Various Artists - August Rush: Music From The Motion Picture

Just Listen

One of the first things I did after seeing 'August Rush' was run out to buy the soundtrack CD. It is, after all, a movie largely about music. While watching the film there were several points when I found myself swept up completely into what was happening on the screen, and I knew the music had a lot to do with that. And simply put, I was pretty much right.

Listening to the CD is very much like watching the movie. There are only two actual score tracks: Mark Mancina's 'Main Title' and 'August's Rhapsody', bookending the film with the music from the beginning and the end of the story.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who plays Louis in the movie, sings several modern songs that were featured in the film, including his version of 'Moondance' and 'This Time,' the song played at several points as the story progressed. "Bach/Break" and "Something Inside" are a mixture of symphonic and modern music, in which two musical viewpoints come together, also featuring Jonathan Rhys Meyers' vocals as well as Steve Erdody's cello.

'Raise It Up' is a song August hears as he enters a church, featuring Jamia Simone (who also sings a little on 'August's Rhapsody'), an inspirational gospel number for the big city.

'Dueling Guitars,' showcasing guitar performances by Hector Pereira and Doug Smith, is what we hear in the scene when August and Louis play together for the first time, a touching blend of musical style that struggles to find harmony at first, and blends perfectly in the end.

And perhaps the biggest reason I bought the CD are Kaki King's tracks, 'Bari Improv' and 'Ritual Dance.' These are the songs we hear when August is first learning to play, strange and beautiful pieces in which the guitar is as much a percussion instrument as a strumming one. I simply love listening to these. Even without the other music on the CD, these alone are well worth owning and listening to over and over.

After 'August's Rhapsody' are several disposable tracks, at least to my ear. One or two of them were played over the end credits (the John Legend song and the John Ondrasik song, I believe), and the others just seem thrown on. They're not bad, just not what I bought the CD for, and I rarely listen to these very often.

Despite the last few tracks, the soundtrack for 'August Rush' is a pleasant, eclectic mix of music that expresses the feeling of the film perfectly. Just like the film itself, it reflects lots of different styles of music and brings them all together to tell one story. It's one more way the film has to convey its message: that music is all around, and all we have to do is listen. July 7, 2008

Lush instrumentals

As a somewhat lapsed pianist, the gorgeous instrumentation of this soundtrack brings back all sorts of great memories, and makes me want to really start honing my skills again.

I love the vocals (especially Jonathan Rhys Meyers-he has a haunting quality about his voice, very different from the normal actors/actresses that make the foray into singing). He is very believable as an Irish rock star (I'd buy his album if he made one). I love the fact that John Legend makes an appearance (his voice is like silk-exquisite).

The one caveat I have is echoed by other reviewers. Where is the film's score? That's as much a part of a soundtrack as anything else. I give it a 4-star rating because of the missing score. Nonetheless, it is a fantastic objet d'art.

PS-My father "borrowed" this CD, promptly listened and lost it. Guess who's buying me another one?
June 24, 2008

Holy Smoke!

I've just watched the "August Rush" on a rental dvd and will keep the dvd (don't tell netflix) until my soundtrack purchase arrives from Amazon. Thanks for being there for me again, Amazon. I was suprised that, with every smile and grin, how much Freddie Highmore reminded me of Josh Groban! I'm sure I'll remember him just like that as I listen to the soundtrack. June 21, 2008

GREAT sound track

Enjoyed the movie, LOVED the music. Listening to this CD reminded me of all the scenes from the movie. ANY movie that uses Van Morrison's "Moon Dance" has to be good :-) June 18, 2008

where's the cello?

i loved the movie. loved the music. i remembered more achingly beautiful cello. it's not on this soundtrack. June 12, 2008

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