CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

.

Plunkett And Macleane [1999]

starring: Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller, Iain Robertson, Ken Stott, Tommy Flanagan
directed by: Jake Scott

Release Date May 02, 2005
Sometimes a bit of hard, dark and amusing period-drama is just what the doctor ordered, taking a break from BBC endless remakes of nicety-nice Jane Austin and Charles Dickens books that we all pay our licence fees for !!!

High-way man Plunkett (Carlyle) teams up with ex-socialite Macleane (Miller) to rob the London gentry of their wears, along the way becoming infamous and inciting the wrath of the local authorities.

I felt that the film was just the right mix of drama and comedy, with serious events separated by moments of shear comic genius. Macleane encouraging Plunkett to eat more prunes and trying to catch a large ruby as it worked its way through his system, along with trying to cure a dose of the clap caught ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

.

Film Works

by: Craig Armstrong

Release Date October 24, 2005
Excellent compilation of Craig Armstrongs film music.
Armstrong truly is a rare talent in film music scoring - these days, each composer whose name you might recognise has their own tricks that crop up time and again. Hans Zimmer has the 'soulful voice as instrument and Wagnerian epic themes', Jerry Goldsmith has the 'lush string sound with simple effective meolodies', Vangelis has the epic soaring themes market cornered...
But Craig Armstrong truly uses a large repertoire of tools to achieve whatever is needed for a certain film. This album contains romantic soft melodies gently played (Love Actually Glasgow Love theme), Driving modern dance style beats ('Ball' from Plunckett and Maclean), epic Carl Orff style ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

.

Space Between Us

by: Craig Armstrong

Release Date February 02, 1998
Take good string/piano dominated classical music, make it moody & dramatic. Now sprinkle with just a hint of the more contemporary elements of the likes of Massive attack and drift off in to outerspace. In fact forget what I've just said, it's not doing the man enough justice! He is pure genius.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

.

As If to Nothing

by: Craig Armstrong

Release Date April 15, 2002
An often misused and inappropriate word in the english vocabulary, but believe me this is spot on when describing the work of my fellow Scot.

Never heard of Craig Armstrong ? Possibly.

Never heard any of his work ? Unlikely

So much of his work is played on TV [ commonly as background music, even on Programmes like Football Focus & MOTD. ]

My first introduction to the work of Craig Armstrong was in a friends car during a long drive on winters night, when with this CD playing loudly I was literally blown away.

This is music to positively chill to.

Only problem Craig, there isn't enough of it around, and how I long for some new material.

Going back to the heading GENIUS, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

.

Piano works

by: Craig Armstrong

Release Date February 26, 2008
I can see where 'ajking22' is coming from but I'm not surprised with the disappointment after listening to 'real' classical pianists like Satie. In this respect Craig Armstrong is severely lacking but the music on this album needs to be taken in context. Being a writer of scores and a contributing artist with others like Massive Attack it should be noted that his music is usually part of a bigger picture and as such will tend to be a bit minimalistic. Heatmiser and Weather Storm are prime examples where the basslines, synths and strings have been stripped away to leave two beautifuly simplistic pieces of music.

Personally I love the minimalism and that the album consists of many short and often moody soundscapes. Great after a hard day or ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

.

Furious Angels [+ Bonus Instrumental CD]

by: Rob Dougan

Release Date August 04, 2003
first of all this is a review of the double disc cd and not the single disc. the single disc is a hit and miss affair. rob dougan has a voice one can take or leave, but the music is interesting. luckily his 'clubbed to death' was picked up by 'the matrix', and so a double album was released. the first disc is the same as the original. but it is in the second disc, where rob dougan gets to shine, and where i honestly think you will have your mind blown away. the tracks are as the original cd, but with the voice omitted, and as such it packs a mighty powerful punch. it is futile to describe it, except to say its impossible to categorize. it is for rob dougan a case of short sharp genius, as he has yet to produce another album. but if this was his only legacy, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

.

World Trade Center - OST

from: Portrait

Release Date September 25, 2006
I have been into films and their soundtracks for a long time now and I have a few favourite films that Mr. Armstrong has composed the music to but "World Trade Center" is easily my favourite of his and for me it is easily my favourite score album of 2006. The music is haunting and moving which is appropriate for the film but it is a change from a big, pounding orchestral score which most film soundtracks are associated with being. I look forward to hearing future scores by Mr. Armstrong and at some point will get the other soundtracks to the films of his that I also like.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

.

Romeo + Juliet Ost Volume 2

by: Original Soundtrack

Release Date July 28, 1997
When I heard that it used quotes from the film to tie together the pieces of music, I didnt think it would work, but surprisingly it really does! I bought this after hearing one of the tracks on the advert for Euro 2004 and I wasnt dissapointed. The music is brilliant, especially tracks 9 and 10, these two are beautiful!! Its music to suit any mood and I would definately recommend it to anyone who likes film soundtracks with a difference!!

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

.

Kiss of The Dragon - Symphony For Isabelle

by: Craig Armstrong

Release Date October 15, 2001
This album has alot of soul, and i dont mean that as in the music style.

It catches the ear and keeps your attention for the duration, which you'll wish was longer. This album is really good to put on while you've got friends round and you can all just chill to it at a low volume, or crank it up and and make the neighbours jelous. Serious potential to do well in the charts.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

.

Craig Armstrong: 'Memory Takes My Hand', 'One Minute', 'Immer' Violin Concerto No. 1

by: Garry Walker

Release Date June 02, 2008
Much more 'classical' than his earlier work. No memorable 'songs' as such but great hip easy listening for your next dinner party