Tron Legacy Soundtrack

I'm reserving final judgment for contextual purposes, but as a standalone, Legacy has been an excellent listen.  Filmtracks has their review up, and it echoes most of my sentiments.  (Which includes my disdain for the record company's decision to spread the score out over so many releases.)

As said, I believe many will agree that it's less Daft Punk sounding than initially expected.  The electronica elements are reined back a bit to give way to a prominent, orchestral-cinematic feel, which was probably a good call.  As Filmtracks states: "The key to success for them was to extend as much of their club-worthy techno style as possible without relegating their work for Tron: Legacy to classification as simple fetish music. After all, what appeals as trance and techno dance material in Europe would likely not alone carry a blockbuster motion picture even as well suited to them as this one." 

There's a strong RC-inspired sound, made fresh by the overlaying of Daft Punk's electronic flair.  Again, to quote Filmtracks: "The handling of the ensemble isn't spectacular, with the orchestrations rather simplistic, the progressions predictable, and techniques like counterpoint and dissonance applied without complexity.  Fortunately, the orchestration is competent, so the driving harmonic rhythms and the major thematic performances are easy on the ears and will satisfy the masses in theaters.  .... Despite some familiarity in certain facets of the recording of Tron: Legacy, the result of Daft Punk's efforts is far more creative than what you'd usually hear from a Zimmer clone using the Remote Control library alone."

The variety is surprisingly strong, ranging from straight-up Daft Punk like "Castor" and "Derezzed", to songs with a bolder orchestral blend like "Recognizer" and "Rectifier".  I love the strings ensemble featured on the "Outlands Part I" & "Part II" tracks.  The dream-like "Solar Sailer" and "Sea of Simulation" are a refreshing change of pace from an otherwise aggressive score, and "End of Line" boasts some slick chiptune instrumentation throwbacks. 

And then there's that main theme.  My only complaint is that, despite its strong use during the first and last few tracks ('bookends', as Filmtracks puts it). it goes almost entirely unused for the rest of the score.  "Father and Son" is the exception, and it's the perfect example of how the theme could've made for a sturdy thematic foundation had it been further utilized.  As such, the main theme feels like something more of an anthem.  But boy, what an anthem; the four tracks that feature the theme - Overture, The Grid, Flynn Lives, TRON Legacy (End Titles) (and to a lesser extent, Finale) - are spectacularly tailored variations, and they are glorious.  The End Titles is a particularly enjoyable arrangement, allowing Daft Punk to go all.... well, Daft Punk with the theme.

FuryofFrog wrote:

The Tron Legacy soundtrack is printed on a black disc that will not let my computer read it.

Huh, I was able to rip it on my drive with no problems.  Though now that I think about it, perhaps the decision to use the black disc was more than just a sleek design choice.  An anti-piracy measure?

Last edited by Angela (Dec 16, 2010)

A few days old, but Disney's announced a 14 track remix album titled "Reconfigured".  Little else is known other than the release date: April 5th, the day that both the original and Legacy films hit home on DVD/Blu-ray.

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/02/04/ … n-the-way/

I never saw the original TRON movie, and I've only seen the Legacy trailer a couple of times. But being a huge Daft Punk fan(all the way back when they weren't mainstream), I quickly snatched a copy of the Legacy soundtrack when I heard that Daft Punk made the whole CD(I think they made the whole thing).

HOLY **** is it good . Especially the famous track "End of Line". I dunno how many of you saw it in the theaters, but sitting in the seat while they were blasting Daft Punk was simply amazing. I really felt I was in a club!

Here's a nice remix of End of Time: End of Line(Remake by Animattronic)