Spanglish

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Once and a while, from all the action bombardments in between, Zimmer enters his more calm zone, as the one still people forget also Zimmer can score. His name is always associated with action music but almost each year he wants to show he's not that guy per se, and for 2004 there is Spanglish, a new drama of James L. Brooks (As Good as it Gets). And now Zimmer can enter the territory of the light Hispanic influence, along with his buddy Heitor Pereira and the other soloists credited on the back cover of the Varèse release. And to tell Zimmer still got what it takes is an understatement, because Spanglish is like As Good as it Gets a charming little affair. The thing is, I like Spanglish more then As Good as it Gets, while other people will favor the other before this one, its all a question of personal taste and approval. But considering the score, its lightweight noticing the orchestra's lack of any brass, and while not necessary at all, it are the solo instruments that create the vigor of this score's charming little attitude. Like the expected guitar, or the unexpected solo violin, all creating the charm on the wonderful fitting main theme he composed here. 'Spanglish' shows it between guitar and racing strings, more a mix between MI:2 and As Good as it Gets and while getting a nice effect, I was worried this would turn out as another Good as Gets affair, since I hardly play that effort again on my CD-player. But while its like that in tone, its the themes and occasional emotional brilliance he unleashes upon us which makes it not like that at all. No better example then 'Drunk and Disorderly', a track ala the aforementioned score but here so wonderful through the themes and solo instruments, and goes to show Zimmer is a mastermind of all genres. The longest track is 'The Beach' and whops for about 10 minutes little ideas at you, racing violins, flute melodies, piano and plucking pizzicato all around various statements of the theme, its nice but way too long to remember the little highlights in the track.

Then 'Welcome to the Claskys' brings more a mix between guitar and a sounding waltz and flamenco, its all in between and Zimmer just toys you around it. Same like 'No Left', which is basically hand clapping and guitar unleashing the real flamenco swing inside you, its stronger here and better to like, the main theme is there of course but here with a truly gorgeous solo violin performance, there it suddenly strikes you how charming this score truly is. A slow dance sequence on guitar is heard in 'Johnny Comes Home' and is the work of Heitor Pereira himself. As said this score is basically a personal taste you like or not, and so is 'Learning English' with its pizzicato and guitar moving in a swinging style briefly but most effectively nonetheless. 'Malibu' is brining forth piano and guitar with a quick flute melody, here you suddenly hear (or not) Williams at work, maybe its just my imagination but its keen I assumed it at first. Basically, its that easy to like when you're in the right mood. 'Bus Stop' repeats the pizzicato way as the statement on guitar of the main theme, getting somewhat stronger with strings near the end. The song is of no real consequence to enjoy the score or not. Spanglish was considered a candidate for the Oscars, because this score was nominated for a Golden Globe earlier one, and one can see why, because its charming ala As Good as it Gets and if the film was considered as good as it Got, then who knows? But now people will still come in contact with a wonderful little affair, yet again not for everyone. Some people will adore it like me, some will think more of As Good as it Gets instead, and some will think what was all the fuzz about? This got to do with personal taste, and yes for people still doubting should better see the film first. But as said, while Zimmer is considered by many to be still action composer and nothing more, those get another slap in the face, and this time from a Spanish tutor with a German beard.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Spanglish (2.45)

2. The Beach (9.46)

3. Welcome To The Claskys (3.19)

4. Drunk And Disorderly (2.14) Excellent Track

5. John Comes Home * (1.55)

6. Learning English (1.32) Excellent Track

7. No Left (3.54) Excellent Track

8. Malibu (3.16)

9. Cooking (1.24)

10. Bus Stop (5.09)

11. They Can't Take That Away From Me: C. Leachman & I. Hyland (3.00)

* Written by Heitor Pereira

Total Length: 38.18

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=== Link to Composer Site: Hans Zimmer ===