Battlestar Galactica Season 3 composed by Bear McCreary
01/12/2007 . Source: Tomas L. Martin 
CD. La-La Land Records LLLCD 1062. 21 tracks 79:12 minutes. Price: $15.98 (US). Buy Battlestar Galactica Season 3 in the USA - or Buy Battlestar Galactica Season 3 in the UK  check out website: www.lalalandrecords.com
'Battlestar Galactica' made a smart move this year by off-setting the start of its fourth and final season to April next year, avoiding (so far) the problems surrounding many TV shows due to the writer's strike in America. A feature length episode, 'Razor' was released recently to keep fans happy, in addition to material relating to the third season.
Among them is the soundtrack to that eventful set of episodes. Season 3 started with half the characters under Cylon occupation on New Caprica before shifting abruptly back into space a third of the way through, weaving unevenly through some great and some average episodes to a dramatic and surprising finale. Whilst still one of the best shows on television, the tendency to choose more single episode storylines above the longer season arcs that made the previous seasons so successful limited the dramatic impact.
Throughout, 'Battlestar Galactica' has been a rewarding experience in writing, direction, acting and music. Bear McCreary's haunting soundtracks weave in and out of the program superbly, amplifying key moments with tense string movements, bold drums and assorted world music influences.
Season 3's soundtrack is probably the strongest collection so far. The other two soundtracks had some excellent pieces but I feel this one holds together as a CD better than those. McCreary heavily lifts the songs selected from the episodes 'Maelstrom', 'Unfinished Business' and the two-parters 'Exodus' and 'Crossroads'.
The string composition 'Violence And Variations' is a moving and dynamic piece and 'Heeding The Call' brings rock guitars into the mix with great effect. Each song has a distinctive feel that harks back to the individual episodes but the overall compilation is a good listen, too. Gaelic dance pieces, African drums and Indian sitars all feature to give this soundtrack a very diverse feel whilst never straying too far from the distinctive taut 'Battlestar Galactica' sound.
McCreary's rendition of Bob Dylan's 'All Along The Watchtower' from the season finale is probably going to catch all the attention and rightly so. Lifting an Earth-based familiar song for the first time in a non-Earth based series was a bold and ambitious move. Placed amidst the huge revelations of 'Crossroads Part II' the placement of the track was jarring and surprising, shocking the viewer at the perfect moment.
As we wait for the final season of what has been a landmark achievement in Science Fiction, it's a good time to look back on what the team has achieved so far. Whilst the writers and Ron Moore's production have been a large reason for the show's success, Bear McCreary's growing range and talent for scoring the show has been a considerable influence too. If you admire the show's music, this is the CD to pick up.
Tomas L. Martin
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