Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(Dreamworks)
Ah, where would we be without Randy Newman? His piano based pop operas were always the most hip of the square soft-rock that Mom & Dad bobbed their heads to in the minivan, so it’s no wonder that whenever his distinct, inimitable voice started crooning, “It’s money that matters,” a cold wave of shameful glee washed across our brows, and we hastily turned off STAR FM, in spite of our repressed natural inclinations.
Now that we’re older, we can more fully appreciate his tongue-in-cheek, pseudo-R&B stylings, and his sharp knack for crafting a catchy ditty is emphatically felt on the lead-in track, “A Fool In Love.” On top of that, Newman pounds the keys and wails away on Fats Domino’s “Poor Me,” and gets loose on the painfully white “Got My Mojo Working.” Whether Newman ever had any mojo in the first place seems dubious, and if he ever did, it certainly wouldn’t work anymore at his age; but the song sounds great just the same.
Beyond the pop gems, Newman also composed eleven lush symphonic pieces for the film, which at times recall the eerie choral calling of vintage Danny Elfman. Newman is no stranger to soundtracks, so an air of authority prevails within.
The orchestral numbers are far from standard fare for a comedy. Some sound even foreboding, which probably makes for a richer listening experience. Overall, this portion of the album avoids falling into any derivative patterns, and is in every way connotative of a crisp autumn in affluent Long Island.
Beyond Newman, Bobby Womack performance of “I’m Your Puppet,” sounds a trifle cheesy, but is bushwhacked by Lee Dorsey’s boisterous yet archaic “Ya Ya.” Dr. John’s “Big Chief” is soulful and funky, and for a special treat, “A Fool In Love” is reprised and accordionized as a secret track, with chanteuse Susanna Hoff translating the lyrics to French.
By Casey Lombardo
Long Beach Union
Originally printed 11.13.00
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