Game Of Thrones

When HBO announced that Steven Warbeck was being replaced by Ramin Djawadi to score Game of Thrones, I was worried. I was worried that Djawadi lacked the complexity I would have liked to see in a strong soundtrack (his Iron Man score was lively but not memorable). I was worried that an announcement made in February for a show debuting in April would result in a mediocre, rushed work. For a lavish premium cable show, I feared that the music would fail to hold up its end of the bargain, made up mostly of generic ambient tracks that hide in the background.

I must admit that I now feel foolish for being so worried. Ramin Djawadi's first season score isn't a complete triumph, but compared to other strong first season scores, such as Bear McCreary's work on Battlestar Galactica, it holds up well. If HBO keeps him on and lets him build on this foundation, it can only get better.

Fans of the show may not recall much music from the series because much of it is atmospheric or an accompaniment to certain events. Djawadi does work in some rousing themes, however, from the powerful opener to the tracks that run through the season finale, but much of what happens in between is music meant for specific scenes. "North of the Wall", for example, does a fantastic job of evoking the cold chill of the lands beyond the giant wall of ice from the premiere, but it is also somewhat reliant on what happens on-screen; it works only in context with the action. "A Raven from King's Landing" is so short that it passes by before it even gets started. On the other hand, "Jon's Honor" is a moving piece so wrought with emotion that it needs no reference to stand out as one of the best tracks.

Djawadi's work with Hans Zimmer is evident in how he scores action, with driving drums and keening strings, but his melodic style is also apparent, as he creates themes that evoke certain characters and places from the show. The mournful Stark theme is especially moving, simple and sad, a foreshadowing of events to come.

The worst thing Djawadi could have done was evoke Howard Shore's soaring and beautiful Lord of the Rings soundtrack, something he wisely avoids. While Game of Thrones may seem to borrow some elements (and a certain actor) from the wildly successful series, it is important that it carve out its own place, both visually and aurally. The music feels like modern score work shot through with music of the fantasy period the books take place in, and this sound grounds the score into the world Martin and HBO have brought to screen.

Most of the tracks are fairly short, as the entire 29-track album clocks in at around an hour. As a straight listen, it moves gracefully from one track to the next. Djawadi experiments with a few different approaches, but in the end, it all ties together well, and the sound is very grounded in one world, even when action takes place across an ocean.

If this were a second or third season soundtrack, I'd probably rate it a bit lower, but as a foundational score for a series that will hopefully last at least a few more seasons, it is very promising. I can't wait to hear season two. Maybe by then we'll get some "Bear and the Maiden Fair."

I have 'Main Title', 'Game of Thrones', 'King of the North', and 'Finale' replaying on a constant loop as I go about my day. It makes me powerful.

A magnificent gathering of music that was played through out the season. With 30 songs, it is a longer CD which I found delightful. Game of Thrones fans will be very happy to hear literally everything from the badass intro music to the finale's last scene. Highly recommend.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 28 reviews  4.3 out of 5 stars