I'm simply saying that settling finds a way...Jurassic Park is back and we've resurrected a dinosaur of a score from the past. This awe inspiring work from the Tyrannosaurus himself, John Williams, has broken containment and is on the loose. Ev's score: 9.1 / Al's score: 9.2 / Ky's score: 9.3 Musical term: Suspended chord Instrumental Instrument: French horn If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep ...
Jun 27, 2025•41 min
With '28 Years Later' on the horizon, the boys revisit Danny Boyle's sleeper hit that reinvigorated the zombie genre. They discuss the film's production and budget challenges, the value of silence in creating tension, and how Murphy's minimalist, mood-driven approach changed horror scoring forever. Ev's score: 8.6 / Al's score: 8.1 / Ky's score: 8.2 Musical term: Post-rock Instrumental Instrument: Electric guitar If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we ...
May 25, 2025•29 min
Every settler has a past, and every sinner has a future. Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Göransson have delivered what's sure to be one of the films of the year if not the decade, and we've got until sunrise to discuss it. Ev's score: 9.8 / Al's score: 9.7 / Ky's score: 9.3 Musical term: Call and response (music) Instrumental Instrument: Dobro 1932 Cyclopse If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with o...
Apr 28, 2025•56 min
Gondor calls for aid...and the Settlers shall answer. We’re making our long-awaited return to Middle Earth to once and for all vanquish the One Ring. Carried to the summit of Mount Doom by Tolkien enthusiast Dr. Stanley Miller, we dissect what made Howard Shore’s epic conclusion to the LotR trilogy a true masterpiece. Ev's score: 10 / Al's score: 9.9 / Ky's score: 9.9 / Stan's score: 9.9 Musical term: Dissonance Instrumental Instrument: Shakuhachi If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify ...
Mar 27, 2025•44 min
Hot off its Oscar win, the boys discuss the structures, techniques, and collaborations culminating in 2024’s Best Original Score. Ev's score: 9.5 / Al's score: 9.3 / Ky's score: 9.3 Musical term: Tone Cluster Instrumental Instrument: Prepared piano If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antics on TikTok or Instagram . 00:00 Post-Academy Awards Recap 00:22 Unexpected Wins...
Mar 07, 2025•30 min
Welcome to the White Lotus, Settlers. The guys take a trip to Maui with Cristobal de Veer’s eery score in the Airpods. You know this one’s gonna end with a bang. Ev's score: 8.6 / Al's score: 9.3 / Ky's score: 9.2 Musical term: Polyrhythm Instrumental Instrument: Voice of Cristobal Tapia de Veer If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antics on TikTok or Instagram . 00:00...
Feb 19, 2025•25 min
Before we get settling, does anyone want to get out? Cap is back, and the bros are celebrating by revisiting where it all began for the Falcon and the Winter Soldier with Henry Jackman's unique contribution to the MCU . Ev's score: 8 / Al's score: 8.3 / Ky's score: 8.6 Musical term: Atonality Instrumental Instrument: Screaming If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antic...
Feb 04, 2025•41 min
Every time you find yourselves here, Settlers, it's because you chose to come back. The boys share their theories for what the "work" actually is, draft their top Lumon employees, and continue their anti-temp crusade.
Jan 16, 2025•23 min
It's the most wonderful time of year, and the best way to spread holiday cheer is settling scores for all to hear. Happy holidays, settlers!
Dec 20, 2024•29 min
That's right settlers, it's time to try defying gravity on this one as the bros take a trip to discuss one of their favorite musicals, and the unique twists John Powell added for its adaptation to the silver screen.
Dec 12, 2024•44 min
It's been 40 years since the infamous words were first uttered: "I'll be back." The boys are back, discussing the seminal, stripped-down sci-fi film that put James Cameron (and Arnold) on the map. Ev's score: 9.1 / Al's score: 8.9 / Ky's score: 9 Musical term: 13/16 time signature Instrumental Instrument: MIDI If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antics on TikTok or In...
Dec 04, 2024•25 min
It's Ky vs Emperor Hans on this one as we travel back to Ancient Rome just in time for the follow up to Ridley Scott's epic. It's not all splendor and glory though as we uncover the deception and brutality hidden in this classic score. Ev's score: 8.5 / Al's score: 9 / Ky's score: 8.9 Musical term: Waltz (music) Instrumental Instrument: Duduk If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our scor...
Nov 20, 2024•42 min
Halloween is upon us, and the night is dark and full of terrors. It’s time for our yearly roundup of the sounds that scared us in 2024! 00:00 Intro to the Scaretacular 01:47 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' 12:11 'Us' 18:12 'Talk to Me' If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antics on TikTok or Instagram...
Oct 31, 2024•30 min
Settling is out there! Al is setting off the balloons for this one as the bros take a long awaited adventure to Paradise Falls. Ev's score: 8.8 / Al's score: 9.7 / Ky's score: 9 Musical term: Thematic transformation Instrumental Instrument: Muted Trumpet 00:00 We're back! 00:11 Hans Zimmer and the Great Baltimore Disaster 02:22 Dedicating the Episode 04:37 Analyzing the Emotional Impact of 'Up' 06:56 Pixar's Journey and Giacchino's Contribution 13:18 Musical Themes and Leitmotifs in 'Up' 17:59 E...
Oct 23, 2024•39 min
Rule number one...never leave a fellow settler behind. We're going uncorked on this one as the bros bring on a special guest and Crashers extraordinaire to help settle their first ever R-rated comedy. Ev's score: 7.6 Al's score: 6.8 Ky's score: 8.0 Chuck's score: 7.6 Musical term: Pentatonic scale Instrumental Instrument: Irish bouzouki If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-sett...
Sep 25, 2024•39 min
Ev takes the boys back to the “best year in film”, when Sam Mendes’ directorial debut captured the zeitgeist of late 90s suburban America. It swept the awards circuit then...but how does it hold up 25 years later? Ev's score: 8.6 / Al's score: 8.5 / Ky's score: 8.6 Musical term: Vertical Time Instrumental Instrument: Tabla If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antics on...
Aug 30, 2024•26 min
The boys set out to make some core memories by diving into Michael Giacchino’s emotional :) score for Inside Out. Ev's score: 8.3 / Al's score: 8.7 / Ky's score: 8.5 Musical term: Pastiche Instrumental Instrument: Glass bowls If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antics on TikTok or Instagram ....
Aug 01, 2024•31 min
We're thinking differently on this one Settlers as Ky changes the game by bringing us our first ever sports film. On the eve of a trip to our hometown ballpark Camden Yards we're taking a listen to Mychael Danna's 2011 hit Moneyball. Ev's score: 8.4 / Al's score: 7.7 / Ky's score: 9 Musical term: Ostinato Instrumental Instrument: Cello If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settl...
Jun 27, 2024•38 min
"Earn this...earn it." On the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the boys and their uncle—former UNSECNAV Tom Modly—pay homage to Spielberg's Second World War epic, and to all who have served and sacrificed. Ev's score: 9.5 / Al's score: 9.1 / Ky's score: 9.4 / Tom's score: 9.8 Musical term: Rattenuto Instrumental Instrument: Trumpet If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antics...
Jun 06, 2024•50 min
Come on! The boys dissect modern cinema’s most equilateral love triangle, and the Reznor/Ross techno masterpiece that propels it. Ev's score: 9.2 / Al's score: 9.1 / Ky's score: 8.9 Musical term: Electropop Instrumental Instrument: Synthesizer If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antics on TikTok or Instagram . 00:00 Flashing the Settler Signal 00:47 A Cinematic Experi...
May 22, 2024•25 min
One. Way. Out. The rebellion is brewing in this one as Ky celebrates May the 4th with the best body of work to come out of the Star Wars universe in the last decade. Ev's score: / Al's score: / Ky's score: Musical term: Diegetic music Instrumental Instrument: Beskar Bell Basement Pipes If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antics on Instagram and TikTok ....
May 04, 2024•36 min
Without a good rock, a garden is just a place of growing. Without a good score, a show is just a place of mediocrity. Ev leads the boys to the shores of feudal Japan, exploring how the Ross brothers turned traditional Japanese instruments into modern tools of emotional and psychological expression.
Apr 18, 2024•28 min
"You are not prepared for what is to come." The boys dive deep into the sands of Arrakis, discussing the old and the new in Dune: Part Two. Ky feels the sand on his face, Ev obsesses over unconventional instruments, and Al hits us with his best Loire Cutler impression. Ev's score: 9.7 / Al's score: 9.7 / Ky's score: 9.4 Musical term: Double Harmonic Major Scale Instrumental Instrument: Duduk If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. ...
Apr 14, 2024•39 min
Hollywood’s biggest annual awards event is upon us, and the race for Best Original Score is tight! The bros entertain the idea of an STS emcee, give their takes on the nominees, and build a podium of their own. 2023 gave us some strong candidates, but there can only be one… Ev's pick: Killers of the Flower Moon / Al's pick: Killers of the Flower Moon / Ky's pick: Oppenheimer If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get i...
Mar 06, 2024•25 min
Strings, percussion, brass, woodwinds...long ago the four sections of the orchestra live together in harmony, but everything changed when the brass section attacked. Only Jeremy Zuckerman master of all four sections could stop them... Ev's score: 9 / Al's score: 8.5 / Ky's score: 8.5 Musical term: MIDI Instrumental Instrument: Duduk If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling...
Feb 19, 2024•39 min
It's hard to Settle into a place like Saltburn. The boys don Shakespearean chic and indulge in Anthony Willis' synthy, strung-out musical maze. Ev's score: 8.8 / Al's score: 8.2 / Ky's score: 8.7 Instrumental Instrument: Moog synthesizer If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antics on Instagram and TikTok ....
Jan 31, 2024•20 min
Barbie has a great day every day, Settlers only have a great day when they get to talk about Barbie. Ky has the boys moving and grooving for this one as they leave the real world behind for Barbie-land to discuss Mark Ronson’s triumph...just in time for awards season. Ev's score: 9.4 / Al's score: 9.1 / Ky's score: 9.5 Musical term: Disco Instrumental Instrument: Yamaha CS-80 If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get ...
Jan 17, 2024•39 min
Legend has it when Santa Anas blow, all bets are off. Anything can happen. It's a holiday scoretacular y'all!! The bros are curling up by the fire and cupping a warm hot chocolate for this one just in time to get you in the holiday spirit. Ev's score: 7.4 / Al's score: 7.9 / Ky's score: 6.2 Musical term: Interpolation (popular music) Instrumental Instrument: Musical keyboard If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get i...
Dec 22, 2023•36 min
"Can you find the wolves in this picture?" Ev's score: 9.4 / Al's score: 9.2 / Ky's score: 9.4 Instrumental Instrument: Harmonica If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antics on Instagram and TikTok ....
Dec 19, 2023•32 min
The bros are stuck in the TVA on this one as Ky guides them through the past, present, and future of the MCU's newest scoring sensation, Natalie Holt and the MCU's best project in years. Settling For All Time. Always. Ev's score: 8.7 / Al's score: 8.4 / Ky's score: 9 Instrumental Instrument: Theremin If you like what you hear, follow us on Spotify and opt-in to get notified when we drop future episodes. Better yet, get in touch and keep up with our score-settling antics on TikTok...
Dec 01, 2023•32 min
