The film music of 2008.

My favorite scores of 2008:

Bolt (John Powell - Disney): A wonderful score, and proof that Powell still has his mojo.
Burn After Reading (Carter Burwell - Lakeshore): The amusing though uneven film benefitted greatly from Burwell's fine music.
Igor (Patrick Doyle - Varese): Doyle's delightful music was a vital component to the underappreciated animated feature.
In Bruges (Carter Burwell - Lakeshore): Burwell's lovely music for the entertaining dramedy may well be my favorite score of the year.
Leatherheads (Randy Newman - Varese): Big-band stylings and a wistful main theme are what Newman gave the underrated period comedy.
Speed Racer (Michael Giacchino - Varese): My favorite film of the year (yes!) was treated to Giacchino's suitably bouncy score.
The Spirit (David Newman - Silva Screen): Newman provided a brassy main theme and enjoyable action music for the guilty pleasure.
Street Kings (Graeme Revell - iTunes download): The cheesy but fun cop thriller featured one of Revell's finest scores since the mid-90s.
WALL-E (Thomas Newman - Disney): Typically eclectic Newman brew for the animated marvel.
Wanted (Danny Elfman - Lakeshore): Some catchy melodies in this busy - and exciting - score.

Other good scores:

Charlie Bartlett (Christophe Beck), Hellboy II: the Golden Army (Danny Elfman), Horton Hears a Who (John Powell), Milk (Danny Elfman), Pineapple Express (Graeme Revell), The Promotion (Alex Wurman), Son of Rambow (Joby Talbot), The Tale of Despereaux (William Ross), Transporter 3 (Alexandre Azaria) and Tropic Thunder (Theodore Shapiro)

Favorite new CDs of 2008:

Batman: the Animated Series: (Shirley Walker, Lolita Ritmanis & Michael McCuistion - LaLaLand) Eleven complete episode scores. Danny Elfman's pulse-quickening title music. A suite of character themes. The late, great Walker explaining her craft. Need I say more? (BTW, anyone who listens to the Joker's theme in the track "Joker Loots Gotham" and still thinks that the character received superior musical treatment in The Dark Knight does not deserve the privilege of hearing.)

Heavy Metal (Elmer Bernstein - Film Score Monthly): Bernstein's eclectic score was treated to a lengthy release. Here's hoping for a similar release of his other foray into animation - The Black Cauldron.

Jingle All the Way (David Newman - Intrada): If only because it's free from the dreadful film, it's so nice to see this released.

Masters of the Universe (Bill Conti - LaLaLand): Conti's boisterous score received the deluxe treatment with this release.

Matilda (David Newman - Varese Club): The underrated Roald Dahl adaptation was treated to one of Newman's most colorful and delightful works.

Meteor (Laurence Rosenthal - LaLaLand): Rosenthal recruited the orchestrational elite (Hayes, Morton, Spencer) to bring this score to life. An exciting work, but the Russian march is just beautiful.

Nine to Five (Charles Fox - Intrada)/Short Circuit (David Shire - Varese Club): As I mentioned earlier, these were two of the first film scores I ever noticed. I don't have them (yet), but it's just gratifying to know that the respective labels fulfilled my dreams in this manner.

Parasite (Richard Band - Intrada): Not one of the Band masterpieces, but worth hearing for the '-isms' that he'd develop throughout the following decade.

Tiburon (Morton Stevens - buysoundtrax): This was released with the first 100 copies of the not-bad One Man Jury. It's a concert recording of Stevens's score for Great White (aka The Last Shark and l'ultimo squalo). It's only 18 minutes long...but Stevens packs more punch, variety and bite into 18 minutes than most modern composers do on longer albums. If you're lucky enough to find a copy online, do not hesitate. Get it!

WarGames (Arthur B. Rubinstein - Intrada): I listen to this CD (particularly "A Game of Chess?" through "NORAD") at least three times a week. It's no stretch to call this one of my new favorite scores. I hate to dredge up a hoary cliche, but they really don't write them like this, anymore.