Customer Reviews

August Rush: Music From The Motion Picture

5 star:		(133)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Now I know this is titled "Music From The Motion Picture," but one would think that that would include at least PARTS of the score, such as recurring main themes, etc. While a good "soundtrack," this is missing most of Mark Mancina's heartwarming score, which in my opinion was the best thing about the movie apart from the story. I don't know why nowadays soundtrack producers tend to leave out some of the most vital and emotional music in a film, just to put in the main highlights and songs. While I do enjoy the tracks on this album, it feels empty without the rest. For instance, when I first saw the film, I was blown away emotionally by the orchestral score, and remembered one particular section which utilized the celesta (I think). I found an audio clip on Mr. Mancina's official site, where it was called "Arpeggio Intro." The clip was only a minute or two long, and was one of the greatest moments in the whole film. It was used when Louis leaves August in the park, later when the man finds August's picture on the floor (and makes the connection that Evan Taylor is August Rush), and transitioning into the scene where the little girl in the church and her father discuss praying for August. Truly a touching moment in the film, as well as in the music, yet the producers couldn't find the time or money to stick it in the soundtrack? This makes no sense to me whatsoever. The score is JUST as important as the rest of the music, and I find it quite saddening that Hollywood nowadays wants to exclude classical music so much from society that they can't even include it in a soundtrack, where it played a major role in the story. Other than that, the songs on this are all good, and if that's the reason you want the soundtrack, then by all means, go ahead and buy it. but if you're looking from the orchestral score side of things, please know that this is very, very, very incomplete.

In a CD collection that's spanned more than 40 years of music and I've lost count of how many genres, movie soundtracks number less than 20. I generally don't care that much for enough of the movie to purchase the whole soundtrack. This is one case where I stepped out of the theatre in Acquisition Mode. I was going to actually pay more for the soundtrack at a local vendor if I could just have found it tonight--but I'm getting it cheaper through Amazon and I'm happy. Just great music including folks like John Legend, John Ondrasik (Five for Fighting) and Kaki King on guitar. Very much worth the price--there are no duds on this soundtrack!

. This was a delight to listen to and our whole family loves this CD. Most of the songs are favorites, from the main title featuring Marn Mancina, with spoken excerpts from the movie itself, a common practice for many movie soundtracks - and just fine by me - to the variations on the classic Moondance, one featuring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and the other showcasing the talents of Chris Botti.

Even weakest pieces here are very listenable (is that a word?) In any case, Jonathan Rhys Meyers is a revelation and John Legend's Someday has become a real staple on my CD player. You'll find Dueling Guitars to be a contrast to any earlier version you might have heard, an improvisation and interpretation which I found intriguing.

If I had to sum up the "feel" of this CD, I'd say it is a blend of jazz, pop and relatively easy listening music but it is NOT Muzak. Don't assume that. It goes nicely with a glass of red wine, roaring fire and a good book.

Artists featured include: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Steve Erdody, Kaki King, John Legend, Heitor Pereira and Doug Smith, Mark Mancina and Chris Botti, among others.

As always, I do suggest you listen to the music samples at Amazon or other sites before purchasing this, although they'll give you only a taste of the entire piece.

After I saw the movie, I actually bought the CD off of the internet (paid to download the entire CD) because I didn't want to wait for the Soundtrack to be shipped to me. I have now listened to the the entire CD many times. THE MUSIC IS MAGICAL. Every song is extremely wonderful and filled with a lot of heart and soul.

One of the first things I did after seeing 'August Rush' was run out to buy the soundtrack CD. It is, after all, a movie largely about music. While watching the film there were several points when I found myself swept up completely into what was happening on the screen, and I knew the music had a lot to do with that. And simply put, I was pretty much right.

Listening to the CD is very much like watching the movie. There are only two actual score tracks: Mark Mancina's 'Main Title' and 'August's Rhapsody', bookending the film with the music from the beginning and the end of the story.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who plays Louis in the movie, sings several modern songs that were featured in the film, including his version of 'Moondance' and 'This Time,' the song played at several points as the story progressed. "Bach/Break" and "Something Inside" are a mixture of symphonic and modern music, in which two musical viewpoints come together, also featuring Jonathan Rhys Meyers' vocals as well as Steve Erdody's cello.

'Raise It Up' is a song August hears as he enters a church, featuring Jamia Simone (who also sings a little on 'August's Rhapsody'), an inspirational gospel number for the big city.

'Dueling Guitars,' showcasing guitar performances by Hector Pereira and Doug Smith, is what we hear in the scene when August and Louis play together for the first time, a touching blend of musical style that struggles to find harmony at first, and blends perfectly in the end.

And perhaps the biggest reason I bought the CD are Kaki King's tracks, 'Bari Improv' and 'Ritual Dance.' These are the songs we hear when August is first learning to play, strange and beautiful pieces in which the guitar is as much a percussion instrument as a strumming one. I simply love listening to these. Even without the other music on the CD, these alone are well worth owning and listening to over and over.

After 'August's Rhapsody' are several disposable tracks, at least to my ear. One or two of them were played over the end credits (the John Legend song and the John Ondrasik song, I believe), and the others just seem thrown on. They're not bad, just not what I bought the CD for, and I rarely listen to these very often.

Despite the last few tracks, the soundtrack for 'August Rush' is a pleasant, eclectic mix of music that expresses the feeling of the film perfectly. Just like the film itself, it reflects lots of different styles of music and brings them all together to tell one story. It's one more way the film has to convey its message: that music is all around, and all we have to do is listen.

The critics haven't recieved August Rush very well, but the fact of the matter is that the one's that haven't have limited themselves. They complain of to little plot or underdeveloped characters. This is TRUE, and also what MAKES THE MOVIE. August Rush is quite simply, a feeling. It's the feeling of connection and a greater power. It's a feeling that there's something out there working to connect all of us. August feels it through music. If the plot got weighty or complicated or the charcters became a focus point then this feeling couldn't have been conveyed. The soundtrack works on many levels as well. It integrates classical, rock, and almost every other musical style together in a way that connects music as a whole, reflecting the movie's intentions.

August Rush is a must see. The soundtrack is a must have. Go get caught up in it's beauty.

As a somewhat lapsed pianist, the gorgeous instrumentation of this soundtrack brings back all sorts of great memories, and makes me want to really start honing my skills again.

I love the vocals (especially Jonathan Rhys Meyers-he has a haunting quality about his voice, very different from the normal actors/actresses that make the foray into singing). He is very believable as an Irish rock star (I'd buy his album if he made one). I love the fact that John Legend makes an appearance (his voice is like silk-exquisite).

The one caveat I have is echoed by other reviewers. Where is the film's score? That's as much a part of a soundtrack as anything else. I give it a 4-star rating because of the missing score. Nonetheless, it is a fantastic objet d'art.

PS-My father "borrowed" this CD, promptly listened and lost it. Guess who's buying me another one?

The movie, August Rush, is a must see movie for everyone who believes music can make a difference. It's a movie that will have you cheering in the end. The soundtrack makes the movie even better with both classical arrangements and contemporary rock tracks that fit with the story line perfectly. This is a soundtrack that is not just filler that's never heard in the movie but is included to be some of the most memorable parts of the movie. 5 stars for both the movie and the soundtrack. So see this one on the big screen. You will not be disappointed.

I do not own the soundtrack( as of yet) but I will be the proud owner really soon. I just saw the movie about 30 minutes ago and I have to say that the music is WONDERFUL. Music is in me like it is in this movie. If you love music, you will absolutely love this movie. Mr. Meyers sings beautifully and the rest of the songs are just......well.... there are no words. I have one word to describe this movie, soundtrack ect~ AMAZING~

I give this music five stars, actually, but put one star on it to help people find what's missing.

The incidental music, theme songs, and other compositions for the movie by Mancina are not on this album, and cannot be found by searching "August Rush (Orchestral Soundtrack)." Even searching "August Rush (OST)" just takes you to an MP3 album, not the CD. To find a CD of the music which is NOT included on this album, you have to jump through the following hoops.

Amazon, for some goofy reason, has chosen not to link the MP3 version of the orchestral Mancina music to the CD version, which you can find only by searching "August Rush (OST)" - don't spell it out! That won't get you where you want to go. This will: August Rush (OST) or this with different cover art August Rush (OST) but at $52 for the import, you'll probably want to go with an alternative seller (still via Amazon).

Also, don't trust eBay. Sellers use the wrong name, and even if you think you are getting "August Rush (OST)" you'll wind up with the regular soundtrack of the vocal numbers sold here: August Rush: Music From The Motion Picture .