundtrack.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Mixed plate...but still a good meal.Nov 24, 2004
By A. Maroukian
I do not usually review music, because it is an extremely subjective form of art. So, I am writing this as a fan of the original Halo soundtrack.
First of all, I give high praise for Martin O'Donnell and his associates, because that portion of the CD is fabulous and breathtaking. If you've listened to the first Halo, a few times at least, you'll most definitely notice that some of the music is essentially the same, but made more colorful by a wide assortment of new instruments. Especially impressive is the use of the guitar in at least two tracks, numbers 1 and 12. There are several completely original tracks as well, and two have been used to advertise the game widely to the public, so they will sound familiar. But out of all of them, track 2, Peril, is my personal favorite. It adds a sense of mystery and danger, while managing to sound almost cheerful in its presentation.
As far as the inspired music goes, I will not bash it thoughtlessly like some reviewers here. Again, it will be mostly subjective, but several of the tracks seem to fit into the genre, and sound almost like ending-credits types of songs, like Blow Me Away. Never Surrender sounds more like a techno/dance/trance mix and I don't know why something that makes you want to put up your arms and dance is in there. I happen to agree that they don't belong intermingled with the instrumental music. I had the fortune of being able to burn and rearrange it, putting all the rock at the end of the CD, and it definitely sounds a lot better.
Those minor gripes aside, I feel that this Volume 1 stays true to the core story of the game, and is definitely worth buying if you liked the first one. I do hope that Volume 2, the mystery of its release date looming over me like a dark shadow, includes everything else that was left out. Both of them together will make a complete and unforgettable soundtrack.
See all 94 customer reviews on Amazon.com
| | |
|