Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

by John Williams

Overview

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones is the fifth score that John Williams has written for George Lucas' Star Wars series and, by this point, he knows the lay of the land. Not just that, but his themes for the series -- from the main title to the march of the Storm Troopers -- are embedded in the consciousness of any filmgoer, so he could be excused for coasting and delivering simply what is expected of him on this score, given that it arrives five films into the series. But, The Phantom Menace changed that for the entire franchise by not quite living up to expectations. Visually, it was a knockout, but by many standards, it was a flat origin story, highlighted by some great flights of fancy. Judged on its own, however, Williams' score was quite impressive, particularly because it introduced a legitimate new masterwork in "The Duel of Fates" section. Given this, he didn't have much to prove with Attack of the Clones, but he still outdoes himself here (hopefully mirroring the reported rejuvenation of the series with this film), producing a thrilling atmospheric score that is so effective, it feels as if you're watching the film unfold before your eyes, even if you've never seen it before. Williams doesn't broaden his palette the way he did with Phantom Menace, where he spent a lot of time with African drums, but instead consolidates the strengths of the series, occasionally adding an unexpected twist -- such as the squalling electric guitar on "Zam the Assassin and the Chase through Coruscant" -- while developing another seemingly classic theme with its "Love Theme" (perhaps sappy, but effective all the same). This is enough, since it's an exciting, dramatic score that telegraphs the rush of the full film as effectively as watching the film. [Spoiler Warning! Although the track listing doesn't go to the extreme of Episode I, which actually gave away Qui-Gon's death with a track title, the tracks of this album do give away the structure of the film through its titles, even if no explicit twists are revealed.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	05/04/2018
Label:	Walt Disney
UPC:	0050087364236
Rank:	3873

Tracks

1. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones~Star Wars Main Title and Ambush on Coruscant
2. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones~Across the Stars (Love Theme From "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones")
3. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones~Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant
4. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones~Yoda and the Younglings
5. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones~Departing Coruscant
6. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones~Anakin and Padm¿¿
7. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones~Jango's Escape
8. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones~The Meadow Picnic
9. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones~Bounty Hunter's Pursuit
10. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones~Return to Tatooine
11. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones~The Tusken Camp and the Homestead
12. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones~Love Pledge and the Arena
13. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones~Confrontation with Count Dooku and Finale

Album Credits

Performance Credits

John Williams   Primary Artist,Conductor
London Symphony Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra
London Voices   Primary Artist,Choir/Chorus
Terry Edwards   Choir Director

Technical Credits

John Williams   Producer,Composer
Dann Thompson   Assistant Engineer
London Symphony Orchestra   Performer
London Voices   Performer
George Lucas   Liner Notes
Andrew Dudman   Assistant Engineer
Shawn Murphy   Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Musical Producer
Peter Myles   Music Editor
Patricia Sullivan Fourstar   Mastering
Roxanne Slimak   Design,Art Direction
Dave Forty   Assistant Engineer
Owen Tamplin   Assistant Engineer
Terry Edwards   Direction
Chris Clark   Assistant Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Tobi Corney   Photography
Patricia Sullivan   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Ken Wannberg   Supervising Music Editor