To Rome With Love

Reviewing soundtracks for films that you haven't seen is always a little tough, especially if it's an original score. On the one hand, it allows you to focus completely on the music itself, without the "bias" of having the visuals running through your head. On the other hand, the purpose of original scores is the support the visuals on-screen. The best soundtracks are the ones that are powerful and evocative on their own, but that also serve the overall viewing experience. It's a tight-rope walk and it's why the best composers of original scores are few and far between.

And then you have the soundtracks that are made of more incidental music, radio hits that play in the cars within the film, in the airport, etc. In this case, the soundtrack becomes almost more of a mixtape that flows in and out of the film. The soundtrack for To Rome With Love falls into this latter category, if you substitute "opera classics" for "radio hits." And this is where my lack of culture as it pertains to opera will come through loud and clear. I'm not nearly as well-versed in opera as I am in say, rock, or punk, or metal. So to my cretin ears, this is a pleasant enough CD, with lots of people singing in Italian. There are a few pop tunes mixed in, but on the whole, this album reminds of all the times my parents listened to The 3 Tenors when I was kid. The music is beautiful, even though I don't speak Italian and I have no clue what's being said.

As a result, there's not a ton to say about this release. It's pretty straightforward: If you like opera, chances are good you're really enjoy it. Obviously, if you're a fan of the film itself, I would wager that you'll want to check this out regardless. And if this isn't your sort of music, well then I doubt you've even made it this far in the review. Make your decisions and purchases accordingly.