LLLCD 1159: Medal of Honor Soundtrack Collection

[Myrkul]

I am a bit early on this entry but the info has been leaked for a few days already (and more informations were given by La-La Land Records) on the filmscoremonthly.com board.

9 titles from the franchise are announced (but we don't know which ones yet, but i guess they will be the most classic titles)

The release will contains unreleased and remastered music, for over 10 hours of music.

Also the release will be limited in numbers.
La-Land said they will maybe release more Electronic Arts music/albums in the future.

[Blue_Kirby2]

The information given thus far is about accurate, except for the release date... LLL doesn't predict they will have it out on March 1st.

Here are the notable posts to consider:

LA-LA LAND RECORDS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ELECTRONIC ARTS TO RELEASE 8 DISC LIMITED EDITION MEDAL OF HONOR SOUNDTRACK COLLECTION

Includes original scores from Michael Giacchino, Christopher Lennertz, and Ramin Djawadi

LOS ANGELES, CA – Electronic Arts (EA) continues to make new strides in video game music with the release of the MEDAL OF HONOR SOUNDTRACK COLLECTION. The limited edition eight disc collection includes original scores from the 14 MEDAL OF HONOR titles, previously unreleased material from the award-winning composers Michael Giacchino, Christopher Lennertz and Ramin Djawadi, a 40-page booklet with complete track information, and an introduction by game creator, Director Steven Spielberg. According to Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing at EA, “the box set representing the 12-year-old franchise is an absolute milestone for video game scores. The millions of MEDAL OF HONOR fans around the world deserve nothing less. We are honored to partner with LA-LA Land Records.” The limited edition box set will be released March 1st.

In choosing an appropriate composer to convey the mood of the first MEDAL OF HONOR, legendary director Steven Spielberg was introduced to and impressed with young unknown composer, Michael Giacchino. “I did what anybody in their right mind would do,” said Spielberg. “I signed him up to score MEDAL OF HONOR—and the rest of Giacchino’s history belongs to him.” Giacchino’s video game score pioneered live orchestral recordings of videogame music.

After four highly successful video game scores, the baton was passed to Christopher Lennertz, who also composed the score for the Quantum of Solace game. Lennertz recorded MOH European Assault and Pacific Assault with the Hollywood Studio Symphony, which has recorded for legendary composers such as John Williams.

Last year the game was reinvented and for the first time in its 12-year history, MEDAL OF HONOR left World War II and entered the modern day warfare in Afghanistan. The most recent disc of the collection demanded an intense score that could bring the game into this brand new era, and Ramin Djawadi was brought on for the challenge. Known for his score for Iron Man and the Prison Break television series, Djawadi’s score matches the intensity of the soldier’s story and Tier 1 experience in 2010’s MEDAL OF HONOR.

The increasing demand of the MEDAL OF HONOR scores by soundtrack aficionados led to EA's musical compendium of the MOH music. The rising popularity of videogame music has created an outcry to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) to create a GRAMMY category honoring "Best Videogame Score." Currently, the Grammys recognizes video game music as part of the category “Best Score Soundtrack for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.”

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EATM, EA SPORTSTM, EA Mobile TM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com

LA-LA Land Records, headquartered in Burbank, California, is a leading film and TV soundtrack company. Founded in 2002, the label is dedicated to releasing scores both physically and online. The CD booklets feature photos and original art as well as personal notes from the composers, directors, producers, actors and historians. LA-LA Land Records releases classic and current film and TV scores from The Omen to Battlestar Galactica by leading composers including Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Danny Elfman, Michael Giacchino, Angelo Badalamenti, and Bear McCreary. LA-LA Land's homepage is http://www.lalalandrecords.com

MV Gerhard of La-La Land posted later in the thread with this information:

Let me shed some light on this:

Yes, someone jumped the gun on this, so let me just address a few issues here:

We are still working on the set. We are aiming for a Spring release date, most likely late March/early April.

It contains remastered music from 9 of the games, including the most recent one.

It has over 10 hours music. . .

The 8 disc clam shell cases will come housed in a very attractive hard slip cover case (think FSM box set)

The retail price will be: $54.98

I don't know if the 1st 100 will be autographed or if we will be doing a signing event upon its release date.

This box set will be the first in a series of releases EA and LLL have planned for you soundtrack hounds sick of those nasty digital download exclusives. So, if you have any ideas of EA soundtracks you want to see released on cd, share away and we shall see what we can do!

VIVA LA CD! VIVA LA CD! VIVA LA CD!


Best,
MV

PS We have nothing to do with the Omen.

[Judge Ito]

Exciting stuff. A big push for physical media AND Western VGM all in one.

[Cypher]

So I hope this means there is more possibility of a C&C music collection like this one.
But still,it's EA any way. :\

[Myrkul]

The set was delayed to the 29th of March.
(and April 12th if they'r still not ready)

[AcidBeast]

As vgmdb's definition of "Limited Edition" does not mean "limited in number" but "different from the regular edition", this one shouldn't be marked as such.

[Reg]

Nice way to collection a good chunk of of MoH music. Not a bad price either. I may snag this if I'm able to.

[Blue_Kirby2]

Now available to purchase from La-La Land Records.

Limited edition pressing of 2000 units!

http://www.lalalandrecords.com/MOH.html

[teva]

Got mine today ! Pacific Assault & European Assault (Lennertz) are awesome !

[LiquidAcid]

Did anyone also have the impression that the SEMO review of the boxset was more an anthem for Michael Giacchino than a objective review?

It always felt like "Michael <Greatest composer of all times> Giacchino here, Michael <Noone can surpass his ingenuity> Giaachino there" when I read it. I have to admit that I stopped halfway through it, because it thought "Yeah, yeah, ok, WE FU**ING KNOW ALREADY!!" *g*

I mean, I don't think that Giacchino is a bad composer. Quite the contrary, I usually like his compositions. But this review really lacks some balance...

Or is it just me?!

[Xenofan 29A]

It may be a bit of a panegyric, but honestly, he's enthusiastic about Giacchino's music. Personally, I prefer to try to take different scores on their own merits rather than compare them constantly, but sometimes as a reviewer comparison seems to be the only method of analysis.

I added the orchestrators and additional music composers. Should "Ambient Sound Design" go under arrangement?

[Chris]

Requesting a completely objective review defeats the purpose of the literary form. This is not what most professional critics aspire to. I much rather look for sincerity, eloquence, and thoroughness, all of which I feel are exceptionally demonstrated there. That said, this review is based more on theoretical analysis than personal opinions and comparisons are justified when analysing a historical compilation like this. In addition, describing the review as a simple rallying cry for Giacchino is inaccurate, given the consideration of the overall product took priority (the summary makes no specific mention of Giacchino or his scores), there are negative balancing points (most obviously, the Airborne section), and most comparisons aren't intended in a dismissive manner. The review will be too detailed or positive for some people's liking, but I feel it is a carefully considered and well written one. That said, counter reviews are always encouraged, if they are also carefully considered and well written, and ensure a wider insight into a product.

[Secret Squirrel]

A recent edit added arrangers from the liner notes without putting the disc credits in the notes. Multiple artists should never be listed without some kind of track breakdown. I've copied over the relevant info, though I think some of the additional roles (producer) could also be included in the notes.