The Lake House

The first five tracks on the soundtrack to this Sandra Bullock/Keanu Reeves romantic drama are wonderfully wistful songs. The first, Paul McCartney's "This Never Happened Before" from his 2005 album Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, sets the tone. The low-key mood is then picked up by new romantic souls like the Clientele (the languidly forlorn "(I Can't Seem to) Make You Mine") and Eels (the fiddle-accented ballad "Ant Farm"), and classic songwriters Nick Drake (with 1969's "Time Has Told Me") and Carole King (1971's "It's Too Late"). The rest of the album is made up of Rachel Portman's intimately romantic score. Portman makes good use of melody lines driven sometimes by a piano ("Mailbox") and sometimes an acoustic guitar ("Tell Me More"), while also ensuring that the orchestra never threatens to overwhelm them. And when strings dominate, they never feel rote ("Sunsets"). The music isn't in-your-face sad but tinged with a sense of very adult melancholy. Whoever thought that one day we'd say that of something attached to a Keanu Reeves movie? --Elisabeth Vincentelli Amazon.com

Lush & Melodic

This CD had been on my wish list for a very long time. Watching the film, I thought it sounded gorgeous & made a note to find it. Time and recordings for which they can secure rights to put on a soundtrack CD limit producers; so while not all of the music from this film may be on this disc, it is a lovely score. Rachel Portman won the Oscar for Best Original Score for "Emma" and received nominations for scores from "The Cider House Rules" and "Chocolat." The instrumental score on cuts like "You Waited" lifts up the mood in the film and stands on its own as a musical piece followed by the closer "I Waited" that conveys peace, fulfillment and transcendent joy. My favorite track is "The Lakehouse" that opens with such a curious tentative beginning as if the curtain is being drawn back on the story, revealing the glass house on the lake. This piece is breathtakingly lovely. Paul McCartney's track "This Never Happened Before" that appeared on his CD Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is an excellent opener. Nick Drake's "Time Has Told Me" brings this quiet songwriter to the disc. Carole King's "It's Too Late" from her classic "Tapestry" CD sounds great in this remastered version. The music on this soundtrack is what moved me in the film, well worth seeking out for those who love lush and melodic music. Enjoy! August 30, 2008

wonderful

This movie shows how strong love can be It can win against all odds
Sandra and Keanu make a very good convincing couple April 9, 2008

Please help! Certain piano piece...name the artist/s

I don't know if anyone else noticed in the soundtrack...but there was a piano piece (excluded from the soundtrack and NOT written by Rachel Portman whom everyone seems to be so impressed with...to each his/her own) I unfortunately cannot place the exact scene it was cued. I want to say the artist/s was Cinematic Orchestra or Medeski Martin Wood. Heck, I think I even have the CD but my collection is in storage (go figure). I know that I've not given any detail but if you just take a listen I believe you'll understand why I'm searching for that particular piece. It's unbelievably moving...melancholy, and possibly sad to some. I rate the soundtrack one star because ALL the music should have been included. I'm certain there are reasons for their exclusion but I find it such an aural tease! If there is anyone out there with a keen ear for the obscure...please contact me and perhaps we solve the mystery and relieve my clouded mind. December 5, 2007

Very Creative plot

What a great movie without blood, gore and a lot of swearing going on. My Father actually recommended that I see it. Excellent romantic movie. Loved Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves performance's in this. They have some terrific chemistry too. I recommend buying this for a really enjoyable romantic movie with a good twist to it. I could watch this over and over again. November 21, 2007

Review of The Lake House

I'm really enjoying this CD. It does indeed reflect the ambience of the movie, with some great songs. Would prefer if it had a few more vocalised tracks, however, the ones that are there are great, especially Carole King's It's Too Late. The songs without lyrics are also really nice. March 7, 2007

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