Laws of Attraction
Edward Shearmur
" I'm attracted to Shearmur's Laws! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Romantic comedies exist in all shapes and sizes, so it is understandable that the one doesn't deliver the same as the other. Laws of Attraction wasn't a successful one (despite combining Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore together), but it did gave us a chance to hear a romantic diversity of Edward Shearmur. After the powerful blockbusters of 2002 and 2004, it seemed like a good idea to hear him in romantic mode. Now it feels like it's the only thing he's getting. Sad considering he's got a knack for both of them.
Laws of Attraction of La-La Land opens with 2 songs, but it's the nice bouncy main theme in "Main Title" that opens the sprightly festivities. The theme returns a lot and undergoes several variations, making it just passable after the 20th take. Variations are heard in "Meet Mr. Rafferty", "Chinatown" (with pizzicato maneuvers) and in "A Kiss in the Rain" for starters.
Luckily Laws of Attraction also uses its environment to spice up the romantic flavor. And considering Ireland's the place to go, expect some Irish flair from time to time. "A Trip to Ireland" commences it, "The Castle" confirms it. It's especially this one that shows how incredibly easy it is to transform a bouncy main theme into an Irish ditty. It's "An Irish Tale" however that sums up Shearmur's talent the best, this when he takes the love theme to a brief but flourishing finale. That love theme gets a couple of noticed performances after that ("Daniel in the Doorway" and "Love at Last").
"Coda" is the expected final track, which uses that bouncy main theme again nicely effective.
Laws of Attraction doesn't differ a whole lot from the rest of the romantic rom-com. We have the bouncy attitudes, the brief comedic rushes, the sudden romantic blushes and an occasional colorful twist. Nothing much, but it definitely suffices. Edward Shearmur showed us back then he was adept at any style, so let's hope he can return to us with more of that proof in the future. It was one of the first albums La-La Land released featuring the now standard autographed covers and interesting liner notes. How easy we get accustomed to these types of treatments. Let's hope Shearmur's treatments return quickly to us as well.
Tracklisting
1. Maybe: Dana Glover (4.01)
2. When Sick, Is It Tea You Want: Temple House (2.26)
3. Main Title (3.31)
4. Meet Mr. Rafferty (1.36)
5. Chinatown (2.18)
6. Ambush (0.45)
7. A Kiss in the Rain (1.35)
8. Daniel in the Limelight (2.01)
9. Thorne and Serena (0.43)
10. A Trip to Ireland (0.56)
11. Idyll (1.54)
12. Caravan Romance (1.22)
13. The Castle (1.29)
14. An Irish Tale (2.31) Excellent track
15. Man About the House (1.07)
16. Audrey's Ring (1.28)
17. Daniel Asleep (2.29)
18. Daniel in the Doorway (2.14)
19. Love at Last (3.29)
20. Coda (2.14)
Total Length: 41.18
Laws of Attraction of La-La Land opens with 2 songs, but it's the nice bouncy main theme in "Main Title" that opens the sprightly festivities. The theme returns a lot and undergoes several variations, making it just passable after the 20th take. Variations are heard in "Meet Mr. Rafferty", "Chinatown" (with pizzicato maneuvers) and in "A Kiss in the Rain" for starters.
Luckily Laws of Attraction also uses its environment to spice up the romantic flavor. And considering Ireland's the place to go, expect some Irish flair from time to time. "A Trip to Ireland" commences it, "The Castle" confirms it. It's especially this one that shows how incredibly easy it is to transform a bouncy main theme into an Irish ditty. It's "An Irish Tale" however that sums up Shearmur's talent the best, this when he takes the love theme to a brief but flourishing finale. That love theme gets a couple of noticed performances after that ("Daniel in the Doorway" and "Love at Last").
"Coda" is the expected final track, which uses that bouncy main theme again nicely effective.
Laws of Attraction doesn't differ a whole lot from the rest of the romantic rom-com. We have the bouncy attitudes, the brief comedic rushes, the sudden romantic blushes and an occasional colorful twist. Nothing much, but it definitely suffices. Edward Shearmur showed us back then he was adept at any style, so let's hope he can return to us with more of that proof in the future. It was one of the first albums La-La Land released featuring the now standard autographed covers and interesting liner notes. How easy we get accustomed to these types of treatments. Let's hope Shearmur's treatments return quickly to us as well.
Tracklisting
1. Maybe: Dana Glover (4.01)
2. When Sick, Is It Tea You Want: Temple House (2.26)
3. Main Title (3.31)
4. Meet Mr. Rafferty (1.36)
5. Chinatown (2.18)
6. Ambush (0.45)
7. A Kiss in the Rain (1.35)
8. Daniel in the Limelight (2.01)
9. Thorne and Serena (0.43)
10. A Trip to Ireland (0.56)
11. Idyll (1.54)
12. Caravan Romance (1.22)
13. The Castle (1.29)
14. An Irish Tale (2.31) Excellent track
15. Man About the House (1.07)
16. Audrey's Ring (1.28)
17. Daniel Asleep (2.29)
18. Daniel in the Doorway (2.14)
19. Love at Last (3.29)
20. Coda (2.14)
Total Length: 41.18