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Review: Jack Foley
NOW here's a rare thing indeed - a soundtrack that's actually
better than its film.
A Lot Like Love chronicles the fortunes of two friends who seem
destined to love each other - but take years to realise it.
It stars Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet and is designed as a
contemporary take on When Harry Met Sally and Serendipity.
As such, it spans a number of years and takes in plenty of music,
featuring the likes of Groove Armada, Smash Mouth and Ray LaMontagne
in the process.
Ironically, it's actually the songs you remember long after the
film has finished, given that they provide most of the enjoyment
to be had while viewing.
Third Eye Blind's overlooked classic, Semi-Charmed Life,
kicks things off in suitably rousing fashion, effortlessly tapping
into the sun-drenched West Coast vibe with chilled out lyrics
such as 'I believe in the sand beneath my toes'.
It's one of the all-time great feel-good anthems that really
deserved to be a bigger UK hit.
Fun, too, is Smash Mouth's Walkin' On the Sun, their
precursor to All Star (which became famous through Shrek).
The Cure drop in the deeply melodic Mint Car (from their
Wild Mood Swings LP), which drips with retro guitar riffs
in the style of their Just Like Heaven classic.
While Eagle-Eye Cherry's chart-buster, Save Tonight,
still sounds great and is sure to revive many happy memories of
drunken summer evenings.
As a nice counter-balance, there's even some more laidback indie-alternative
anthems, courtesy of the likes of Aqualung (the excellent Brighter
Than Sunshine) and Aussie rockers, Jet, whose Beatles-esque
Look What You've Done provides the movie with some genuinely
poignant moments.
With Groove Armada contributing another of their dance anthems
(Hands Of Time), Chicago tossing in a cheesy classic
(If You Leave Me Now), and the likes of Ray LaMontagne
adding a little moody gravitas (Trouble), it's an eclectic
soundtrack that serves as an excellent compilation.
My advice is to use the money you might have spent on the film
itself to buy this nostalgic gem of an album.
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