Always

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Perhaps the biggest sign that not every classic of Steven Spielberg is noticed is this one. Easily forgotten when naming the timeless classics of the director's career, easily slipped through it the accompanying score of classic film composer John Williams. At times you have to wonder if this is truly John Williams at the helm because the reason why not many people like this score is simple, it is one of the most regrettable listens of his list of movie scores. Always isn't really earth shattering and I'd be hard-pressed to find out if you remember something of the score after the listen, or listens if you are driving a hard bargain. It is indeed simply a quiet listen but on the other hand, were the most scores would slip even during the listen, it is Williams occasional stir of something extra that makes it at least acceptable during it. Perhaps there is a reason for this, that the movie didn't do earth shattering things for crowd, director or composer but Always as a film score has the better parts, but is hardly noticed during the really quiet parts.

First of all, a John Williams score usually has a John Williams theme, but in this case we can not remember it or at times find it. You sometimes hear something you remember but then ask yourself, "was this a theme or the theme"? Mostly, this score passes you by and just brief moments pick up the interest. The only one doing this proper will be forever in this case 'Follow Me', a fun bouncy track with the quick rhythms and perhaps the theme to notice itself. But for the rest, it are the moments that briefly notice themselves. At the end of the opening track 'Among the Clouds' we have some E.T. esque fanfares (not major or loud ones but acceptable) and 'Saying Goodbye' has a bit of everything, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Hook, E.T., it all brings some better moments. But for the most time these are it. I often considered that the light airy approach (mystical through the light bells, strings and piano solos) often reminded me of A.I. Artificial Intelligence or mostly of the single moment in Hook (when Robin Williams remembers back to his family and Williams underscores it with light airy tones). Always has perhaps too much of it for my liking, or anyone's interest.

The last track 'Dorinda Solo Flight' is perhaps the lucky entry because without this one, the score would have received a negative score and rating. This track uses Far and Away like musical moments and is enjoyable, simply because it notifies itself more than the others did. Always isn't really earth shattering, isn't really John Williams like but on the other hand will make something happen for the movie in advance. It is actually the quality sometimes of the uninteresting nature that does the trick for the movie and score, the piano solos sometimes are well done and these simply use the same effect as A.I. did, the mystical quality reminds me easily of Hook and Harry Potter and the more fanfare like moments of Far and Away and E.T.. Its perhaps not good for itself that it reminds me too much of other styles, that it overall listens too uninteresting before your eyes, but still, Always is a quiet underscore that simply has moments that don't make it special but just acceptable to grade by. Don't consider this your lost treasure, don't spend heaps of money on it and just rent it. But most, don't expect too much and perhaps then the light quality will interest you.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Among The Clouds (8.34)

2. Follow Me (1.14)

3. Pete In Heaven (6.41)

4. Saying Goodbye (3.13)

5. Pete And Dorinda (3.19)

6. The Return (2.28)

7. The Rescue Operation (5.14)

8. Seeing Dorinda (3.32)

9. Intimate Conversation (1.25)

10. Promise To Hap (2.30)

11. The Old Timer's Shack (4.52)

12. Dorinda Solo Flight (3.16)

Total Length: 46.43

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=== Link to Composer Site: John Williams ===