Knight and Day
John Powell
" Solid & Entertaining "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Knight and Day was destined to do good, considering it had one of the best paid actors and one of the best paid actresses together (Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz), but somehow it didn't totally deliver. Sure, the movie was fun and over the top, and sure it got back and multiplied its winnings around the world, but somehow it all could have been a little more. And I regret myself that I could somehow say the same about the music. Director James Mangold chose composer John Powell to namely recreate a bit of that Mr. & Mrs. Smith magic. After all this score has Latin influences, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith had that too. But somehow it's not totally what I wanted in the end.
Don't get me wrong, if the whole album would have been as good as the last 2 tracks, we would have thought the world of Knight and Day. Because no way do we receive the same ballsy mix of accordion, guitar, foot stomps, dancing strings and blazing brass ever so poignant again as in "Bulls Run". And to top it off, that track has that catchy (and typical John Powell) main theme in rousing overdrive, never to be heard in that very same form again. The other track "Going to Cape Horn? Take a Jacket" brings it completely different, offering inspirational and lovely takes on that very same main theme for guitar and accordion. Simply alone, place those 2 tracks at the beginning, and you would be disappointed by all the rest.
Because the rest may be good, it's nowhere near that great. There are tracks that nearly get that good, for instance the Rodrigo y Gabriela inspired guitar piece in "Hostage", the furious strings and beat of "Trouble on I-93" and the rhythmic chase music of "Rooftops", interspersed by many calmer tracks that includes guitar and accordion for most of the time. Meaning it all works, but only to a degree. It may make for solid and entertaining listening but somehow (like Mr. & Mrs. Smith) I seemed to be less amused than expected. Knight and Day of John Powell is another solid bet, and the fans will surely receive some moments they'll adore for a long time, but it also misses something that may disappoint you.
Track Listing
1. At the Airport (4.42)
2. Rough Landing (3.45)
3. Trouble on I-93 (4.06)
4. Running From Roy (2.21)
5. Hostage (3.34)
6. Car Ferry (1.34)
7. To the Island of Love (4.21)
8. In Austria (1.32)
9. Galley Fight (3.38)
10. Five Star (2.16)
11. June Spies (3.28)
12. He's A Spy (1.13)
13. Rooftops (3.20)
14. The Villa (2.27)
15. Reunion (4.26)
16. Bull Run (4.55) Excellent track
17. Going to Cape Horn? Take a Jacket (3.07) Excellent track
Total Length: 54.45
Don't get me wrong, if the whole album would have been as good as the last 2 tracks, we would have thought the world of Knight and Day. Because no way do we receive the same ballsy mix of accordion, guitar, foot stomps, dancing strings and blazing brass ever so poignant again as in "Bulls Run". And to top it off, that track has that catchy (and typical John Powell) main theme in rousing overdrive, never to be heard in that very same form again. The other track "Going to Cape Horn? Take a Jacket" brings it completely different, offering inspirational and lovely takes on that very same main theme for guitar and accordion. Simply alone, place those 2 tracks at the beginning, and you would be disappointed by all the rest.
Because the rest may be good, it's nowhere near that great. There are tracks that nearly get that good, for instance the Rodrigo y Gabriela inspired guitar piece in "Hostage", the furious strings and beat of "Trouble on I-93" and the rhythmic chase music of "Rooftops", interspersed by many calmer tracks that includes guitar and accordion for most of the time. Meaning it all works, but only to a degree. It may make for solid and entertaining listening but somehow (like Mr. & Mrs. Smith) I seemed to be less amused than expected. Knight and Day of John Powell is another solid bet, and the fans will surely receive some moments they'll adore for a long time, but it also misses something that may disappoint you.
Track Listing
1. At the Airport (4.42)
2. Rough Landing (3.45)
3. Trouble on I-93 (4.06)
4. Running From Roy (2.21)
5. Hostage (3.34)
6. Car Ferry (1.34)
7. To the Island of Love (4.21)
8. In Austria (1.32)
9. Galley Fight (3.38)
10. Five Star (2.16)
11. June Spies (3.28)
12. He's A Spy (1.13)
13. Rooftops (3.20)
14. The Villa (2.27)
15. Reunion (4.26)
16. Bull Run (4.55) Excellent track
17. Going to Cape Horn? Take a Jacket (3.07) Excellent track
Total Length: 54.45