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 - Haunting, Often Tribal-like Music that Effectively Sets the StageWhen the Sci-Fi Channel first announced back in 2003 that it was producing a miniseries version of the original 1978 TV series "Battlestar Galactica", I had many doubts about how successful it would be. However, my doubts were quickly washed away as the miniseries proved to be compelling, engaging, extremely realistic, emotional and well acted. It also had superb special effects, but a sometimes overlooked aspect is a soundtrack, which in the case of the miniseries proved to be very powerful in setting its dark and tense tone with its haunting, tribal-like drums and other percussion instruments, as well as a very melancholy score with vocals. Under the superb direction of Michael Rymer, the men who composed this original emotionally charged soundtrack were Richard Gibbs, Bear McCreary and Kevin Kliesch (who was not credited). Due to the huge success of the 2003 miniseries, the Sci-Fi Channel decided to produce a TV series based upon it. The first season of the new "Battlestar Galactica" TV series first aired in January, 2005 with 13 episodes and showed itself to be just as exciting and well made as the miniseries thanks in large part to the same casting as the miniseries and the continuation of the same haunting soundtrack under Bear McCreary. (Richard Gibbs composed music for the second and third episodes of the first season of "Battlestar Galactica", but moved on to continue composing music for films for both the big screen and made-for-TV.) Bear McCreary's continued musical compositions have been just as dark, haunting, tribal-like and emotionally powerful as the 2003 miniseries and has contributed directly to make this new, updated version of "Battlestar Galactica" one of the most talked about and successful sci-fi TV series in the past year. The first season prologue initially sets the dark tone, but the main title with its military-style percussion in the background and emotionally sad melody intensifies the feeling of just how desperate the small number of surviving humans is in their flight into deep space away from the Cylons. This pressing need for survival is also felt by Helo's predicament on the surface of Caprica where he believes he is alone with Boomer, and the three musical scores used are quite effective. Probably my most favorite piece is the symphonic "The Shape Of Things To Come", which is used when Six is showing Baltar secrets on the surface of Kobol in the final first season episode. It is a curious mix of a cheerful future, but with dark undertones beneath. I applaud all those responsible for creating such a wonderful and darkly realistic sci-fi TV series as "Battlestar Galactica". It's success would not have been possible without an incredible soundtrack to help capture the imaginations of the viewers. Hence, I rate the "Battlestar Galactica: Season One Soundtrack" with a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. As a side note, the soundtrack for the show's second season has evolved and is also equally appropriate for the events that occur there. Rating: - Not your average soundtrackMcCreary's Battlestar Galactic soundtrack is certainly one of the best I've hear in a long time. The primal feel of McCreary's music, especially with his employment of Taiko drums, sets it apart from the usual space-opera soundtracks and is a breath of fresh air in the already stale John Williamsian dominated, purely orchestral, soundtracks. Rating:  - Very goodIf you watched the first season and enjoyed it, you will enjoy this album. If you loved the first season you will love this album. I was brought to tears by some of these tracks on first listen when I was reminded of the scenes from the series. That said many tracks on the album work mostly as filler. The score on the series is meant to fade into the background in parts, which works well for television but not as well for an album. While this soundtrack isn't as bad for fading into the background as the miniseries soundtrack, that is still true in parts. However, there are enough good tracks to justify purchasing this album, especially if you want to support the continuation of the series. Rating: - Great soundtrackI love soundtracks and this is the first time I enjoyed an American TV series soundtrack. Watching BSG I began to notice the music and how it really enhanced what was happening on screen. This soundtrack is impressive and distinctive. Wander my Friends, Kobal Last Gleaming, and A Good Lighter are my favorites. Most tv series I barely notice the music, this soundtrack brought tears to my eyes. Rating: - ImpressiveI must say I have found Battlestar Galactica series on SciFi to be one of the more suprisingly enjoyable and well written shows on television but all of this is alreadly known. The soundtrack developed in either a collaborative or independently and cooperatively by Mr. Richard Gibbs and Mr. Bear McCreary are both excellent. The bulk of the CD is composed of interesting hybrids of tribal/Arabian/European classical pieces and North African influences. There are a fair amount of pieces which are quite nice but somewhat contextual and situational to the show but are nonetheless quite good there are two exceptions, however,which prompted my purchase, I recently saw some parts of "Kobol's Last Gleaming (II)" and the pieces, 'Passacaglia' and 'The Shape Of Things To Come' were set into the background of a rather pivotal moment and quite frankly I was amazed and to my suprise moved, needless to say I was here rather instantaeously. These were two beautifully composed and performed pieces, and at first I kept thinking to myself these must be covers or variants of something by Bach or Handel but I researched a little bit and he managed to pull of a moment of perfect beauty that sounds like it was composed by one of the great masters so it would seem at least to my ears that Mr. McCreary has done something rare in music let alone television soundtracks.
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