This review acknowledges the inherent audience already guaranteed to pursue this music and now will move on to address the concerned "umms" and "huh?" of those remaining. Why a movie soundtrack? JustPressPlay doesn\'t usually indulge in too many soundtracks. Really, we never write about any. But that\'s because most soundtracks these days - if they aren\'t breathtaking scores (or even average ones) - are rather crappy and unimportant compilations of whatever pop rock is out at the time. For this reason alone, Once\'s soundtrack gets special mention for actually containing nothing but songs key to the film\'s plot. Yes, that\'s a bit of preferential treatment...but in the long run the soundtrack is absolutely beautiful.
Considering the entire premise of the film Once is based around the music, it stands to reason the soundtrack would be of decent quality. And it is just that, pure quality spinning out track after track of mellow and melodically sorrowful gold. With the vocal similarities to Chris Martin of Coldplay and acoustic guitar rivaling any and all entries put out my Emo artists - Paul Hansard must be declared a demigod of acoustic guitar sorrow. As if Hansard\'s appearance throughout the majority of the album wasn\'t enough, but by adding in the piano and vocals of Marketa Inglova his co-star and co-artist the song\'s take on emotional levels comparable to Norah Jones.
Perhaps the best song of the album is the very one which we only hear a glimmer of in the film: "Say it to me now". Honestly, I find this song so heart wrenching. For anyone who has ever watched a relationship take a wrong turn...this song does a glorious job of turning it to song.
The songs including Marketa Inglova become all the more haunting. While "Falling slowly" and "If you want me" make use of her voice for duet purposes, when she is left alone to do a solo (which sadly only happens once on this album) the results blow away all who listen. Marketa\'s vocal solo "The Hill" has the sad tones to match the lyrics of a love separated by time and space.
Such a beautiful soundtrack for an equally beautiful movie. After you hear it you\'ll be sorely tempted to check out Glen Hansard and Marketa Inglova\'s previous work with other groups or on their own. Either way, the Once Soundtrack deserves the attention of anyone claiming to be an acoustic connoisseur.
"Once Soundtrack" is on sale May 22, 2007 from Sony.
