One thing I noticed about this score immediately is its apparent role modeling from Bernard Hermann's Psycho (no, not the squeek squeek bit with the shower. I mean the rest of the score, the foreboding and foreshadowing full string ensemble pieces.) The only significant differences besides the motifs that I noticed was that Psycho was purely strings, Signs had other instruments in use. Likewise, the score, as dull and themeless as it may have seemed to others, crossed me as perfect for the basic emotions of the film.

> One thing I noticed about this score immediately is its apparent role
> modeling from Bernard Hermann's Psycho (no, not the squeek squeek bit with
> the shower. I mean the rest of the score, the foreboding and foreshadowing
> full string ensemble pieces.) The only significant differences besides the
> motifs that I noticed was that Psycho was purely strings, Signs had other
> instruments in use. Likewise, the score, as dull and themeless as it may
> have seemed to others, crossed me as perfect for the basic emotions of the
> film.

The main titles section of Signs has basically the same setup as Psycho. It is accompanied by fast paced unsettling and classic Herrmann-style scoring.
I also sensed a bit of Vertigo here and there.
Is this the return to pre-Star Wars era? Even Williams seems a bit fed up with that popular romanticism in his latest SW soundtrack. It sounds more experimental.
The Signs score could have been even more interesting with the use of electronics, like in the old days with THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL or THE FORBIDDEN PLANET (also by Herrmann). There's a great instrument that would have been apropriately spooky in Signs. It can be also be heard to a great extent in Miklos Rosza's Spellbound, but what's it'name?

>The Signs score could have been even more interesting
> with the use of electronics, like in the old days with THE DAY THE EARTH
> STOOD STILL or THE FORBIDDEN PLANET (also by Herrmann). There's a great
> instrument that would have been apropriately spooky in Signs. It can be
> also be heard to a great extent in Miklos Rosza's Spellbound, but what's
> it'name?

Yes! The return of the theremin!

oh ##### FORBIDDEN PLANETS was not from Herrmann... well it's only 2 years later that I found out... too bad.. like many things -_-'

> The main titles section of Signs has basically the same setup as Psycho.
> It is accompanied by fast paced unsettling and classic Herrmann-style
> scoring.
I also sensed a bit of Vertigo here and there.
Is this
> the return to pre-Star Wars era? Even Williams seems a bit fed up with
> that popular romanticism in his latest SW soundtrack. It sounds more
> experimental.
The Signs score could have been even more interesting
> with the use of electronics, like in the old days with THE DAY THE EARTH
> STOOD STILL or THE FORBIDDEN PLANET (also by Herrmann). There's a great
> instrument that would have been apropriately spooky in Signs. It can be
> also be heard to a great extent in Miklos Rosza's Spellbound, but what's
> it'name?

> oh ##### FORBIDDEN PLANETS was not from Herrmann... well it's only 2 years
> later that I found out... too bad.. like many things -_-'
I also
> sensed a bit of Vertigo here and there.
Is this
The Signs score
> could have been even more interesting

HAHAHA ^^ nice one with the #### f u c k just had to be said my dear.. -_-