Stranger Things 2 (soundtrack)

Last updated
Stranger Things 2
Stranger Things 2.png
Soundtrack album by
Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein
ReleasedOctober 20, 2017 (2017-10-20)
Genre Electronic
Length1:11:20
Label
Producer
  • Kyle Dixon
  • Michael Stein
Stranger Things music chronology
Stranger Things, Vol. 2
(2016)
Stranger Things 2
(2017)
Stranger Things: Music from the Netflix Original Series
(2017)
Alternative cover
StrangerThings2Vinyl.png
Vinyl edition cover

The soundtrack album for the second season of the Netflix series Stranger Things , titled Stranger Things 2, was released digitally on October 20, 2017, via Lakeshore and Invada Records. [1] [2] Like the previous season, the soundtrack was composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of the electronic band Survive. The album was also released on physical formats such as CD, vinyl, and cassette in the year following the soundtrack's initial digital release. [1]

Contents

Composition

On the soundtrack's composition, Dixon and Stein together said that the score for the season introduces "new styles of composition, while still revisiting old themes when appropriate ... We've created new elements that are necessary to support the story, but still want to remain true to the sound of Season 1." The two had previously stated they've purchased new equipment as to allow further experimentation and diversification during the scoring process. [3]

Critical reception

The first track on the album, "Walkin' in Hawkins", was released early on October 12, 2017. [2] Kevin Lozano of Pitchfork praised the track, calling it "bright and pleasant" yet "minimal and effective," and noted that the song's "precise sounds point to a refinement in their technique ... the romantic, reverential mood of the song makes it easy to picture the scene it might score: a gorgeous day in a small town, streets bathed in sunlight, kids pedaling on bicycles, and the horrors seemingly far, far away." [4] Randall Colburn of Consequence of Sound found the "straightforward tune" carried "a wistful, appropriately autumnal vibe," while Elias Leight of Rolling Stone lauded the song as being "majestic" and "stately." [2] [5]

Track listing

Stranger Things 2 – Standard version
No.TitleLength
1."Walkin' in Hawkins"2:36
2."Home"1:50
3."Eulogy"3:40
4."On the Bus"2:04
5."Presumptuous"1:34
6."Eight Fifteen"1:25
7."The First Lie"1:14
8."Scars"1:43
9."I Can Save Them"1:54
10."Descent into the Rift"1:26
11."Chicago"2:54
12."Looking for a Way Out"1:37
13."Birth / Rescue"3:21
14."In the Woods"0:54
15."Digging"1:06
16."Symptoms"3:39
17."Eggo in the Snow"1:01
18."Soldiers"2:10
19."Choices"2:01
20."Never Tell"1:53
21."She Wants Me to Find Her"2:27
22."Shouldn't Have Lied"2:56
23."It's a Trap"2:57
24."Crib"2:27
25."The Return"3:21
26."Escape"1:42
27."We Go Out Tonight"2:15
28."Connect the Dots"1:20
29."The Hub"3:55
30."On Edge"1:17
31."What Else Did You See?"1:23
32."Run"1:20
33."Levitation"2:08
34."To Be Continued"2:08
Total length:1:11:20
Stranger Things 2 – iTunes version (bonus tracks)
No.TitleLength
1."Turn on the Lights"1:44
2."Sick of Cow"4:03
3."Power Maintenance"1:31
4."Roars from the Lab"2:33
5."Mercy"4:04
6."Shadow in the Tunnel"4:20
7."A Familiar Shape"6:50
8."Tree Slime"1:10
9."Do You Accept the Risk?"0:26
10."Entering the Cellar"2:05
11."The Spy"4:49
12."Controlled Contamination"1:45
13."Turn Right & Run"7:12
14."They Hurt Me"5:03
15."Possessed"3:11

Charts

In the United States, the album sold 6,000 units in its first week of release. [6]

Chart (2017)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [7] 184
US Billboard 200 [6] 128

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thom Yorke</span> English musician

Thomas Edward Yorke is an English musician and the main vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. A multi-instrumentalist, he mainly plays guitar and keyboards and is noted for his falsetto. He has been described by Rolling Stone as one of the most influential singers of his generation.

<i>Stranger Things</i> American science fiction drama television series

Stranger Things is an American science fiction horror drama television series created by the Duffer Brothers, who also serve as showrunners and are executive producers along with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen. Its first season was released on Netflix on July 15, 2016. Its second, third, and fourth seasons followed in October 2017, July 2019, and May and July 2022, respectively. In February 2022, the series was renewed for a fifth and final season.

Ricky Eat Acid Project of musician Sam Ray

Ricky Eat Acid is the solo project of American musician Sam Ray.

<i>Stranger Things</i> (soundtrack) 2016 soundtrack album by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein

Stranger Things is the original soundtrack for the first season of the Netflix series of the same name. The first and second volume were released digitally by Lakeshore and Ivada Records on August 12 and 19, 2016, respectively. Consisting of 75 songs produced and composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of the electronic band Survive, this release sums up to the duo's first collaboration outside of the band. The CD release of the soundtrack was similar to the digital rollout, with the first and second volumes being released on September 16 and 23, respectively, and limited editions on vinyl, in both individual and boxed sets, were released in July 2017. A cassette version of the first volume of the soundtrack, sold exclusively by Urban Outfitters, was released on July 14, 2017. The cassette packaging features a cardboard cover that emulates an old VHS sleeve, while the cassette tape is made to look like a VHS tape.

Survive is an electronic band consisting of Michael Stein, Kyle Dixon, Adam Jones and Mark Donica formed in 2009 in Austin, Texas. The Austin-based quartet have been producing synth-heavy, horror-score-influenced compositions for over a decade, exploring these themes through drum machines and analog synths across various single, EP and LP releases and contributions to soundtracks such as acclaimed indie horror film The Guest. The band gained wider fame after members Dixon and Stein composed the musical score for the Netflix's horror-supernatural hit series Stranger Things.

<i>The Iceberg</i> (Oddisee album) 2017 studio album by Oddisee

The Iceberg is a studio album by American hip hop artist Oddisee. It was released via Mello Music Group on February 24, 2017. It is the official follow-up to his 2015 album, The Good Fight. It features guest appearances from Toine and Olivier St. Louis. Music videos were created for "NNGE" and "You Grew Up".

<i>OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017</i> 2017 compilation album by Radiohead

OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017 is a reissue of the 1997 album OK Computer by the English rock band Radiohead. It was released in June 2017, the album's 20th anniversary, following the 2016 acquisition of Radiohead's back catalogue by XL Recordings from EMI.

<i>Stranger Things</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of the American science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things premiered worldwide on the streaming service Netflix on July 15, 2016. The series was created by the Duffer Brothers, who also serve as executive producers along with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen.

The Stranger Things original soundtracks are composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of the electronic band Survive. They make extensive use of synthesizers in homage to 1980s artists and film composers including Jean-Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, Goblin, John Carpenter, Giorgio Moroder, and Fabio Frizzi.

<i>Stranger Things</i> (season 2) Season of television series

The second season of the American science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things, was released worldwide on the streaming service Netflix on October 27, 2017. The series was created by the Duffer Brothers, who also serve as executive producers along with Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen and Iain Paterson.

<i>Stranger Things</i> (season 3) Season of television series

The third season of the American science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things was released worldwide on the streaming service Netflix on July 4, 2019. The series was created by the Duffer Brothers, who also serve as executive producers along with Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen and Iain Paterson.

<i>A</i> (Usher and Zaytoven album) 2018 studio album by Usher and Zaytoven

A is a collaborative studio album by American singer-songwriter Usher and American record producer Zaytoven, who also produced the album. It was released at midnight EST on October 12, 2018. The album is an homage to the city of Atlanta, where Usher and Zaytoven grew up. A features guest appearances from Future and Gunna.

<i>Stranger Things: Halloween Sounds from the Upside Down</i> 2018 soundtrack album by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein

Stranger Things: Halloween Sounds from the Upside Down is a supplemental compilation soundtrack album with unreleased cues used in the second season of the Netflix series Stranger Things that had a digital release on October 5, 2018, via Lakeshore and Invada Records. The music on the album was produced by the series' longtime composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of the electronic band Survive, and was previously available only as bonus tracks for the iTunes edition of the soundtrack album for Stranger Things 2. The album was also released physically as an orange-colored vinyl record and a picture disc for an exclusive limited run on Record Store Day's annual Black Friday event.

<i>Stranger Things: Music from the Netflix Original Series, Season 3</i> 2019 soundtrack album by Various artists

Stranger Things: Music from the Netflix Original Series, Season 3 is the non-original composition soundtrack companion to the third season of the Netflix series Stranger Things. The album, which includes fifteen popular songs paired with an original cast recording from the third season, was released on July 5, 2019, by Legacy Recordings to coincide with the release of the third season. Certain variant special vinyl editions of the album come with an additional 7-inch single and other features, such as posters, stickers, puzzles, and more.

<i>Stranger Things 3</i> (soundtrack) 2019 soundtrack album by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein

The original soundtrack album for the third season of the Netflix series Stranger Things, titled Stranger Things 3, was released digitally on June 28, 2019, via Lakeshore and Invada Records. Like the previous two seasons, the soundtrack was composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of the electronic band Survive. The album was also released on physical formats such as CD, vinyl, and cassette.

<i>Hellboy</i> (Lil Peep mixtape) 2016 mixtape by Lil Peep

Hellboy is the fifth and final mixtape by American rapper Lil Peep. It was self-released on September 25, 2016. The mixtape was promoted by two singles and later a headlining tour, The Peep Show Tour, in the spring of 2017.

<i>Stranger Things</i> (season 4) Season of television series

The fourth season of the American science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things was released on the streaming service Netflix in two volumes. The first set of seven episodes was released on May 27, 2022, while the second set of two episodes was released on July 1, 2022. The season was produced by the show's creators the Duffer Brothers, along with Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Iain Paterson and Curtis Gwinn.

<i>Stranger Things: Music from the Netflix Original Series, Season 4</i> 2022 soundtrack album by Various artists

Stranger Things: Music from the Netflix Original Series, Season 4 is the non-original composition soundtrack companion to the fourth season of the Netflix series Stranger Things. The album, which includes sixteen popular period songs used in the show, was released digitally in two parts by Legacy Recordings on May 27, 2022 and July 1, 2022, to coincide with the release of the first and second volumes of the season.

<i>Stranger Things 4</i> (soundtrack) 2022 soundtrack album by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein

The original soundtrack album for the fourth season of the Netflix series Stranger Things, titled Stranger Things 4, was released digitally on July 1, 2022, via Lakeshore and Invada Records. Like the previous three seasons, the soundtrack was composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of the electronic band Survive. The album will also be released on physical formats such as CD and vinyl in two separate volumes, as the sheer length of the eighty-track score far exceeds the capacity of a single compact disc or a two-disc vinyl set.

References

  1. 1 2 Cantrell, Liza (October 12, 2017). "Listen to a New Song From the Stranger Things Season 2 Soundtrack". Spin . Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Leight, Elias (October 12, 2017). "'Stranger Things' Previews Season Two Soundtrack With Majestic New Song". Rolling Stone . Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  3. Cook, Cameron (March 15, 2017). "S U R V I V E on Stranger Things 2 and sculpting analogue worlds". The Vinyl Factory . Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  4. Lozano, Kevin (October 12, 2017). ""Walkin' in Hawkins" by Kyle Dixon/Michael Stein". Pitchfork . Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  5. Colburn, Randall (October 12, 2017). "S U R V I V E's Michael Stein and Kyle Dixon announce Stranger Things 2 OST, share new track: Stream". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  6. 1 2 Caulfield, Keith (November 10, 2017). "Billboard 200 Chart Moves: 'Stranger Things 2' Soundtrack Debuts, The Piano Guys' 'Christmas' Bows". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  7. "Ultratop.be – Soundtrack / Kyle Dixon / Michael Stein – Stranger Things 2" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 30, 2017.