I think Thomas Newman scoring The Adjustment Bureau is a bit odd. Isn't it? I expected to see John Powell, Harry Gregson-Williams or ... Still, it's enough of a surprise to see Thomas and not Randy in the credits of Wall-E, but he did a fantastic job there. The Adjustment Bureau is another Philip K Dick adaptation; a writer who has done pretty well when it comes to turning his writing into celluloid - Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report amongst the best well known. As I noted in a previous review, brief, high concept stories are ideal for blockbuster movies.
The Adjustment Bureau is ostensibly a thriller, but based around a love story and the concept of fate being determined by some overseers; the titular bureau. However, the romantic aspect leaves Newman a bit more room for a somewhat gentler approach. There is suspense and action, but the textures are somewhat lighter and less intensely ominous than one might expect. Having said that, from the breezy guitar led The Girl on the Bus, Square-One Reset is considerably darker. Unsurprisingly, the romance is fairly underplayed, even Real Kiss is pretty tentative, but the lack of any kind of romantic completion does give the album a somewhat unresolved quality.
Newman albums more often than not have a couple of non-score tracks or songs amongst them, but usually well worked into the flow of the album. I suspect grumbles will go up about the entries by Messrs Ashcroft and Vaughan. Rightly in the case of the latter which is drivel (a dance remix of the classic song Fever forming 7 minutes of aural abuse), but Richard Ashcroft (he off of the Verve, still proving the drugs don't work) collaborated with Newman and, as such, those efforts fit quite smartly within the album. If you were expecting a John Powell type effort, you might be disappointed (notwithstanding the plentiful percussion) as Newman plays it a bit more low key, indeed perhaps a bit too low key. It leaves an impression, but a subtle one based on atmosphere rather than striking melody, but when so many scores can feel so workmanlike and lacking in style, Newman is still a welcome musical voice.
Adjust your bank balance by acquiring this disc at Amazon.com.
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