“I count myself an individual. I hate all cults, fads and circles. I believe that only music that springs out of genuine personal emotion and inspiration is alive and important.” - B.H.

Well, this is the ultimate. The next person who says "oh yeah, cheesy sci-fi music from one of those goofy martian movies from the 50s" will be fucking shot. This is the Jesus sci-fi score of all time, and is very harmonically interesting and psychically disturbing. And totally innovative for its time and this time. For one thing, Herrmann uses two theremins here — which is two more than had ever been committed to a large scale recording project by, um... 1951. The instrumental eclecticism didn't end there, with two Hammond organs on the set, electrically amplified violins, vibraphones, and of course full orchestra. There are some damned revolutionary tape/channel effects as well — this is 1951 remember.

NO! Get the original one, not the "new" one.

"Brooding, loud, dark, intense, oppressive, thoughtful and subject to sudden mood swings. This description might be seen to describe both the music and personality of one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century, Bernard Herrmann."

For those unfamiliar with Bernard Herrmann, he's the man who scored lots of Hitchcock — Psycho, Vertigo, North By Northwest — also Orson Welles' Citizen Kane, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Taxi Driver, and a LOT more. These scores are what afficianados of film music would call "no brainers." Why not join the club? What are you, fuckin' deaf?