The Bucket List (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Album Review

The meaning-of-life comedy The Bucket List reunites director Rob Reiner and composer Marc Shaiman for their tenth feature collaboration, but listeners dreading another serving of Shaiman's familiar sugary sentimentality will be pleased to discover that he follows a far more subtle and complex approach here. Largely eschewing lush orchestral arrangements, Shaiman instead offers spare, nuanced arrangements dominated by piano, acoustic guitar, and feather-light strings, meticulously nurturing his three main themes across a series of cues. By the time the composer finally introduces his signature trademark chord progressions and larger-than-life symphonic arrangements, it at least feels like he's earned it. The remainder of Varese Sarabande's soundtrack CD features solo piano renditions of past Shaiman themes from films including The American President, Sleepless in Seattle, and even South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.