Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

by John Williams

Overview

Few contemporary film themes are as instantly recognizable as "Raiders March." Whimsical, regal, and heroic, placing it at the beginning of the soundtrack for the first Indiana Jones film in 19 years was a wise choice, as that familiar, galloping intro pumps nostalgia into the brain like a dislodged bee stinger, filling the listener with sepia-toned images of fedoras, snakes, bullwhips, and awkward meals of "chilled monkey brains." Composer John Williams front-loads the score for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull with some familiar motifs, revisiting the spooky woodwinds of "The Map Room" from Raiders of the Lost Ark on the foreboding "Spell of the Skull," and weaving in strains of the aforementioned "Raiders March" and "Marion's Theme" throughout the score's entirety. While familiarity reigns supreme, Williams occasionally disengages the autopilot, as evidenced by the mysterious three-note motif that accompanies any scene featuring the skull of the film's title and the jaunty and impossibly likable "The Adventures of Mutt," but he doesn't venture far from the dusty caves, South American ruins, and other exotic locales of previous adventures...and why should he? Does anybody actually remember any of the themes (besides the iconic opening credits) from the Star Wars prequels? ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	12/06/2024
Label:	Walt Disney Records
UPC:	0050087542450

Tracks

1. Raiders March
2. Call of the Crystal
3. The Adventures of Mutt
4. Irina's Theme
5. The Snake Pit
6. The Spell of the Skull
7. The Journey to Akator
8. A Whirl Through Academe
9. Return
10. The Jungle Chase
11. Orellana's Cradle
12. Grave Robbers
13. Hidden Treasure and the City of Gold
14. Secret Doors and Scorpions
15. Oxley's Dilemma
16. Ants!
17. Temple Ruins and the Secret Revealed
18. The Departure
19. Finale

Album Credits

Performance Credits

John Williams   Primary Artist,Conductor
Hollywood Film Chorale   Choir/Chorus

Technical Credits

John Williams   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Sally Stevens   Vocal Contractor
Ramiro Belgardt   Music Editor
Shawn Murphy   Mixing,Recording
Patricia Sullivan Fourstar   Mastering
Steven Spielberg   Liner Notes
Peter Rotter   Contractor
Sandy De Crescent   Contractor
Andrew Pham   Package Design