The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

When I listen to a soundtrack for a movie I really try to get the full effect from the music. It's not just enough to listen to music, even knowing every lyric (if there are any), but to get the full context of a soundtrack, having watched the movie would be a must. At least it is in my opinion because otherwise how would you know what the emotion the music is supposed to enhance. Is the fast paced track fast because someone is in a hurry so they don't miss the plane that the person they love is going to get on or is it fast paced because there's someone chasing the character wanting to hurt them? However, if I had watched that movie I will know what that song is trying to create and with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug soundtrack composed by Howard Shore I was able to get a good understanding of what the songs where trying to convey.
Granted, I watched The Desolation of Smaug, it's a movie that I liked better than it's predecessor, but the music that's played is always good. Alright, so I don't know the track titles or numbers as they are played out, I couldn't tell you if I was on track 1 on CD 1 or track 15 on CD 2, but I can tell you that this music is unmistakable. One thing Howard Shore has done is create a song that is almost instantly recognizable, at least instantly to anyone that's watched Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings trilogy and now the new Hobbit movies. There are few movies that have their songs instantly known and to be known for the movies but Howard Shore does that with this soundtrack.
Now I can’t' tell you that I know where in the movie these songs are being played at, I've only watched the movie once so far so I haven't figured that part out yet. Not that it really matters, especially since the titles are clear as to where the songs took place in the movie. This alone should be a treat for the Hobbit fans because it will always remind them of that moment in the movie. This soundtrack is fun, it's very powerful, and the songs have a lot of catchy and fun rhythms. One thing I did notice though was the core theme being used a lot in the soundtrack, which is fine because the core sound is a really good song that I will always like because of how much it makes me want to watch the movie. What I also noticed what that even though Howard Shore does use the core theme in the soundtrack he don't overuse it. It's mixed in the songs really well and at the right moments to just give you that reminder you are listening to a Peter Jackson The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings movie.