Director Sam Mendes's much-anticipated follow-up to his Academy Award®-winning American Beauty found him exploring the period gangster film--but with a moral fiber and undercurrent of family tragedy familiar from his ... more »Oscar® triumph. As he did with Beauty, Mendes again wisely entrusts the film's music to Tom Newman, a composer with an instinctive knack for getting inside a film's characters via innovative and often orthodox methods. As many of Newman's preceding scores have been rhythmically driven and rife with improvisation-driven experimentalism, its good to hear his equally distinctive writing for orchestra largely take center stage here again. But Newman's inquisitive musical instincts can't be denied, and his melancholy string writing is leavened first with subtle uilleann pipe flourishes that echo the characters' Irish-American roots, then with savory, yet ever-restrained touches of his own ethnic-defying instrumental color and rhythmic accents. It's another moody and introspective gem, seasoned with some lively period jazz (courtesy of the Charleston Chasers, Fletcher Henderson and his Orchestra, and Chicago Rhythm Kings) and a warm, final surprise: a duet of John M. Williams's autumnal title track performed by none other than stars Tom Hanks and Paul Newman. --Jerry McCulley« less
Director Sam Mendes's much-anticipated follow-up to his Academy Award®-winning American Beauty found him exploring the period gangster film--but with a moral fiber and undercurrent of family tragedy familiar from his Oscar® triumph. As he did with Beauty, Mendes again wisely entrusts the film's music to Tom Newman, a composer with an instinctive knack for getting inside a film's characters via innovative and often orthodox methods. As many of Newman's preceding scores have been rhythmically driven and rife with improvisation-driven experimentalism, its good to hear his equally distinctive writing for orchestra largely take center stage here again. But Newman's inquisitive musical instincts can't be denied, and his melancholy string writing is leavened first with subtle uilleann pipe flourishes that echo the characters' Irish-American roots, then with savory, yet ever-restrained touches of his own ethnic-defying instrumental color and rhythmic accents. It's another moody and introspective gem, seasoned with some lively period jazz (courtesy of the Charleston Chasers, Fletcher Henderson and his Orchestra, and Chicago Rhythm Kings) and a warm, final surprise: a duet of John M. Williams's autumnal title track performed by none other than stars Tom Hanks and Paul Newman. --Jerry McCulley
"No doubt about it, Thomas Newman is one hell of a composer. And this soundtrack proves just that. I had seen the movie and absolutely loved it from start to finish, and I remembered the music really standing out to me. It was dark, haunting, and touching, all at the same time. So, I decided to get the soundtrack, and I am glad I did.It really is like reliving the movie. I really enjoyed listening to the movie score. It's breathtaking and amazing. It can be soft, dark, haunting, and beautiful. The music really is something to hear. I especially enjoy the piano playing that takes place on this score. (I don't care too much for the actual jazz songs and so on, I just listen to the score.)I really enjoy all of the tracks, but the ones that stand out to me the most are "Rock Island, 1931," "Murder," "Blood Dog," "Grave Drive," "Road to Chicago," "Ghosts," "Lexington Hotel, Room 1432," "Road to Perdition," and the "Perdition" piano duet performed by Tom Hanks and Paul Newman. But the other ones that I did not list are very amazing as well.If you love the movie and you love a great movie score, "Road to Perdition" is the one for you. In the tradtion of "Unbreakable" and "Insomnia," this score gives you different moods, like happiness, dread, fear, danger, sadness, anger, and redemption. A great purchase, if you ask me."
Classic Newman, with a twist of Horner on acid.
Andrew P. Alderete | Philadelphia, PA United States | 06/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"So there I was, sitting with my glass of tea on a what-was-going-to-be a sunny California morning. I couldn't quite understand the curiosity I had while slipping this CD into the player, but I needed to hear Newman. How long did I have to wait to hear his true magic again? I heard it in 'Meet Joe Black', and I also discovered it in American Beauty to such a high degree...
Thomas Newman has the ability to create music that moves each and every individual based on the characters on screen - and his touch to your emotional ear is something you can relate to off the screen also. His solo piano intervention with flowing orchestral themes was something missing in 'In the Bedroom' and 'Salton Sea', where his entire musical score seemed to be space-filling music, with small 40 second intervals of pure Newman bliss.Even so, I want any score lover to know that if there is anything to listen to for the hot summer score of the year, it's this one.The first track starts out in Newman-esque ambience, but then collides into the Irish Horner-style bagpipe theme alongside a strumming guitar, a solo piano, and un-obstructed string themes. Like a horner theme on acid, T.Newman knows exactly when to bring sudden musical cue's on, and yet he also knows exaclty when to stop. As soon as you get overwhealmed by the bagpipes, he brings in an absolute gradation of melody, only he can accomplish.All I am saying is listen to the first track, and you will re-discover why T.Newman is one of the most incredible, stunning, and creative score composers of this current film timeline.In any case, hats off to this score. There is very little 'filling space' music, and the ambience of his composition is quite striking when it needs to be. Otherwise, enjoy the three or maybe even four musical themes throughout the entire album.Cheers,
A"
This is definitely on a road to success not Hell!
trappedinthecage | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina USA | 07/13/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"People who know me consider me a collector of the finest soundtracks. They know that I have hundreds of soundtracks ranging from "Cruel Intentions" to "Air Force One" to "Indiana Jones" and even every Disney movie ever made (almost). Not only that, but I almost worship the great movie composers such as the legendary John Williams and the indefatigable Danny Elfman. Thomas Newman, although well known for other projects, has created a soundtrack with no equal. Although the sounds of Elfman's "Nightmare Before Christmas" have always been, in my mind, the most superior, it is definitely surpassed in several ways by "Road to Perdition." ALthough "Nightmare" is still the greatest in my opinion, "Perdition" is on a completely different level. Opening with an extremely haunting and very moving "Rock Island, 1931," you can instantly tell "Perdition" will move you. Through chillingly beautiful themes, almost spooky "bad guy" music, and classic jazz, "Perdition" comes across as the greatest soundtrack I have ever heard, especially for a cd created about such a magical era as the 1930's. There are too many great songs to talk about on this cd, so I will leave to your imagination. Let it be said, however, that "Perdition - Piano Duet" is gorgeous, and will sit in your mind for a long time. Although it is very short, it has an aura around it that stirs the soul. And to boot, it was actually played by the brilliant Tom Hanks and the legendary Paul Newman. In my opinion, a soundtrack is what truly makes a movie memorable. Hanks and Newman's performances are genius, but the music is what will truly help "Road to Perdition" earn the Academy Awards that it will most certainly get. Thus, "Road to Perdition" is six out of five stars excellent and I strongly suggest it to all!"
An Excellent Soundtrack
T. B. Vick | The Lone Star State | 11/26/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you are a 'soundtrack junkie' like me, then you will not want to be without this one. I spend a good part of my time hunting for great soundtracks that I can listen to while I read or study. This is one of the better ones I have a found in a long time.There are several features that set this soundtrack apart from others that I have collected:First, it has a lot of music. Many soundtracks have little music and the songs are short, making the soundtrack even shorter since the selection is slim as well.Second, it has a good variety of music. I have purchased or heard soundtracks where there is one song used but played or arranged a dozen different ways. That gets boring quite fast.Third, (and this is merely a personal preference of my own), the songs are emotional and moving. Many of the these songs are very emotional, soothing, or have a cajoling effect.Having collected many different soundtracks over the years, I can safely say that this one is a very nice addition to my collection. By the way, especially good tracks on this collection are, 2 - "Wake;" 13 - "The Farm;" 16 - "A Blind Eye;" 22 - "Cathedral" (a scene in the movie which convinced me to get the soundtrack), and 26 - "Road to Perdition."Other suggested soundtracks - "My Dog Skip;" and "A Map of the World" (which is probably my all time favorite)."
"And the Oscar goes to...."
Reginald D. Garrard | Camilla, GA USA | 07/24/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The measure of great film music is how it melds with the on-screen activity, complementing AND complimenting. Bernard Herrmann and Miklos Rozsa knew it. John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith know it. And to this fraternity, one must add Thomas Newman. With "Road to Perdition", Newman has crafted one of the most strikingly original scores to grace a film in over a decade.The music is a glowing accompaniment to an already great film. I don't know if I were more captivated by the visuals than I was the instrumental "treats" for my ears.The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will truly be in error should it not bestow the coveted prize to the composer."
Track Listings (27) - Disc #1![Road to Perdition [Music from the Motion Picture]](https://nationalbookswap.com/cd//l/59/4659/594659.jpg)
