Red Dead Redemption 2 is a phenomenal game, but perhaps surprisingly, one of its very best aspects is its outstanding soundtrack. The title's music takes it to another level in our humble opinion. Everything from the manic, gritty beats that accompany combat to the heartfelt vocal performances that kick in at certain points in the story, it's without a doubt one of the best soundtracks we've heard this generation.
And now we're starting to see why that is. Rockstar has released a full breakdown of the musicians and producers involved with the score of Red Dead Redemption 2, and it's just end-to-end talent from all over the music and entertainment industries.
The game's official website reads:
The score features additional production and arrangement by Jeff Silverman (Truth and Soul, Aloe Black), with additional musical score and orchestration provided by Colin Stetson (Bon Iver, Hereditary), David Ferguson (Johnny Cash's engineer), David Ralicke (Beck, Sons of Anarchy), Gabe Witcher (Punch Brothers, True Detective), Luke O'Malley, Mario Batkovic (of Geoff Barrow's Invada), Matt Sweeney (Zwan, Iggy Pop, Bonnie Prince Billy), Rabih Beaini and Senyawa, as well as contributions from over 110 other musicians including Arca (frequent Bjork, Kanye West, Frank Ocean and Kelela collaborator), Duane Eddy (Lee Hazlewood protégé), Jon Theodore (former drummer of Mars Volta and current Queens of the Stone Age drummer), Michael Shuman aka Mikey Shoes (Queens of the Stone Age, Mini Mansions) and more.
All of the vocal moments in Red Dead Redemption 2 are produced entirely by Grammy Award-winner Daniel Lanois, known for producing albums for Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Willie Nelson as well as collaborating with pioneering musician Brian Eno to produce several albums for U2 including the multi-platinum The Joshua Tree. In addition to Lanois' production, the soundtrack features additional vocal performances from a range of award-winning artists including D’Angelo, Willie Nelson, Nas, Rhiannon Giddens, Josh Homme, plus an additional track written, produced and performed by David Ferguson. All songs for both the score and soundtrack were created exclusively for Red Dead Redemption 2.
Impressive stuff, and we dread to think how much it all cost.
Fortunately, Rockstar says that it'll have more information to share soon with regards to an official release of the soundtrack. Get that sucker on Spotify, please.
[source rockstargames.com]
Comments 19
I've only played a short stint, the intro bits but there is Sergio Leone in there or more accurate the music from Ennio Morricone.
Awesome. It really is a fantastic soundtrack so far. I'd be tempted to get it on vinyl should they release it.
I love pressing down that touch pad for some beautiful sounding cinematic bliss.
@Bad-MuthaAdebisi If I was going to play this game it would be for the music. I always wanted to name my son Ennio but my wife just kept refusing. Maybe I'll get a dog someday. I'm partial to GBU but the harmonica theme and music throughout Once upon on a Time in the West is pretty awesome. Also a big Bronson fan way back when so basically naming his character Harmonica always stuck with me.
I'll never play it though. I like watching 3 hour movies, but a 100 hour game needs dragons to hold my attention.
I love that PS4 theme music. The game feels so natural. Hunting has never been this satisfying. Side quests have never been this well written. Witcher 3 side quests though also interesting enough always ended up with you ultimately slaying a monster. With RDR2 you just can't tell how it'll play out.
The former Mars Volta drummer??? D'Angelo??? Nas??? Wow, where has this soundtrack been all my life?
Whoa, it’s nice to know Josh Homme’s in, but I never thought I’d see Jon Theodore on that list 😧
I love The Mars Volta to bits and all three drummers they’ve had, too, but Jon Theodore is surely the best of the bunch. Probably one of the best drummers alive along with Simon Phillips and Chris Tsagakis, in my opinion.
@nessisonett You like TMV too? 😁
@rjejr my dog is named after Gary Numan 😂
It's a great soundtrack, especially when nothing's going on and you're just riding about. On the same level as BotW in that regard. It doesn't quite match the ridiculous quality of soundtracks like Horizon, No Man's Sky, Hue, Nier: Automata et al for me, but to even come close is such a huge accolade.
@Bad-MuthaAdebisi Well your dog is probably thankful not to be named after Randy Newman b/c then people would constantly be singing "Short People" whenever they saw him. 😂
I obviously have no idea who Gary Numan is.
Oh wait, Cars, duh. Much better.
@BowTiesAreCool Except for Hue (sorry) I agree that those soundtracks are wonderful, and I often listen to them. However, it's just impossible to compare those with an ambient soundtrack like Red Dead.
Anyway, I'm really fond of Red Dead's soundtrack, certainly it's very effective. I've already had quite a few moments that I felt the music, and the images, really moved me, made me introspective.
Like tonight I visited someone during a mission who was very sick, but on my way back to camp this music plays, when it suddenly hits me and makes me all introspective and think on difficult life questions.
Also... Rhiannon Giddens is on this soundtrack? Can't wait to hear her contribution, she's a great country-ish artist! Go listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vy9xTS0QxM
@clvr Yeah I think they're pretty good and I honestly just didn't expect one of their former members to turn up in a project as big as this.
@nessisonett neither did I, it was a huge surprise 😄
@clvr More Mars Volta love coming from here! As for best drummers, you've got to include Terry Bozzio and Dave Lombardo in the mix. Buddy Rich, too!
Anyway, RDR2 soundtrack. Yeah it's immense
@Mergatro1d nice to know there are fellow Tremulants in here 😉
Well, Buddy Rich I took for granted (my bad! 😅), while Dave Lombardo I know but haven’t really listened to any of his bands/projects carefully, and Bozzio I know some of his work with Zappa, but unfortunately my Zappa knowledge is pretty limited, I’d have to retrieve a lot of albums and listen to them closely.
Just out of curiosity, what’s your favorite TMV album?
@clvr Lombardo and Bozzio have both played in Fantomas, who are nuts and well worth checking out if you don't know them.
As for TMV album- Deloused in the Comatorium without a doubt. Pretty much a perfect album and I have fond (and very hazy) memories of seeing them perform it live after it first came out
@Mergatro1d will certainly look them up, thanks for the advice!
Well, De-Loused is always a pretty sure bet, it’s amazing! I’d personally go with Frances The Mute, though, as I love the songs both individually and how they connect together as whole; also, Cassandra Gemini. Do I need to add anything else? 😆
Wow, you were lucky to see them live; I’d probably give a kidney for the privilege lol
@Kidfried whaaaaaat, you didn't like Hue's? Maybe it doesn't hit the same highs without the narration over the top, but it's in my top 10 this generation.
I know what you mean, it does seem to be that a few minutes' music for Red Dead 2 have been written for one=off instances or encounters that millions of players won't ever happen to come across, which is crazy. It'll be interesting to see a complete tracklisting one day that's for sure.
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