Music Review

Max Richter's Score for The Leftovers

The idea of doing a music review is kind of difficult. Many people assume that, because I am in band, that I'm very musically inclined. In a way I am, I suppose. Like, I know how to read music and I do have SOME sort of an ear for some musical trends. But, other than that, I don't really know a whole lot about music. I don't even have a "taste" really for music. If I did, I'd say "alternative," but that is an extremely broad term. It's basically the "other" in the list of music genres, a place where you put things you don't know what to call. I debated writing this blog about the Violent Femmes, or Twenty One Pilots, or anyone, anything that I listen to or have on my phone. (I would have done Twenty One Pilots because I have tickets to a concert for them on March 3rd. I decided not to do it though because 1) They are very popular and 2) I'm getting a little tired of listening to them.

I've decided to play into my one trick and do a review of composer Max Richter's score for HBO's The Leftovers. I know, this seems like I'm over doing it, but I was watching an episode the other day and the score made me actually cry. Saying that the music of the show is another character is an understatement to say the least. If you took the music out of the show, you're losing a whole 3rd of the show. That is how important it is.

Shows like Breaking Bad rely on the silence in scenes. That's what I loved so much about it, but The Leftovers instead decides to have more of an operatic and tragic score overlaying the most emotional scenes. The music is beautifully sad and gives a sense of uncertainty with that sadness. I will put a link to a scene of the show and the music by itself right here:

MUSIC ONLY: https://youtu.be/lZH0MUSCsj0
SCENE: https://youtu.be/E0u6prmiABA?t=72

The music is sad and very understated. It is usually used in scenes of great, heartbreaking monologues and adds the extra emotional punch that makes it all scene. My favorite piece of Max Richter's is his song "November." It's used in a few of my favorite scenes in the show and I listen to it often when I feel happy, sad, or basically any emotion.

SCENE SEASON 1: https://youtu.be/RLyyArevZGU
SCENE SEASON 2: https://youtu.be/nqArJAc7j4Q
FULL SONG: https://youtu.be/2Bb0k9HgQxc

(That's him^^^)

I'm not usually a score type guy. I especially don't listen to them for fun. I'm turned off by most "classical" or "score" music just because we play it in band all the time. But listening to Max Richter's amazing score and watching this heartbreaking show makes me feel better in my darkest times and even more during my happy times. I implore anybody who likes a good score to listen to Max Richter's work. He is a great composer and has done a number of things outside of The Leftovers. I think he even has a new album (or whatever you call a new body of work from a composer.)

GREAT EXAMPLE OF MUSIC ACCOMPANYING A MONOLOGUE: https://youtu.be/NbXE_Z6K0oY
MAX's NEWER STUFF: https://youtu.be/8dvpT0hA0Lk