8/10

After releasing two 'Lost Themes' compilations, collections of unused film compositions, in the last couple of years, it was only a matter of time before the master of horror put out a collection of his most revered work to date. 'Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998' is as the title suggests, a compilation of his most well-knwon work, all rerecorded and remastered for the current era and while most of it will be familiar to fans, there is still plenty to enjoy for the John Carpenter novice.

With a mixture of high-level guitar work, spooky synths, and pulsing percussion, 'Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998' manages to not only show off the sheer magnitude of his brilliant scores, but also allows us to hear just how diverse they all were. Many fans of his films would be able to tell a Carpenter soundtrack apart from any other, but with such a varied and eclectic approach to instrumentation, each song has its own identity that helps separate it from the other iconic works on this release.

It seems weird to think that this many film scores could have embedded themselves in the minds of so many, but I guess that is all part of John Carpenter's genius. And hearing them all together not only brings up a strong feeling of nostalgia, but by focusing on them, you really appreciate just how wonderful this man is as a songwriter.