The Incredible Hulk Soundtrack

**The Incredible Hulk: Original Motion Picture Soundtack** is the soundtrack album to the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, featuring music composed by Craig Armstrong.

## Background

Craig Armstrong was the arranger for Massive Attack, a band director Louis Leterrier was fond of and had collaborated with on the 2005 film Unleashed. Armstrong was his first choice, which surprised Marvel, not knowing if he had scored an action film (he did compose 2001's Kiss of the Dragon). Even the temp track consisted of Armstrong's work and similar music by others. The Hulk, alongside the Green Lantern, was one of Armstrong's favorite comics as a child, although he did not see Ang Lee's Hulk. Armstrong began composing in his home in Glasgow, Scotland with three sequences; the Hulk and Betty in the cave; the Abomination and the Hulk's alley fight; and Bruce and Betty's reunion. The majority was composed in a few weeks in Los Angeles, California, which was very intense for the director and composer. The score was recorded over four days during late 2007 in a chapel in Bastyr University, located in Kenmore, Washington. Pete Lockett played ethnic instruments in the score, which were recorded in London and mixed together with the orchestra and electronics. The score was orchestrated by Matt Dunkley, Tony Blondal, Stephen Coleman, David Butterworth, and Kaz Boyle. Leterrier suggested the score be released on two discs, which Armstrong believed to be a joke. Only when he compiled the album, and Marvel asked why they were only given one disc, did he realise they were serious.

The Hulk and the Abomination both have two themes, representing their human and monstrous forms. The Hulk's theme was meant to be iconic and simple, like Jaws (1975), with string glissandos on a bass C note. Banner's theme is tragic and includes parts of Joe Harnell's "The Lonely Man" theme from the television series. Armstrong played the piano for one scene featuring that piece. Blonsky has a dark theme, which becomes aggressive when he transforms. Armstrong inter played the Hulk and the Abomination's themes during their battle, and found scoring the action sequences similar to a dance. There is also a suspenseful theme, and a love theme.

## Reception

James Christopher Monger from Allmusic felt that Debney "had to contend with a near constant barrage of classic AC/DC songs when putting together his score". Monger felt "I Am Iron Man" was "a rousing, heroic, old-fashioned blast of all American guts and glory that sounds ripped (in a good way) from an old A-Team episode. Antagonist Ivan Vanko's theme is appropriately muscular and Russian sounding, while action cues are beefy and peppered with bursts of distorted guitar (presumably a nod to Angus Young's omnipresent riffage), resulting in a score that’s more than worthy of its narcissistic, heavily armored protagonist."

## Additional Music

Music not included in the Iron Man 2 soundtrack but featured in the film:

* "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash - Played when Tony Stark starts up his workshop computers.
* "The Magnificent Seven" by The Clash - While Tony and Happy are sparring.
* "California Love" by 2Pac, Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman - Played briefly during Tony's birthday party
* "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen - Part of the music in the fight scene with Stark and Lt. Col. James Rhodes.
* "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock - Part of the music in the fight scene with Stark and Rhodes.
* "Robot Rock" by Daft Punk - Part of the music in the fight scene with Stark and Rhodes.
* "Pick Up the Pieces" by Average White Band - While Justin Hammer is making his stage entrance.
* "Groove Holmes" by The Beastie Boys - Part of the music when Stark is sitting in the "Randy's Donuts" sign.
* A medley of the following American Patriotic songs can be heard during Justin Hammer's presentation: "The Caissons Go Rolling Along", "Anchors Aweigh", "The U.S. Air Force", and "In The Halls of Montezuma"