Customer Reviews

The Italian Job (2003) (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

John Powell is brilliant in his orchestration of this album. The first few tracks elquently capture an Italian aura. This is what I though:

1. Opening Titles - Aight, but starts off a little soft
2. The Italian Job - Cool, sounds a bit like James Bond
3. Venice Gold Heist - Nice blend of movie's numerous motifs
4. Boat Chase - Good, however ending differs from movie
5. Mourning John - I personally was a little bored by this
6. Planning The Heist - Nice precussion
7. Pawning The Gold - Never remembered hearing this in movie
8. Cable Chick - Another James Bond kinda song, cool guitar
9. Getting The Axe - Aight I guess, never listen to it much
10. The Devil Inside - Interesting in its own way
11. Bitter Suite - Good song, clever title
12. The New Plan - The BEST song featuring the BEST motif
13. Tunnel Run - Cool song with some heavy metal
14. Chopper Chase/Face-Off - Good, fast pased song
15. Golden - Same motif as 12, but guitar makes it cooler

The only thing that disappoints me is that the unused 35 minutes weren't filled with music from the film. For those who are having trouble identifying the songs on the film, here are most of them:

The Wrekoning - Boomkat = when Stella drives MINI back to store
California Soul - Marlena Shaw = the "arrival in LA" montage
ABC 123 - Jackson 5 = little Charlie stills bully's wallet
Go - Andy Hunter = MINI test drive in warehouse w/computer
Pedal To The Medal - Kazzer = 3 MINI's test drive in LA canals...

"Girls and Posse Surf" (from 'Blue Crush')
by Paul Haslinger
Courtesy of Universal Pictures
A Division of Universal City Studios, LLLP

"Money"
by Roger Waters
Performed by Scott Weiland, Slash, Duff McKaga, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner
Produced by Nick Raskulineez

"The Wreckoning"
by Kellin Manning and Taryn Manning
Performed by Boomkat
Courtesy of Dreamworks Records
under license from Universal Music Enterprises

"To Get Down"
by Timo Maas, Martin Buttrich, Malte Hagemeister and Phil Barnes
Performed by Timo Maas
Courtesy of Kinetic Records

"Bloody Fingers"
by Joel Sanchez, Gabriel Archuletta, Jerome Louis and Ezra Riley
Performed by Jet Black Summer
Courtesy of Lakeshore Records
by arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

"Fire"
by Ralph Middlebrooks, James Williams, Marshall Jones, Leroy Bonner, Clarence Satchell, Willie Beck and Marvin Pierce
Performed by Ohio Players
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group
under license from Universal Music Enterprises

"Heartbreaker"
by Robert Gill and Stuart Wade
Performed by Pat Benatar
Courtesy of Chrysalis Records
under license from EMI Film & Television Music

"ABC"
by Alphonso Mizell, Freddie Perren, Dennis Lussier and Berry Gordy, Jr.
Performed by Jackson Five
Courtesy of Motown Records
under license from Universal Music Enterprises

"California Soul"
by Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson
Performed by Marlena Shaw
Courtesy MCA Records
under license from Universal Music Enterprises

"Go (Pete Lorimer Mix)"
by Andy Hunter and Ted Tjornborn
Performed by Andy Hunter
Courtesy of Sparrow Records/Nettwerk Productions

"Pedal to the Metal"
bu Brian West and Mark Kaspryzyk
Performed by Kazzer
Courtesy of Epic Records
by arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

"The Jump Off"
by Dante Smith, Mark "Minnesota" Richardson, Doug Wimbish and Gary Miller
Performed by Mos Def
Courtesy of MCA Records
under license from Universal Music Enterprises

"Music and Wine"
by Jay Denes
Performed by Blue Six
Courtesy of Naked Music/Astralwerks
under license from EMI Film and Television Music

"Sunbeams"
Written and Performed by UKO
Courtesy of Klein Records

"Saboteur"
Written and Performed by Amon Tobin
Courtesy of Ninja Tune Records
by arrangement with Media Creature Music

"Where's My Truck"
by Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek

with additional music by
Photek
John Ashton Thomas
James McKee Smith
TJ Lindgren

John Powell's slick, cosmopolitan score for the "Italian Job" is a great addition to any soundtrack collection. The score itself works great and fits coherently in the film. Yet, in my opinion, a score achieves greater status when it can stand on its own.

Early in the score, Powell's work sounds similar to that of David Holmes' work on another film of the same genre, "Ocean's Eleven." Tracks like "The Italian Job," "Pawning the Gold," and "Cable Chick" scream David Holmes with heavy bass lines, twangy ryhthm guitars and off-kiltered rhythm loops. But as the score progresses, Powell's addition of the string and brass orchestra makes this score stand-out from other scores of this genre. These arrangements are placed so well within each track that it just makes for an exciting and fascinating listen.

Take for example, "The New Plan," a track that's worth the price of this CD alone. "The New Plan" starts off with a heavy 4/4 hip-hop beat laced with latin percussions. As the track plays, the orchestra hints and hits in syncopated moments within the rhythm. By the end of the song, the music has already played in full swing with strings, orchestra, synth effects, percussions and rhythm loops creating a wonderful fusion proving that synth scores and orchestrated scores can exist in one score if done right.

The detraction here is that the score runs a little short, but this should be no surprise from label Varese Sarabande. If you saw the film, you know there's more music than what is offered in the CD. One can only wonder.

Nevertheless, Powell's score for "The Italian Job" is a great score not only because it's well written, but it can possibly be the score that bridges the gap between heavy synth scores (Hans Zimmer, Trevor Rabin, Cliff Martinez) and orchestrated scores (John Williams, James Horner, Jerry Goldsmith). A vast improvement on Powell's last work, "The Bourne Identity," Powell proves that he can stand on his own as an up and coming composer.

A must for any soundtrack fan.

"Money" as performed in the Italian Job is by a band called Velvet Revolver- which is the original Guns 'N Roses lineup with frontman Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots fame.

there are a couple songs that are not on this soundtrack... the one after the heist and in the minis and stella says that thing is PEDAL TO THE METAL by KAZZER. MONEY is sung by VELVET REVOLVER (its a cover by the way) and another song is the first time when you see Stella driving in her mini and she parks and goes to her office thing but it's THE WRECKONING sung by BOOMKAT. hope this helps!

Like most, I became severely peeved when I bought this c.d. and realized that most of the songs I had had stuck in my head were not there. I was angry and strongly considered returning the c.d. when I looked at my receipt and low and behold, there, in small print where the words "cannot be returned if opened." And my c.d. (as it was) was opened. So, I gave a big sigh and stared at the c.d. for a while, then decided to get my eighteen bucks worth out of it. I stuck it in my boombox and decided to evaluate it.

The intellegence of this c.d. takes a while before it really hits you. Yes, it does not have all the songs from the movie on it, but in the grand scheme of things, it does not truly need it. I listened to the c.d. long and hard for a while before it struck me: This...is cool. John Powell, while having produced much better soundtracks (I am Sam, The Bourne Supremacy) proved himself as having a way with digital noises, drums, and orchastrations. This is a clever c.d. I like it. Listening to it when I'm at home loafing around is actually quite fun, and gives me time to really appreciate what a neat soundtrack this really is.

Anyway....This is a good c.d. It is catchy, and has a nice beat to it. I really enjoyed listening to it. However, be forewarned: This does not have the rock and techno tunes in it. If that's what you're looking for, move on. For the rest, buy this c.d. It is smart and clever. You'll like it.

the tune your lookking for that is also not on the cd is called "to get down" by "timo mass" it rockSSSS

This is a soundtrack with upbeat driving rhythms I never seem to tire of even after nearly 3 years. Though, as with other reviewers I was disappointed about so many tracks by other artists not being included.

One of my favorite non John Powell tracks was the transition music just after the Venice heist to the cast being in the Alps.

For ages, I tried to locate the song "Girl and Posse Surf" by Paul Haslinger, but even after nearly 3 years was unable to do so.

Finally, with an email to the right person I discovered the awesome track which had long eluded me was not called "Girl and Posse Surf" after all.

The song is called "Let's Go" and can only be listened to via Mr. Haslinger's website. It can not be purchased on any soundtrack or any cd. Though, hopefully one day it will become available.

But, until then, if you love that particular piece of music in the "Italian Job", at least you can listen to it on Mr. Haslinger's website ([..]).

All other non John Powell tracks are available for download or purchase.

In summary, I would highly recommend John Powell's music score. It's great music to drive to, workout to, clean the house to etc.

The Italian Job was a score that really took me by surprise. I went to a local store, bought it, popped in my car cd player and listened on the ride home. At a first listen, I was a bit disappointed. For the most part, it seemed a bland, themeless series of percussion variations with minimal instrumentation layered on. I shelved the cd, not expecting to return. Then, a couple months later, I pulled it out again. Then I started noticing some of the ways Powell was doing things with the music very subtly, crafting an extremely cool, slick and well-developed score at a low volume. Often with action scores, the music is simple and bombastic, easy to recognize themes. This one is smarter and slicker than that, though. The Italian Job is a score that you will grow to appreciate and enjoy more with each listen. You will also find this to be the case in Powell's "paycheck" score as well as the two "bourne" scores. (The Bourne Identity especially takes time to appreciate, but partially because it actually does have genuine flaws.) I highly recommend this score, it's terrific, especially in the highlight track "A new plan". The only weakness is that the score dives into bloated action music in the final few tracks, it's entertaining, but not up to the subtle standard of the rest. A recommended purchase.

This soundtrack is easily Powel's best to date, including the bourne identity. He mixes a classic score style with heavy metal for a great, dramatic effect, and is in keeping with the modern spy-thriller genre music: fast strings played over a slow, pulsing electric melody, with a pounding percussion beat. A must-have for any music fan.