Horror Master John Carpenter already reworked his best-known film scores for 2017's Anthology: Movie Themes 1974–1998, on which Carpenter, his son Cody and godson Daniel Davies beefed up the theme songs of Halloween, Assault on Precinct 13 and other beloved past works.
Anthology II: Movie Themes 1976–1988 digs a little deeper. There's nothing nearly as recognizable as that chilling 5/4 riff from Halloween, but the vibes are similarly perfect for spooky season: "Wake Up" adds some swaggering guitar razzle dazzle to the synth-blues of They Live, three cues from The Thing (which were previously only heard in the film and hadn't been released on an album) are straight-up sci-fi, and Escape from New York's "69th St. Bridge'' reveals the goofy, playful side of Carpenter's usual creepiness.
The deep cuts of Anthology II aren't quite as crowd-pleasing as the first Anthology, but the album is nevertheless a welcome addition to the 75-year-old's growing body of newly recorded work. Crank it up this Halloween if you want to be the house trick-or-treaters are genuinely scared to go to.
(Sacred Bones)Anthology II: Movie Themes 1976–1988 digs a little deeper. There's nothing nearly as recognizable as that chilling 5/4 riff from Halloween, but the vibes are similarly perfect for spooky season: "Wake Up" adds some swaggering guitar razzle dazzle to the synth-blues of They Live, three cues from The Thing (which were previously only heard in the film and hadn't been released on an album) are straight-up sci-fi, and Escape from New York's "69th St. Bridge'' reveals the goofy, playful side of Carpenter's usual creepiness.
The deep cuts of Anthology II aren't quite as crowd-pleasing as the first Anthology, but the album is nevertheless a welcome addition to the 75-year-old's growing body of newly recorded work. Crank it up this Halloween if you want to be the house trick-or-treaters are genuinely scared to go to.