(Love the new profile pic!)

So, not to sound melodramatic, but it's actually great to chronicle how COVID-19 impacted specific industries. That's something historians value, the details of impactful events. And it sounds like it was a drastic impact! (That was redundant, but you get what I mean. Historians would kill for more documents on how, say, the Black Death affected specific trades and commerce.) Interesting how different composers had different takes and experiences working under the new conditions. (And I didn't know Zimmer had COVID, ouch.) And on Zimmer's fears of being obsolete, wonder how much that drove his abstract works like Dunkirk and Dune. I know film music

Hillbilly Elegy (2020) - ***

Quite a fun album, and its downbeat, contemplative tone fit the early pandemic like a glove (when I wasn't actively losing my mind, I was thinking Deep Thoughts lol). Be interesting to revisit it now. Zimmer & co. do this well, but I can't help but get wistful thinking of what Thomas Newman could have done with a similar canvas.

Cherry (2021) - ***

Not heard, but I think I can imagine what it sounds like. That said, your description intrigues me, and some aspects sound up my sonic alley, so I'll check it out! Even if the Jackman/Russo scores overall tend to disappoint, there's usually a few highlights to break out.

Ron’s Gone Wrong (2021) - ***

Sounds right up my alley, and others on the board had complimentary things to say!

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) - ***

Meh. It has strengths, it has weaknesses, a pretty solid work with none of the best and worst aspects of The Winter Soldier. I haven't done a solo listen, but it was enjoyable enough when I watched the series with a friend. As noted time and again,

(Side note, the Flag Smashers were so frustrating as villains. Textbook "villains are right, but we had them be murderers too so now we have to stop them" approach, though the ending with Falcon was a welcome attempt to subvert that.)

Red Notice (2021) - ****

This was a welcome surprise, thought we'd never hear this sort of music from Jablonsky again! He threads that drama/comedy needle with enjoyable precision, and the score as a whole brims with style. In other words, YUP!