Search - John Powell :: The Italian Job (2003) (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Brilliant music, however somewhat stingy

07/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Powell is brilliant in his orchestration of this album. The first few tracks elquently capture an Italian aura. This is what I though: 1. Opening Titles - Aight, but starts off a little soft
2. The Italian Job - Cool, sounds a bit like James Bond
3. Venice Gold Heist - Nice blend of movie's numerous motifs
4. Boat Chase - Good, however ending differs from movie
5. Mourning John - I personally was a little bored by this
6. Planning The Heist - Nice precussion
7. Pawning The Gold - Never remembered hearing this in movie
8. Cable Chick - Another James Bond kinda song, cool guitar
9. Getting The Axe - Aight I guess, never listen to it much
10. The Devil Inside - Interesting in its own way
11. Bitter Suite - Good song, clever title
12. The New Plan - The BEST song featuring the BEST motif
13. Tunnel Run - Cool song with some heavy metal
14. Chopper Chase/Face-Off - Good, fast pased song
15. Golden - Same motif as 12, but guitar makes it coolerThe only thing that disappoints me is that the unused 35 minutes weren't filled with music from the film. For those who are having trouble identifying the songs on the film, here are most of them:The Wrekoning - Boomkat = when Stella drives MINI back to store
California Soul - Marlena Shaw = the "arrival in LA" montage
ABC 123 - Jackson 5 = little Charlie stills bully's wallet
Go - Andy Hunter = MINI test drive in warehouse w/computer
Pedal To The Medal - Kazzer = 3 MINI's test drive in LA canals..."

The Complete Italian Job track list, as show in the credits

Elizabeth | Boston, MA, USA | 07/23/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"
"Girls and Posse Surf" (from 'Blue Crush')

by Paul Haslinger

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

A Division of Universal City Studios, LLLP



"Money"

by Roger Waters

Performed by Scott Weiland, Slash, Duff McKaga, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner

Produced by Nick Raskulineez



"The Wreckoning"

by Kellin Manning and Taryn Manning

Performed by Boomkat

Courtesy of Dreamworks Records

under license from Universal Music Enterprises



"To Get Down"

by Timo Maas, Martin Buttrich, Malte Hagemeister and Phil Barnes

Performed by Timo Maas

Courtesy of Kinetic Records



"Bloody Fingers"

by Joel Sanchez, Gabriel Archuletta, Jerome Louis and Ezra Riley

Performed by Jet Black Summer

Courtesy of Lakeshore Records

by arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group



"Fire"

by Ralph Middlebrooks, James Williams, Marshall Jones, Leroy Bonner, Clarence Satchell, Willie Beck and Marvin Pierce

Performed by Ohio Players

Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group

under license from Universal Music Enterprises



"Heartbreaker"

by Robert Gill and Stuart Wade

Performed by Pat Benatar

Courtesy of Chrysalis Records

under license from EMI Film & Television Music



"ABC"

by Alphonso Mizell, Freddie Perren, Dennis Lussier and Berry Gordy, Jr.

Performed by Jackson Five

Courtesy of Motown Records

under license from Universal Music Enterprises



"California Soul"

by Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson

Performed by Marlena Shaw

Courtesy MCA Records

under license from Universal Music Enterprises



"Go (Pete Lorimer Mix)"

by Andy Hunter and Ted Tjornborn

Performed by Andy Hunter

Courtesy of Sparrow Records/Nettwerk Productions



"Pedal to the Metal"

bu Brian West and Mark Kaspryzyk

Performed by Kazzer

Courtesy of Epic Records

by arrangement with Sony Music Licensing



"The Jump Off"

by Dante Smith, Mark "Minnesota" Richardson, Doug Wimbish and Gary Miller

Performed by Mos Def

Courtesy of MCA Records

under license from Universal Music Enterprises



"Music and Wine"

by Jay Denes

Performed by Blue Six

Courtesy of Naked Music/Astralwerks

under license from EMI Film and Television Music



"Sunbeams"

Written and Performed by UKO

Courtesy of Klein Records



"Saboteur"

Written and Performed by Amon Tobin

Courtesy of Ninja Tune Records

by arrangement with Media Creature Music



"Where's My Truck"

by Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek



with additional music by

Photek

John Ashton Thomas

James McKee Smith

TJ Lindgren"

A Must for Any Soundtrack Aficionado's Collection

E. Banson | San Francisco Bay Area, CA United States | 07/01/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"John Powell's slick, cosmopolitan score for the "Italian Job" is a great addition to any soundtrack collection. The score itself works great and fits coherently in the film. Yet, in my opinion, a score achieves greater status when it can stand on its own. Early in the score, Powell's work sounds similar to that of David Holmes' work on another film of the same genre, "Ocean's Eleven." Tracks like "The Italian Job," "Pawning the Gold," and "Cable Chick" scream David Holmes with heavy bass lines, twangy ryhthm guitars and off-kiltered rhythm loops. But as the score progresses, Powell's addition of the string and brass orchestra makes this score stand-out from other scores of this genre. These arrangements are placed so well within each track that it just makes for an exciting and fascinating listen. Take for example, "The New Plan," a track that's worth the price of this CD alone. "The New Plan" starts off with a heavy 4/4 hip-hop beat laced with latin percussions. As the track plays, the orchestra hints and hits in syncopated moments within the rhythm. By the end of the song, the music has already played in full swing with strings, orchestra, synth effects, percussions and rhythm loops creating a wonderful fusion proving that synth scores and orchestrated scores can exist in one score if done right. The detraction here is that the score runs a little short, but this should be no surprise from label Varese Sarabande. If you saw the film, you know there's more music than what is offered in the CD. One can only wonder.Nevertheless, Powell's score for "The Italian Job" is a great score not only because it's well written, but it can possibly be the score that bridges the gap between heavy synth scores (Hans Zimmer, Trevor Rabin, Cliff Martinez) and orchestrated scores (John Williams, James Horner, Jerry Goldsmith). A vast improvement on Powell's last work, "The Bourne Identity," Powell proves that he can stand on his own as an up and coming composer.A must for any soundtrack fan."