Editorial Reviews

In Good Company, Paul Weitz's good-natured comedy about the generation gap and corporate and romantic politics, features an NPR-ish mix of understated indie rock, Stephen Trask's genteel score, and a handful of songs by veteran artists. Weitz has always had a sharp ear for the music in his films, especially About a Boy, which had a wonderful soundtrack by Badly Drawn Boy. On this album, Iron & Wine's three tracks provide a similarly winsome, wistful feel to Damon Gough's work, particularly on "The Trapeze Swinger." Though the Soundtrack of Our Lives' "Sister Surround" and "Ten Years Ahead" are a little more immediate, they're still pretty mellow, and at times In Good Company risks being too tasteful for its own good. Trask's delicately whimsical score features marimba and string-based cues like "The Chase" and "The Arrival," and has a subtle, percolating wit. David Byrne's "Glass, Concrete & Stone" echoes this sound and feel with added emotional depth; given the film's take on young upstarts and veteran workers, it's probably not a coincidence that the songs by established performers are the most vibrant and distinctive on the soundtrack. Though Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" and Steely Dan's "Reelin' in the Years" are maybe a bit predictable, they still work well with the themes and mood of the film, as do Peter Gabriel's joyous "Solsbury Hill" and Diana Krall's gently smoky rendition of "Besame Mucho." Overall, In Good Company might not be the most thrilling soundtrack, but it has its own quiet pleasures that fans of the film will appreciate. Heather Phares, All Music Guide

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