P.S. I Love You
John Powell
" Lovely, what can I say more? "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
P.S. I Love You is a dramatic film about love, death and hope, starring Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler in a film by Richard LaGravenese. Even though the director never worked with John Powell before, he or the producers knew the composer was the right man for the job. Considering the movie deals about dramatic as well as romantic aspects, it was up to John Powell to harmonically tie them all together. If you're a Powell connoisseur, you know how he will do this by now. Yes, with themes.
John Powell is many things in the eye of the listener, but there's one thing I have to mention nonetheless. He's a theme writer. No matter the genre or project, themes will be the constant returning fact in John Powell's music. Here as well. P.S. I Love You offers you once again three themes; returning melodies that make their way through another charming listening experience.
We open with the principle one in "Make Up Kisses", we hear guitar, harmonica and a twinkling main theme that reminds us easily of the charming stuff from Ice Age 2. The second one states Holly's theme in "Bette Davis Montage", equally using the guitar as instrument of choice. And quite frankly, this is the sound of the album's first couple of tracks.
There's a nice Just Visiting-moment through the strings in "The Cake", the main theme returns in "The Urn", stating also for the first time a brief Irish influence (the birthplace of Gerry) through the flute. But for me, the most fun theme comes from the letters that Holly receives. It's such a fluffy theme and though incredibly simple, it's infectious enough to enlighten the brief moments it appears in, this in "Puke / 1st Letter", "Travel Agent", and it's most cleverest use when it supports Holly's theme on a rhythmic pattern in "Reading Letters".
Considering the score flows pleasantly forward, using any of these three themes, it is important to notice that the main theme and Holly's theme receive more lovely orchestral arrangements as the album progresses. The main theme flourishes at the end of "Puke / 1st Letter", Holly's theme receives a couple of lovely moments in "Travel Agent", the main theme sounds remarkably like The Holiday when we receive it's prime time moment in "To Eire", and both themes receive a string waltz when they collide in "The Meeting", amongst other moments.
There are main theme variations during many tracks, most notably in the middle of the album, and the piano moment at the end of the album stating the main theme in "P.S. I Love You" is cuddly too.
In general, the entire album is another sign that John Powell can be equally adorable in romantic comedies as he can be fun in other projects. Even though the album is way too long to keep returning to, it remains a soothing background score that will sooth your afternoon as the movie it accompanies. Nothing remotely special, but cute as hell nonetheless.
Tracklisting
1. Make Up Kisses (3.00)
2. Bette Davis Montage (1.13)
3. You Gotta Be Rich (0.52)
4. The Cake (1.46)
5. The Urn (2.00)
6. Puke / 1st Letter (2.43)
7. Holly Gets Fired (0.45)
8. Jacket (1.27)
9. Travel Agent (4.04)
10. To Eire (2.54)
11. Reading Letters (0.47)
12. William on the Lake (1.23)
13. Kitchen Waltz (4.53)
14. On the Lake (2.29)
15. The Kennedys (1.08)
16. Last Tune (0.50)
17. Gerry's Fort (1.04)
18. The Meeting (4.31)
19. The Kiss (1.56)
20. Home Again (0.33)
21. Enough (0.39)
22. Somebody's Gerry (1.43)
23. It Was Me (3.35)
24. Sis Kiss (2.37)
25. P.S. I Love You (1.23)
Total Length: 49.47
John Powell is many things in the eye of the listener, but there's one thing I have to mention nonetheless. He's a theme writer. No matter the genre or project, themes will be the constant returning fact in John Powell's music. Here as well. P.S. I Love You offers you once again three themes; returning melodies that make their way through another charming listening experience.
We open with the principle one in "Make Up Kisses", we hear guitar, harmonica and a twinkling main theme that reminds us easily of the charming stuff from Ice Age 2. The second one states Holly's theme in "Bette Davis Montage", equally using the guitar as instrument of choice. And quite frankly, this is the sound of the album's first couple of tracks.
There's a nice Just Visiting-moment through the strings in "The Cake", the main theme returns in "The Urn", stating also for the first time a brief Irish influence (the birthplace of Gerry) through the flute. But for me, the most fun theme comes from the letters that Holly receives. It's such a fluffy theme and though incredibly simple, it's infectious enough to enlighten the brief moments it appears in, this in "Puke / 1st Letter", "Travel Agent", and it's most cleverest use when it supports Holly's theme on a rhythmic pattern in "Reading Letters".
Considering the score flows pleasantly forward, using any of these three themes, it is important to notice that the main theme and Holly's theme receive more lovely orchestral arrangements as the album progresses. The main theme flourishes at the end of "Puke / 1st Letter", Holly's theme receives a couple of lovely moments in "Travel Agent", the main theme sounds remarkably like The Holiday when we receive it's prime time moment in "To Eire", and both themes receive a string waltz when they collide in "The Meeting", amongst other moments.
There are main theme variations during many tracks, most notably in the middle of the album, and the piano moment at the end of the album stating the main theme in "P.S. I Love You" is cuddly too.
In general, the entire album is another sign that John Powell can be equally adorable in romantic comedies as he can be fun in other projects. Even though the album is way too long to keep returning to, it remains a soothing background score that will sooth your afternoon as the movie it accompanies. Nothing remotely special, but cute as hell nonetheless.
Tracklisting
1. Make Up Kisses (3.00)
2. Bette Davis Montage (1.13)
3. You Gotta Be Rich (0.52)
4. The Cake (1.46)
5. The Urn (2.00)
6. Puke / 1st Letter (2.43)
7. Holly Gets Fired (0.45)
8. Jacket (1.27)
9. Travel Agent (4.04)
10. To Eire (2.54)
11. Reading Letters (0.47)
12. William on the Lake (1.23)
13. Kitchen Waltz (4.53)
14. On the Lake (2.29)
15. The Kennedys (1.08)
16. Last Tune (0.50)
17. Gerry's Fort (1.04)
18. The Meeting (4.31)
19. The Kiss (1.56)
20. Home Again (0.33)
21. Enough (0.39)
22. Somebody's Gerry (1.43)
23. It Was Me (3.35)
24. Sis Kiss (2.37)
25. P.S. I Love You (1.23)
Total Length: 49.47