However, a complete and total stylistic shift from not only Human After All, but the entirety of Daft Punk’s discography led to the release of what many consider to be the group’s magnum opus: 2013’s Random Access Memories. With the lackluster fan response to Human After All, it seemed that the duo’s fame could have started fading, as many artists do as they struggle to replicate the success of their first few albums. There’s a case to be made that their score is the only reason “TRON: Legacy” remains at all relevant to this day.Įven further, “TRON: Legacy” was released at a pivotal point in Daft Punk’s career.
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It’s very rare that a score completely outshines and outclasses the underlying movie to this extent, but Daft Punk managed to accomplish just that. This is especially impressive when considered as the duo’s debut to the genre. There are also wholly orchestral compositions like the spacy interlude “Arrival” and classic Daft Punk synthetic body-movers like the visceral “Derezzed,” which is the backing track to the duo’s cameo in the movie.Įnding with a cathartic and introspective “Finale,” Bangalter and Homem-Christo put a bow on one of modern music’s most iconic and recognizable film scores. “The Game Has Changed” operates conversely, using mainly electronic components while strings give the track a base structure for the beat to build on. As an ominous and threatening theme to the film’s antagonist, “C.L.U” gives the orchestra the space to lead the whole way through, while the heavily distorted electronic percussion plays a supporting role to convey a sense of power. Bangalter and Homem-Christo also give each facet of the score’s aesthetic time to shine. Another standout, “Solar Sailor,” executes this partnership especially beautifully, as strings and flutes complement the plucky and shimmering electronic leads over deep and calming basslines. The synth bass complements the strings and brass to fill in spaces of the mix that the other can’t reach, all while ebbing and flowing to give each the lead at different points in the track before crescendoing in unison to end. This approach proved most impressive in tracks like “Rinzler,” where the symphonic and electronic elements meld together, layering over each other and moving in lockstep. Before the film’s release, it was a mystery whether or not Daft Punk would attempt a typical orchestral score or stick to the comfort of their electronic and dance wheelhouse, but “Overture” and “The Grid” demonstrated exactly what makes this film score so unique: they were going to do both. The contrast between these tracks’ instrumentation within their identical compositions helped create contrasting themes as well the orchestral evokes an epic adventure while the electronic conveys the scale and aesthetic of the world “TRON: Legacy” built. “The Grid” follows with a short expositional verse from Jeff Bridges’s character, Kevin Flynn, before exploding into the main theme’s melody, this time with an expansive, heavily synthesized piano over distant and echoing percussion. The soaring strings and commanding brass create the now classic and infectious main theme of the “TRON: Legacy” soundtrack with immense energy. However, the duo was also coming off their least impressive studio effort (the acquired-taste jams of Human After All) and had no prior experience in film scoring, so the doubt surrounding whether they could pull it off was understandable.īut the powerful and domineering album opener “Overture” erased those doubts. Their fame stemmed from the massive successes of their albums Homework and Discovery, and taking the helm of a sci-fi movie’s score seemed to be a perfect fit. The group was undoubtedly one of the most iconic electronic music acts of the 2000s. When it was announced that Daft Punk members Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo were scoring “TRON: Legacy,” the public’s response seemed to be equal parts excitement and healthy skepticism.
But perhaps the biggest reason why “TRON: Legacy” endures today has little to do with anything on screen: the credit for that lies with its now classic film score, composed by French electronic legends Daft Punk. However, the beautifully creative neon-noir aesthetic, unique action scenes, and expansive lore have turned this seemingly mediocre movie into a surprising cult classic. Even the film’s most ardent fans would concede that its character building and plot leave quite a bit on the table. It sits at a meager 50% Tomatometer score, with many critics dismissing it as little more than sci-fi IMAX eye candy. As a movie, “TRON: Legacy” is, well … fine.
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