Mother

Composer: Marc Shaiman
Lable (Release Year): Hollywood Records (1996)
Availability: ****
Rating: ***

After scoring many Billy Crystal's films, scoring for this Albert Brooks' light comedy is no problem for Marc Shaiman. I think Shaiman is one of the premium comedy score composers in the 90s. None of his comedy scores has disappointed me so far. Mother is no exception. It a very charming and warm-hearted score. It is a very light and small orchestral score. Brass instruments are used but there is really no bombastic moments. I guess it is because the movie is not a wacky comedy. The major instruments used in the score are woodwinds and piano.

The score may sound awfully familiar to some people because it is very typical in some ways. It is mono-thematic and the whole score just builds around the theme. The theme is not very catchy or outstanding, but is very beautiful and mellow. The score is very melodic and is good for relaxation. The low rating is generally because the score time is very short. However, whether it is the complete score or not, I think the 24 minutes is very much enough. I have seen the movie. It seems to me that the 24 minutes is pretty much the whole score. The first three songs three songs have very good reasons to be on the soundtrack, especially the song "In My Room" by The Beach Boys.

As a Shaiman fan, he or she should get this one. Otherwise, you can save it for some other time.



    Track Listing:
  1. "Mrs. Robinson" - Steve Lively & Jess Harnell (3:51)
  2. Main Title (3:22)
  3. Such A Surprise (1:06)
  4. In My Room - The Beach Boys (2:13)
  5. Circling The Market (2:00)
  6. Berate Me Tomorrow/The Black Screen (1:42)
  7. Trip To The Mall (4:23)
  8. "Land Of A Thousand Dances" - Wilson Pickett (2:26)
  9. At The Zoo (2:34)
  10. The Hot Box (3:05)
  11. Understanding Mother (4:48)
  12. Look Who's Writing (1:14)
  13. "Across The Line" - The Robert Cray Band (4:07)
  14. "Keep On Movin'" - Soul II Soul (6:00)

    Total Time: 42:51
    Score Time: 24:14




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