X-Men: First Class (soundtrack)

Last updated

All music is composed by Henry Jackman, except where noted [10]

X-Men: First Class (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
X-Men Days of Future Past soundtrack.jpg
Film score by
ReleasedJune 6, 2011 (digital)
July 4, 2011 (physical)
Recorded2011
Genre Film score
Length1:00:14
Label Sony Classical
Fox Music
Producer Henry Jackman
X-Men soundtrack chronology
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
(2009)
X-Men: First Class
(2011)
The Wolverine
(2013)
Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."First Class" 3:20
2."Pain and Anger" 2:58
3."Would You Date Me?" 1:44
4."Not That Sort of Bank"3:27
5."Frankenstein's Monster" 3:03
6."What Am I Thinking"
  • Jackman
  • Willis
2:10
7."Cerebro" 2:23
8."Mobilise for Russia"
1:18
9."Rise Up to Rule"
5:56
10."Cold War" 3:20
11."X-Training" 4:27
12."Rage and Serenity" 2:06
13."To Beast or Not to Beast"
  • Jackman
  • Lewis
  • Willis
4:47
14."True Colors" 1:51
15."Let Battle Commence"
  • Jackman
  • Lewis
  • Margeson
4:45
16."Sub Lift" 2:19
17."Coup D'état"
  • Jackman
  • Willis
2:15
18."Mutant and Proud" 3:28
19."X-Men" 2:59
20."Magneto"
  • Jackman
  • Margeson
1:53
Total length:60:14

Reception

James Christopher Monger of Allmusic compared the score to Daft Punk's work in Tron: Legacy (2010) and wrote "dutifully applies his significant programming and production skills on the punishing "Magneto" theme, and the inclusion of tasteful electric guitars into some of the more orchestral sections brings to mind Hans Zimmer's Inception score." [11] Zanobard Reviews stated "Henry Jackman’s score to X-Men: First Class is a great score, and its strength absolutely lies in its themes. The main one is epic, heroic, memorable and in my mind the best theme that the X-Men movie franchise has had so far. Magneto’s is also particularly good, though I do find it a bit odd that he has a fantastically villainous motif and yet the main villain for the film basically has nothing, aside from some near-generic and evil-sounding music. Along similar lines – being as superb as it is, the main theme massively outclasses everything else (besides Magneto's theme) on the album, which makes the moments where it doesn’t appear seem rather dull in comparison, particularly in the action tracks." [12]

Filmtracks.com wrote "Jackman doesn't stray too far from the dumb, conventional sound of the soundtracks for these kinds of films, especially when the electric guitar is fully unleashed, and nothing in this score will compete with John Powell's superior entry in the franchise. But the composer at least takes steps to try to transcend the stereotypes associated with such music." [13] Jonathan Weilbaecher of The Flickast wrote "The score for X-Men: First Class is a solid and often rousing musical experience. One that stands shoulder to shoulder with most super-hero scores of the past decade. It might lack the bombast of Spider-Man or the sheer scope of X-Men 3, but it packs a serious punch and excels in all the right places." [14]

Charts

Chart (2011)Peak
position
UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC) [15] 28
US Billboard 200 [16] 192
US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard) [17] 18

Personnel

Credits adapted from CD liner notes [18]

Production
Instrumentation
Orchestra
Management

Notes

  1. Michael Kamen, John Ottman, John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams wrote music for the previous X-Men instalments.

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References

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