by craig on 12/31/2004
 
Score fans, the self-titled opening theme on this CD is one of the most beautiful and sweeping themes you will ever hear. It is more than five minutes of the most gorgeous emotion you will ever hear. Just when you think it's over, you're swept into "Carlito and Gail." I had to listen to the first two tracks twice before I moved onto the rest of the CD. "The Cafe," where Carlito and Gail catch up with each other, is just as good. The searing strings in the first tracks are what capture you. "Laline" has that jazzy feel that introduces an old freind to our main character. "You're Over, Man" when Carlito smacks thug John Leguizamo down a flight of stairs, shows that subtle intensity. Again, beautiful strings. "Where's my Cheesecake" is one track that'll really interest you with its sudden diversity. Some jazzy acoustic guitar backed by soft brushed drums, that turn into a whole diffferent symphony, and then a piano finish. Brilliant. Tracks 7 through 10 show off where things start to go bad in Carlito's world. The stiff suspenseful rhythms just let the listener know complications in Carlito's perfect plan are tearing things apart. "Grand Central" is the lengthy climax that illustrates a doomed getaway plan with the fretting strings being chased to a rundown by a brass arrangement on its heels. You feel the revenge bearing down on Carlito and Gail. At just over 10 mins, it is one of the CD's great highlights. Finally, the heart-breaking continuity into the last track "Remember Me" is SO perfect! Again, the sweeping strings bring a beautiful conclusion to a tragic romance. This easily gets one of my highest recommendations to those of you that love a great score. If you are ever lucky enough to lay your eyes on this Patrick Doyle masterpiece (and "masterpiece" is an understatement!), GRAB IT!!