The Emperor's Club
James Newton Howard
" lovely, ... nothing more "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Every once and a while you get a score so lovely yet so obviously temp tracked that it makes the most of the composers voice as the temp track voice. I definitely know that fans of Thomas Newman will be hearing a lot of their favorite composer inside The Emperor's Club of James Newton Howard, because let's be frank, this is Thomas in tone alright. But there's still a lot of James in this one too, making it an easy fare listen that takes you smoothly through the entire experience.
Considering the score is light and lovely as a feather, expect the same of the themes that fuel the listening experience. The main theme in "Main Titles" bounces along quite nicely though it never returns on the album again, making me wonder whether this is a main theme or not. Because there's another theme that's used more frequently instead.
That theme shows up the first time in "Hundert Remembers". No it is not the Rachel Portman look a like (also briefly heard in Hundert Comes Clean)" but the theme at the end, the one that is playful and lovely. This theme returns briefly in the charming "Hundert Quits", on violin in "25 Years Later" and emotional in "The Vote". It's best outing happens during the final track "Young Martin Blythe" as it triggers the small finale of the film.
Remember the temp track? Well, if you ever need proof that Thomas Newman was on the minds of the producers, then be sure to give "Teaching Montage" a try, as it couldn't be more obvious where this was going to. The flutes and horns are unmistakably Thomas Newman territory alright. And besides the temp track, the score also remains extremely pleasant. It never raises a bar, it never stops being lovely. So expect a lot of strings, piano, guitar, flutes, whatever sounds more happier in the end.
If you've ever seen The Emperor's Club you'll also remember it was a happy feel good comedy starring an once again charming Kevin Kline. So happy feel good movie deserves a happy feel good score, and James Newton Howard doesn't disappoint. Okay there's enough Thomas Newman and Rachel Portman in it to question if it wasn't better hiring one of those 2 instead, but it doesn't matter in the end because The Emperor's Club is short, to the point and lovely to digest.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (2.17)
2. Teaching Montage (2.38)
3. Hundert Remembers (2.39)
4. Quiz Montage (2.20)
5. The Big Test (1.25)
6. Hundert Quits (2.56)
7. 25 Years Later (2.30)
8. Elizabeth (1.29)
9. Sedgewick's Father (1.18)
10. Confronting Sedgewick (2.08)
11. Hundert Comes Clean (2.41)
12. The Toast (2.36)
13. Young Martin Blythe (2.16)
Total Length: 29.13
Considering the score is light and lovely as a feather, expect the same of the themes that fuel the listening experience. The main theme in "Main Titles" bounces along quite nicely though it never returns on the album again, making me wonder whether this is a main theme or not. Because there's another theme that's used more frequently instead.
That theme shows up the first time in "Hundert Remembers". No it is not the Rachel Portman look a like (also briefly heard in Hundert Comes Clean)" but the theme at the end, the one that is playful and lovely. This theme returns briefly in the charming "Hundert Quits", on violin in "25 Years Later" and emotional in "The Vote". It's best outing happens during the final track "Young Martin Blythe" as it triggers the small finale of the film.
Remember the temp track? Well, if you ever need proof that Thomas Newman was on the minds of the producers, then be sure to give "Teaching Montage" a try, as it couldn't be more obvious where this was going to. The flutes and horns are unmistakably Thomas Newman territory alright. And besides the temp track, the score also remains extremely pleasant. It never raises a bar, it never stops being lovely. So expect a lot of strings, piano, guitar, flutes, whatever sounds more happier in the end.
If you've ever seen The Emperor's Club you'll also remember it was a happy feel good comedy starring an once again charming Kevin Kline. So happy feel good movie deserves a happy feel good score, and James Newton Howard doesn't disappoint. Okay there's enough Thomas Newman and Rachel Portman in it to question if it wasn't better hiring one of those 2 instead, but it doesn't matter in the end because The Emperor's Club is short, to the point and lovely to digest.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (2.17)
2. Teaching Montage (2.38)
3. Hundert Remembers (2.39)
4. Quiz Montage (2.20)
5. The Big Test (1.25)
6. Hundert Quits (2.56)
7. 25 Years Later (2.30)
8. Elizabeth (1.29)
9. Sedgewick's Father (1.18)
10. Confronting Sedgewick (2.08)
11. Hundert Comes Clean (2.41)
12. The Toast (2.36)
13. Young Martin Blythe (2.16)
Total Length: 29.13