The Spitfire Grill

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

When it comes to family dramas, James Horner has scored his fare share, to begin with Testament and moving up towards a lot of promising titles. The Spitfire Grill is one of them if you speak musically because today it is one of those titles that people fall in love with. And rightfully so, all the trademarks are there with the piano and meandering mood (To Gillian on her 37th Birthday like) and with a lot of emotion linking it in parts to The Perfect Storm and in a whole the closest to Bicentennial Man. Yet one thing makes this score so much better and this thanks to one of Horner's best themes. A divvying, emotional, playful and heartwarming theme that receives its attention 3 times really good and those are the highlights of the score. For the rest it is basically the same lovely spirit that drives the score and that is good and bad. While this score is not boring, it is in fact the sole theme that makes this score great but it is still not enough for more praise.

The score starts already the same way as Bicentennial Man does, with piano accompaniment and the emotional sound that drives it further. One thing that makes it different from the others is the instrumental use of the guitar (Field of Dreams reminiscent in use) and giving it a forest like / country feel and the use of the violin which is most welcome when accompanied with the theme. Track 2 'Shelby & Percy' hints the guitar while track 5 'Open for Business' combines them both with entertaining results. Then for the rest the score meanders along, the themes which are used are nice and extremely relaxing but I find myself not worshipping them. It is all nice but perhaps it is just not my style. Anyway the string work is pleasant and the piano is always welcome when it shows its face. 'The Trees' and 'A Gift from the Forrest' are great background cues and the theme shows itself the first time (with great delight) in 'Reading the Letters'. First soft and later with a lot more orchestral color. Also the theme is heard again with a playful attitude in 'A New Life for Gilead' and the most heartfelt of all in '... Care of the Spitfire Grill', the score track of the CD and the absolute highlight with a stunning suite of all the thematic firework coming of James Horner.

But first of all, I have heard so much good about The Spitfire Grill. The good news is that the ripping is almost hold back to a minimum (because hearing the same style that usually comes from a latter score). Also, the theme itself is worth the price of the soundtrack and the James Horner fans will love the result because heartfelt and emotional has always been one of Horner's strongest signs. But I find the score a bit too less, the theme is the only thing truly worth remembering, besides the occasional quirky or emotional moment and the score is a meandering background listen, but one I hardly listen to in full. So, The Spitfire Grill is an excellent and recommend score for those wanting a fresh and original look and a theme to sweep them of their feet, but also because this is a background listen with the grand capitol letter B. Don't think, just get it, if you want emotional meandering music from start to finish.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. An Uncertain Future / Main Title (3.38)

2. Shelby & Percy (5.55)

3. Hannah's Fall (1.58)

4. The Mystery Of The Night (1.21)

5. Open For Business (2.25)

6. Remembering Eli (1.53)

7. The Trees (1.39)

8. A Gift From The Forrest (4.43)

9. Reading The Letters (2.02) Excellent Track

10. A Healing Balm (5.59)

11. A New Life For Gilead (1.25) Excellent Track

12. Wrongful Blame (2.15)

13. A Desperate Decision (5.06)

14. ... Care Of The Spitfire Grill (9.53) Excellent Track

Total Length: 50.14

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=== Link to Composer Site: James Horner ===