Customer Reviews

Paycheck [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before THE ITALIAN JOB, I hadn't really been interested in John Powell's work (I always kinda resented how he and Harry ripped off Trevor Rabin's DEEP BLUE SEA theme for SHREK).

Ironically, it is John Powell how has stepped forward to take the place of Trevor Rabin during his conspicuous absence (I don't believe a score of his has been released in 2 years)

I do admit to downloading ESCAPE FROM THE EMBASSY from the BOURNE IDENTITY soundtrack, finding that music to be quite muscular and intense, and coherent.

Now, after the wonderful ITALIAN JOB, John Powell again shows me why film-score buffs should pay attention to him. PAYCHECK is a rip-snorting action score, full of style and complexity. It has a snazzy snyle that is more muscular and driving than THE ITALIAN JOB. It ranges from intense, lush action music, groovy industrial rhythms, and busy, complex underscore.

20 ITEMS and WOLFE PACK highlight the beginning of the score, pseudo-action pieces with some irresistable rythms. The next three tracks are sufficiant statements of the established style. I especially recommend 20 ITEMS if you simply want a swift boot in the arse.

The two HOG CHASE tracks catapult the themes and styles heard in WOLFE PACK and 20 ITEMS into pulsating, soaring action music.

The score then slows down before the lengthy FUTURE TENSE, another action piece that is less over-the-top and more serious that the HOG CHASES. FAIT ACCOMPLI (rough-French translation of "done deal" or "mission accomplished") provides the finale for the score, building in its last minuite to a frenetic action cue. RACHEL'S PARTY provides a reflective and soft interpretation of the theme, and I found it kind of out-of-place amidst the other tracks, but still pleasant.

This score is for anyone who liked the ITALIAN JOB or simply wants to hear a competent action score with ultra-cool rythms and a distinct personality.

One of the first things that hit me when watching this movie was how much I liked the score. John Powell visits his trademark spy music territory in the vein of Face/Off and The Italian Job with Paycheck and the result is a very satisfying listeing experience. Those who enjoyed the score for the Italian Job will find a lot to like about this score. The highlights for me include tracks 1,2, 7 & 8.
Powell incoporates frenzied string writing with piano and drum loops to create
an exciting fun thrill ride of a score. A great popcorn score to go with an average popcorn movie. Definitely recommended.

John Powell has certainly been making a name for himself. His score for "The Italian Job" has been getting rave reviews, and now he scores John Woo's stereotypical action flick, "Paycheck". Does it hold well? Yes.

Basically, it's very much a very boombastic action score, with a few cues given during the course of the score enough time for the listener to breathe.

Some of the highlights include tracks 7 & 8, the "Hog Chase" cues. Part 2 (Track 8) most certainly gives a "Bondian" kind of feel to the overall remix of "Rachel's Theme" (Track 14). Powell basically gives a David Arnold feeling with the "Hog Chase" cues.

"Future Tense", track 11, is a "suite" of sorts, basically remixing tracks 2, 3, 4 and 7 (among others) into it's own cue, and it works out well. "Fait Accompli", the track that follows it, is more slower-paced, and works very well.

Of course, we get "The Finger" (track 13), which is the shortest cue on the entire score (:33).

The score wraps up with "Rachel's Party". A slow-paced version of the theme that dominates almost every cue before it. However, I think the placement for this track is odd, it should be a bit earlier in the score.

Also, tracks 5 and 6 should've actually been one full track (as track 5 ends, it continues onto track 6), and can be jarring to some people, especially people who listen to the tracks in random order.

Overall, if you want a very good action score with enough cues to keep your toes tapping, John Powell's "Paycheck" is for you. It most certainly compensates for the sub-par movie it's scored for.

Powell's score to Paycheck is one of the best action scores I've heard in a long time. You can tell right off the bat from the first track that the CD is an awesome mixture of action and suspense. However, this score isn't quite as good as Powell's "The Italian Job" but its some competition. (I also recommend that score as well) I do love this score though and its a definate plus to any film score collection!

If you like soundtracks, I highly recommend this one, or any soundtrack composed by John Powell. His style is very distinctive.
If I was in charge at MGM James Bond, I'd sack the current Bond composer David Arnold, right away and put Powell in Arnold's place. The man is terrific. Buy his stuff people :)

The music from this soundtrack were superb, as with all John Powell work. Them music fit very well! I enjoyed every track on this CD. Each one was unique but matched. The music, played in order, tell a story them selfs. The two hog chase tracks I especially enjoyed.

John Powell has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary composers. He blends John Barry's melodic ability with Hans Zimmer's entertainingly bombastic, Phil Spector-y "wall of sound" approach. This is one of Powell's most enjoyable action scores, with a fantastic main theme.

Note: If you like the theme as much as I did, check out his score to "Just Visiting" too, the tune appears there in an earlier form, and the final track on that score album is a pop song arrangement of it that makes for a great listen.

This is one of the most exuberant action scores I've ever heard. It's fun from start to finish. The Hog Chase tracks alone are worth the price of the CD. When this score first came out, I passed on it because I thought I had grown out of techno-action scores, but then A&B Sound put many of their scores for 50% off so I decided, what the hell, let's buy this one.
Man, am I glad I did. This is action packed, joyous, heart-pounding music that's actually more in the vein of North by Northwest than The Italian Job. If you normally avoid techno scores, go ahead and buy this one, which is John Powell's finest score to date. Techno is too unfair a label to put on this one - "brilliance" is much closer.
cheers
KZ

I really wish they had half-star intervals for the ratings here, because while 3 stars doesn't really do this score justice, it doesn't quite merit 4.

Basically, this is John Powell's best score to date, not counting his collaborations with Harry Gregson-Williams. There's really nothing bad on here, but at the end it doesn't come together as anything more than the sum of its parts; it doesn't really afford a terribly satisfying listening experience. This score is action music all the way through, ranging from good to great. Highlights include the staccato stringwork in "20 Items" and "Future Tense," the brilliant "Hog Chase, Part 2," and "Fait Accompli." This is distinctive, energetic stuff (that for some reason that I can't put my finger on occasionally reminded me of Morricone. Maybe I'm crazy.), and no track is disappointing, but while it's engaging the whole way through, there's not really enough substantial music to really gel it all together, and you're not likely to be humming any of this stuff after you've listened to the CD.

So yes, this is an enjoyable CD, and a fine starting point if you're looking to get a taste of John Powell's music. It's got some very good action music, but little else. Fun, but not entirely satisfying, so I'd give it 3.5 stars.